My daughter would love to see those cute dogs -even more if she could get close to them. Any ideas where this could be, or other suggestions for seeing/being around St. Bernard dogs in Berner Oberland (we're about to come for a new visit).
I remember from a previous visit to Switzerland a fenced area with lots of St. Bernard dogs (cute puppies and older), but can't remember where (other than it being in the Berner Oberland region).
Not in the Berner Oberland, but rather on the St Bernard Pass or in Martingy:
The Foundation Barry in Martingy (Barry was the legendary dog who rescued travelers):
http://www.fondation-barry.ch/de/besuchen-sie-uns
And hiking with the dogs on the St Bernhard Pass:
http://www.fondation-barry.ch/de/wanderungen
More here:
Indeed, the dogs spend the winter months in Martigny, and as soon as the Pass is cleared of snow they go spend the summer there.
You can book walks with them, but there's a big waiting list as it's very popular!
They have at least one litter per year, and it's always super cute to go see them
That sure would be something to visit!
But as we're only staying in Berner Oberland this time it'll have to wait for later.
Is there anything similar a bit closer? I found the following here about Blausee in Kandersteg:
5km/3mi from Kandersteg lies the crystal-clear Blue Lake (trout farm, restaurant, breeding of St Bernard dogs), surrounded by a nature park covering 20 ha/49 acres.
But there's no mention of this on Blausee's official site ...
Blinky, perhaps my google skills are failing me (not the first time), but I, too, have not found anything official relating to a Bernhardinerzucht in the Blausee area.
So... perhaps the best thing to do would be to write to the Swiss St. Bernhard club, the official club within the SKG/FCI. I would expect that they would know, as there are so few St Bernhard breeders in Switzerland anymore. Their website is:
The list of SKG breeders of Saints is here:
http://www.barryswiss.ch/engl/Pages/...e/elevages.htm
Good luck with your quest...
I visited Blausee last year and do not remember seeing any signs pointing to St. Bernard dogs.
RetiredInNH: Could it be around Oeschinensee instead?
Hopefully the St. Berhard club will be able to help as I've mailed them. Thanks for that suggestion, melonCollie!
If it was in Bern, are you sure they were St Bernards, and not these lovelies?
No, they were St. Bernards, but those are really cute as well Where in Bern was that?
You will see them on many an alpine farm, in Bern and throughout Switzerland. They are the Berner Sennenhund, Bernese Mountain Dog, one of the original Swiss farm dog breeds. Gorgeous animals, delightful characters.
But if one is working his farm, do not allow your child to approach or try to pet the dog without asking permission from the farmer. The dogs are lovely cuddly-looking bears - but a working dog is to be respected.
(This advice goes for all dogs you encounter as you wander Switzerland, whether working on farms or pets walking with their owners.)
Enjoy your trip!
Visited Ochinersee on the same trip (which included a week in Kandersteg) and once again, I saw no signs pointing to any dogs.
Best of luck with your quest!
Gorgeous dogs; I have seen more of them in New Hampshire than in the alps. Of course, I spend a lot more time in New Hampshire than in the alps