In the viral video, the giant Saint Bernard dog can be seen being encouraged to walk out of a doggy day car van, down a carefully placed ramp, and running up to one of the dog parlous workers.
According to Smithsonian Magazine, “Long before Beethoven drooled on the big screen, St. Bernard dogs were famous for an entirely different reason: saving lives.
“Since the early 18th century, monks living in the snowy, dangerous St. Bernard Pass—a route through the Alps between Italy and Switzerland—kept the canines to help them on their rescue missions after bad snowstorms.
“Over a span of nearly 200 years, about 2,000 people, from lost children to Napoleon’s soldiers, were rescued because of the heroic dogs’ uncanny sense of direction and resistance to cold. Since then, and through much crossbreeding, the canines have become the domestic St. Bernard dogs commonly seen in households today.”
The article debunks the myth that the breed would have casks of liquor tied around their necks to warm up rescued mountaineers but mentions another very real legend. “The famous St. Bernard, Barry, who lived in the monastery from 1800-1812, saved the lives of more than 40 people. In 1815, Barry’s body was put on exhibit at the Natural History Museum in Berne, Switzerland, where it remains today.”
Users on TikTok expressed their joy at seeing the gentle giant, with one user commenting, “You dnt walk that dog, it walks you,” to which original poster Barend Visser replied, “too truee.”
User Naomi commented what we’re all thinking, “That is a beautiful baby. I’m sure the snuggles are the best,” to which the owner of the video replied, “wow wow wow, snuggles with this one a cold winters night.”
One user Roeline Hattingh commented “I can’t wait for mine to grow up. he is still a baby almost a year and 65kg now. hope he gets this big. ur pup looks amazing!” to which Barend Visser replied, “Haha he is indeed gorgeous but its not my dog, i work for a dog parlor as a driver and dog walker. So he belongs to somebody else unfortunately.”
