Replies to post #458136 on Tornado Alley (PROG)

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His name is Baron. I also call him Droolius. Small for his breed at 130 lbs. They can be as much as 200.

The St. Bernard is recognized internationally today as one of the molosser breeds*. It is a giant dog. The coat can be either smooth or rough; the smooth coat being close and flat, while the rough is dense, flat, and more profuse around the neck and legs. The colour is typically a red shade with white, or a mahogany brindle with white. Black shading is usually found on the face and ears. The tail is long and heavy, hanging high. The eyes are usually brown, but sometimes can be icy blue, and should have

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Bernard_(dog)

*The Molossus (Greek: ????ss??, romanized: Molossós), also known as the Molossian hound and Epirus mastiff, is an extinct dog breed from Ancient Greece.

So depending on whom you ask, the Saint is a mastiff breed or not. They're working dogs.

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More esoteric canine knowledge

The Molossus were dogs that were kept by the ancient Greek tribe and kingdom of the Molossians, who inhabited the region of Epirus.[1][2]

The Molossus were famous throughout the ancient world for their size and ferocity and were frequently mentioned in ancient literature, including the writings of Aristophanes,[3] Aristotle,[4] Grattius,[5] Horace,[6][7] Lucan,[8] Lucretius,[9] Martial,[10] Nemesianus,[11] Oppian of Apamea,[12] Plautus,[13] Seneca,[14] Statius,[15][16][17] Ovid,[18] and Virgil.[19] The Molossians issued silver coinage with an image of a Molossus as their emblem.[1]

It is sometimes stated in books and magazines, particularly in Continental Europe and North America, that all mastiff-type dogs are descended from the Molossus.[1][2] This theory states that the breed's progenitors arrived in Molossia from Asia and were eventually discovered by the Romans who employed large numbers as guards for the Roman Army; this theory speculates that the various mastiff breeds found throughout Europe descend from dogs left behind by the Romans.[2] This theory has been questioned by many experts who state it relies on guesswork and lacks historical evidence, and that mastiffs likely developed elsewhere.[1][2]

Another story is that in the course of his military conquests Alexander the Great discovered some giant dogs in Asia that impressed him so much that he sent some home; as the son of a Molossi princess these dogs became associated with his mother's people and that it was from these dogs that all mastiffs descend.[2]

It seems most likely that Molossi kept two distinct types of dogs, one a hunting dog with a broad muzzle which resembled something in between a Great Dane and a heavily built Saluki, the other a large livestock guardian dog.[1][2] Aristotle in his History of Animals wrote "In the Molossian race of dogs, those employed in hunting differ in no respect from other dogs; while those employed in following sheep are larger and more fierce in their attack on wild beasts."[1][4] He also added that dogs that are born of a mixed breed between the Molossian and the Laconian dogs are remarkable for courage and endurance of hard labour.[4]

Polycrates of Samos imported Molossian and Laconian dogs to the island.[20]

According to Greek mythology the goddess Artemis gave to Procris a dog, Laelaps, that never failed to catch its prey and from this dog derived the Molossian and Laconian hounds.[21]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Molossus_(dog)