The first dogs were probably kept at the Hospice between years 1660 and 1670. Undoubtedly, their initial purpose was that of watch dog. Around 1690, Salvatore Rosa painted two dogs from the Hospice. They are described as "Küherhunde" (cowherd's dogs) with slightly heavier heads. The first dog is splash-coated or "patched." The second dog is a "Mantelhund" (dog with a mantle) with primarily, a white head.

The first written reference to dogs at the Hospice, dates from 1703. Prior Balalu mentions that his cook, Vincent Canos, built an exercise wheel to which a dog could be harnessed. When the dog walked, a cooking spit would turn. This invention was not new and considering the number of travelers that had to be fed, it is not surprising that Canos thought of finding kitchen help. The volume of visitors through the Monastery grew such that by 1898, between 18,000 and 20,000 travelers passed through it's entrance, annually. Visitors were afforded three days free lodging with meals, which consisted primarly of meat and bread.

In 1707, a notation in the archives states: "we have lost a dog in an avalanche". In 1731, furs from dogs are mentioned as bed-side rugs. A bill from 1735 shows that the Prior paid for the repair of a dog-collar. In a note from 1787, we read that the Monastery's dogs have successfully warded off a band of brigands. These are the first written documents about dogs at the Hospice. But from where did those dogs come? Certainly, the breed did not have its origin at the Hospice.

The dogs from the Hospice are nearly always described as having exceptional size. But this must be seen as a relative size and probably was considerably smaller than that of modern Saint Bernards. Chroniclers seem to agree that the color of the Hospice dogs was typically red-brown and white. This coloration was wide-spread among farm dogs in Switzerland. Even today, when there are few red farm dogs in Switzerland, we have a saying, used to describe that which is common; "vo dämm git's meh weder rot Hüng" (there's more of that than red dogs). Thus, the red-white coloring was the singular recognizable characteristic of the Saint Bernard. Consequently many red farm dogs, whose ancestors had never seen the Hospice, were sold by enterprising farmers as true Saint Bernard dogs.

Dogs at the Monastery did not achieve great age and on several occasions, the stock vanished completely. In the "Tierbörse" from 1899, a magazine devoted to animal fanciers, we find a hint as to why the monks seemed to have troubles in their kennel. It says that "the dogs from the Great Saint Bernard do not attain the usual age, 6 to 8 years is the maximum... this is a result of the humidity in their quarters, which leads to rheumatism."

It was not difficult for the monks to provide themselves with similar dogs as need occurred. In the isolation of the Monastery on Saint Bernard Pass, local styles could evolve rather quickly. Old skulls in the collection of the Natural History Museum, reveal a diversity in head shapes. The collection shows at least two variations which lived during the same period of time: The larger heads have a pronounced stop and a short muzzle while the smaller skulls reveal much less stop with longer muzzles. Saints and Great Swiss Cattle Dogs, then well known as "Küherhunde" (cowherd's dogs) and "Metzgerhunde" or butcher's dogs), portray similar skull shapes. There can be no doubt that initially, it was difficult to distinguish between the two breeds,

Red-white dogs were very common until the turn of the century. We continue to admire them on post-cards as "Käsereihunde" (dairy dogs) or common farmer's dogs. Prof. Studer said: "In large parts of Switzerland, in the valleys and in the mountains, a medium sized, mostly long-haired but also short-haired, heavy dog with droop ears is being kept as watch-dog, as droving-dog and also as draught-dog... In the Canton of Berne the dogs are mostly larger than 60 cm with longer fur and often of red-yellow color with white markings."

An Englishman who visited Switzerland in order to buy Saint Bernard Dogs left us a report of his travels dated from 1860. His initial thought was to procure a number of dogs from the Hospice. However, during his journey, he found what he considered to be ideal Saints in the Canton of Berne. He never made it to the Hospice. After having purchased several dogs, the Englishman found another dog in Fribourg. He purchased this animal too. He was by no means disturbed by the fact that the dog was black with brown and white markings and not the red and white color, indicative of the Saint Bernard.

Max Siber writes in the Swiss Stud Book #1 of 1884: "some fanciers believe that Saint Bernards have only lived on the namegiving Pass. This is not true, Saints have been kept everywhere on Swiss passes and they are even at home in the valleys of the Valais and in the countryside of Berne." One can also cite another expert on Saint Bernards, Albert Heim, who wrote in 1927: "Talhund und Hospizhund waren und sind die gleiche Rasse" (Valley dogs and dogs from the Hospice were and still are of the same breed).

Although it may be a sad fact for the romantic Saint fancier, it must be said that the origin of the Saint Bernard should be sought in the old "Küherhunde" (cowherd's dogs) as they were still very common until the middle of the 19th century. Reports, pictures and extensive collections of skeletal materials do not allow any other conclusion. The emphasis on mastiff characteristics in later years may be attributable to three main factors: 1. From time to time some locally bred Saints at the Hospice did show the heavy head shape. 2. The English fanciers preferred and bred towards heavier heads. 3. Distinctive head shapes helped to separate the ordinary farmer's dog from that which was more desirable and favorable for business.