"Don't forget temperment" Funny!
Once upon a time four St. Bernard exhibitors were coming home from a big show. They were driving over a mountain pass in the middle of a violent snowstorm when suddenly their car went into a skid and hit a guard rail, overturned and went careening down a slope about a mile in length.
The trailer which the car had been pulling landed relatively undamaged next to the car, and in it were 4 St. Bernard show dogs. No one had seen the
accident. All breeders were trapped in their car, but the trailer door popped open and the dogs were free.
The first dog out was very "typey" as this was what the breeder cared most about. He made it about a quarter of a mile up the slope to get help and his nasal passages began to freeze because of his short muzzle. He was gasping for air. After another 200 yards he was blind and hopelessly lost because the blowing snow was piling up on his stop.
The second St. Bernard out of the trailer was bred for the important things, "size, color, and "perfect markings". He was a beautiful sight to behold, but unfortunately, he too collapsed after only 300 yards because of hereditary hip dysplasia.
The third dog to try and get help had been bred for "soundness" His breeder wouldn't dream of using a dog that wasn't x-rayed clear of hip dysplasia. He made it half way up the slope before he collapsed from exhaustion. He could
not cope with the huge drifts. His breeder did not know that "soundness" involved more than hip dysplasia and had neglected to include head, neck, shoulder, forelimbs, feet, chest, lungs, and heart or hind quarters in his "breeding program" for soundness.
The fourth breeder was conscious and knew that at last all those years of breeding would now pay off. He had bred for "type" being careful not to shorten the muzzle so far as to obstruct breathing or ruin the bite. He was proud of his dog's "tight eyes" His dog had "story book markings," a richly colored coat, and was very powerful, and proportionately tall, strong, and very muscular figure. He had a OFA number, of course, but was also big-boned, with a very strong, height set neck that was loaded with muscle. His shoulders were well laid back, very muscular and powerful, his forelegs were "straight and strong" he had "strong Pasterns, and wonderful, little tight cat-feet. He had good rib spring with ample room for the huge heart and lungs he possessed. He had perfect rear angulations and his hock couldn't have been stronger. When moving the dog was flawless, he just seemed to float through the air, nothing hard or loose about him.---"just an elegant creation." With great pride and tears in his eyes, the breeder saw this big, beautiful "PERFECT" St. Bernard drive through the snow like the hospice dogs of old. The Saint made it up to the road with the greatest of ease. A passing State Trouper saw the dog and stopped. As he got out of the car, the dog attacked ....... and ate him.
:D
