Barry (dog)
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Barry (1800–1814) was a famous St. Bernard that worked as a mountain rescue dog. He lived at the monastery at the Great St Bernard Pass near the Swiss-Italian border and was responsible for saving over 40 lives.
Barry's body is preserved and on display at the Natural History Museum in Berne, Switzerland. In addition, a monument to him is located at the entrance to the Cimetière des Chiens pet cemetery in Paris.
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The name Barry has nothing to do with the English first name of Barry, but in Swiss German tradition "Bäri" (i.e. Bear) was the usual name given to a dark coloured dog. In the late 1800s, the name was changed to a more English-sounding "Barry" to pay tribute to the legend of the dog, which had widely circulated the English-speaking world with its newfound interest in the Alps. It is, like Heidi, a clever example of promoting legends to increase tourism.
There is no historic report stating that Barry had ever carried a little vat of liquour on his collar to warm up his rescuees. Barry was allegedly shot dead by a rescuee who mistook him for a wolf, given that Barry died at a relatively old age for dogs this is very unlikely; Barry would probably have been used more for breeding than rescuing in latter life.
The dogs used by the monks on the St Bernard Pass were very different in shape and colour from the present day St Bernards dog. After an accident killed off a large part of the kennel, they were crossed with mastiffs to the present day look. This explains the name "Bäri", as the original St. Bernards dogs had dark coats, not the bright ones of today.
