Are we breeding mutts? No, we are not. We are creating a new breed, that is a Miniature version of another, existing breed. Saint Bernards have been bred from many other breeds originally. Very much in the same way as we are doing, only we are using smaller versions of the breeds that they used. We are also keeping track of pedigrees, which they did not do to begin with.
Of coarse, along the way, there are puppies that are necessary to breed, that may not be exactly perfect? But really, there is no such thing as a "perfect" dog. They are necessary to breed, in order to get the future breeding stock that we need, to reach our goal.
Why breed Miniature Saints? We have several reasons. Many people love the look and temperament of the Saint Bernard, but they simply do not have the room for such a large dog. Also, Saint Bernards have a very short life span, usually only 7 to 8 years. Our Miniature Saint Bernards have much longer life spans! Because Saint Bernards are such a large breed, and have been inbred and all, they also have many genetic health problems. Our Miniature Saints, because the breeds used to breed them do not have common health problems, any genetic problems within the breeds are bred out, from the other breeds used.
Because we are breeding minis, there may be a few differences with our puppies, from the large Saint Bernards, other then health and longevity. These include no slobber, and no double coat. We do not want to breed these things in because most of our Mini Saints will become housedog's. Who wants a housedog that sheds super bad, or slobbers all over everything? We also do not really care for real droopy eyes, which often are prone to many problems.
Obviously, breeding Miniature Saint Bernards is not an easy task! However, nothing worthwhile comes easy, and we feel this is very worthwhile!
English Shepherd Original Saint Bernard's have a lot of herding breeds in them. We choose the English Shepherd because they are very gentle, protective, and have an added plus of easy trainability. They also come is the brown/sable colors, and have a tendency to carry the typical white markings... Often having a collar, white feet & legs, white tip on the tail, and a white blaze.
Cocker Spaniel Original Saint Bernard's were bred with some Spaniel blood in them. We choose the American Cocker Spaniel because they already have a similar shaped head and muzzle, and we are lucky enough to have Cockers with good coloring, markings, and great health and temperaments! Cockers also have a great need for love.
Pekingese We did feel a need to ad our Peke, Bingo, to the bloodlines of our Mini Saints for several reasons. One was to ad bulk to the head. Overall body and leg thickness, which is also added with the Cocker Spaniel. A Peke helps shorten the ears, where the Cocker makes them too long. Also, Bingo's dam is brown with an excellent black mask, and Bingo himself has the correct white markings. The downfall is a slightly too short of a nose, the Peke & the Cocker have rather large eyes, and we do have to compensate for the short legs that Peke's have, with the English Shepherd. However, Peke's also form very strong bonds with their owners, and this is a trait that is a big plus! Long term plans will be not more then 1/16th Peke.
Hound Blood Hounds were used in breeding the original Saint Bernards. They added more loose skin, size, and the droopy eyes. It stands to reason to use a Basset Hound, as a smaller version. However, we are very worried that this could make the ears too long, legs too short, and do we really want droopy eyes? After all, not all Saint Bernards have real droopy eyes.
Saint Bernard And of coarse, actual Saint Bernards! First was the process of finding smaller purebred Saint Bernards. But that is only the beginning. The problem then is to get a female Saint Bernard pregnant, by a much smaller male! After our 4th attempt, we were very excited to finally have a litter!
Breeding Mini Saint Bernard's
We began by researching how Saint Bernard's were bred to begin with! This was pretty difficult, because the Monks did not keep very good records, and were not exactly letting it all be known. However, we did learn a lot, and got a very good idea!
An idea formed... Why not use breeds that are very similar to the breeds used in breeding Saint Bernard's to begin with, only smaller versions of them breeds? So, that is where we have been starting!
Of coarse, all this takes time, and breeding a variety of puppies in order to get there from here! We breed these litters with the intention of creating the future breeding stock necessary, to reach our goal. Meanwhile, we are getting VERY close!
Originally, Saint Bernard's were bred from herding, hunting, and watch dogs. Such as large, Mastiff type breeds, spaniels, blood hounds, ect.. Most being typical farm dogs, many being mixed breeds.
Here is the list of breeds we have used to breed our Miniature Saint Bernard's
The original, famous Barry! Highly resembling a large herding dog.
Dakota Winds Ranch
George & Karen Brausen
PO Box 647
Ipswich, SD 57451
(605) 426-6488
Our own amazing Nehi Saint & Mini Saint breeding stock, and future plans!
"Little Johnny" AKA "Johnny" is an awesome looking boy! He is 1/2 Saint Bernard, and 1/2 Cocker Spaniel. Even though he is far smaller then the purebred Saint Bernards, our long term future goals with Johnny is to pair him up with just the right females, in order to produce Nehi Saints that have a little less hair, a little shorter ears, slightly shorter nose, and squarer head, with the puppies mostly maturing even a bit smaller then Johnny! Of coarse, we also try hard to keep the typical Saint Bernard colors!
Johnny will mostly be bred to our shorter coated and faced females, Lana & Squeak, as well as to Kalli, but may also occasionally be bred to Wendy and/or Tinkerbelle.
"Lana Dear" AKA "Lana" is 1/4 actual Saint Bernard. She is also 1/4 Ori Pei, 3/8 Cocker Spaniel, and 1/8 English Shepherd. She is very calm, sweet, loving, and gentle! However, she does have a silly, goofy playful side to her as well! She will be bred to Johnny someday. Puppies will be 3/8, 37.5% actual Saint Bernard.
"Pip Squeak" AKA "Squeak" is 1/4 actual Saint Bernard. She is also 1/4 Ori Pei, 3/8 Cocker Spaniel, and 1/8 English Shepherd. She is a sweet little baby, and is very small! She will be bred to Johnny someday. Puppies will be 3/8, 37.5% actual Saint Bernard.
"Buddy Ol' Pal" AKA "Pal" is 1/4 actual Saint Bernard. He is also 1/4 Ori Pei, 3/8 Cocker Spaniel, and 1/8 English Shepherd. We just cannot say enough about Pal! He is very friendly, outgoing, gentle, fun, smart boy! Great face! Great coat! He will be perfect with the females that we have chosen for him! Pal will mostly be breeding our females, Tinkerbelle, Wendy, and Berry!
"Tinker Bell Fairy Dust" AKA "Tinkerbell" is 1/2 actual Saint Bernard. She is also 1/4 Cocker Spaniel, & 1/4 English Shepherd. She is a very loving, smart, happy girl! Great coat! She has gorgeous puppies by Johnny! Though, some are off color. We hope to get shorter faces and more correct coloring when she is bred to Pal. Puppies will be 3/8, 37.5% actual Saint Bernard.
"Wendy Darling" AKA "Wendy" is 1/2 actual Saint Bernard. She is also 1/4 Cocker Spaniel, & 1/4 English Shepherd. She is a very friendly, happy, and sometimes silly, very small girl! She has gorgeous puppies by Johnny! Though, some are off color. We hope to get shorter faces and more correct coloring when she is bred to Pal. Puppies will be 3/8, 37.5% actual Saint Bernard.
"Luner Of The Moon" AKA "Luna" is 1/2 actual Saint Bernard. She is also 1/2 Cocker Spaniel. She has the correct Saint Bernard coloring, with very unique markings! The one eye patch, which some Saint lovers prefer! Very gentle, sweet girl! Puppies by Dusty will be 3/8, 37.5% actual Saint Bernard.
"Dot-To-Dot" AKA "Dot" is 1/2 actual Saint Bernard. She is also 1/2 Cocker Spaniel. What a great little girl! Small, sweet, great coloring & type! She just loves everyone! Puppies by Dusty will be 3/8, 37.5%% actual Saint Bernard.
Dusty + Luna, Dot, & Calamity
Pal + Tinkerbelle, Wendy, & Berry
Johnny + Lana, Squeak, & Kalli
"Wild Berry" AKA "Berry" is 1/2 actual Saint Bernard. She is also 3/8 Cocker Spaniel, & 1/8 English Shepherd. She is a sweet little baby, who is maturing into a lovely young lady! We think that she is perfect for Pal! Puppies will be 3/8, 37.5% actual Saint Bernard.
"Dust In The Wind" AKA "Dusty" is 1/4 actual Saint Bernard. He is out of Tinkerbelle & Kojak. He will soon be replacing his sire, Kojak, to breed our Saint/Cocker cross girls, Dot, Luna, and Roxie. Puppies will be 3/8, 37.5% actual Saint Bernard. The same percentage of our others! It is our desired amount, in order for the size, temperment, coloring, and look that we need to reach our long term goals! Dusty should shorten the ears to the normal Saint length with these females!
Sam
Sam, (previously King), is pictured here at 6 months old. He is out of Wendy & Johnny. Bred & born here, at Dakota Winds!
Luna & Dot's mom.
Squeak's Granddam.
Johnny's mom.
Tinkerbell & Wendy's mom.
"Kallista Star" AKA "Kalli" is 1/4 actual Saint Bernard. She is also 1/8 Peke, 1/2 Cocker Spaniel, and 1/8 English Shepherd. She is a very outgoing, fun girl! Short & stocky. She will be bred to Johnny someday. Puppies will be 3/8, 37.5% actual Saint Bernard.
Mastiff OK, not exactly. Original Saints were bred from "large Mastiff type dogs". It was much later, when actual real Mastiffs were really used, when the original Saints were becoming too inbred, and rare. But how do we find a smaller version of a Mastiff? Well.. It is not easy. We had to create one. Using a Pug, to keep size down, and a black mask, a Shar Pei, to ad wrinkles and droopiness, an English Shepherd again, in order to be able to eventually get the white markings, and a Cocker Spaniel again, to help more with the coloring, keep the size down, and ad bone. This is how our Miniature Mastiff was created! He contributed much to the Miniature Saints! He defined the black mask, he carries long haired breeds and white markings in his bloodlines. He has the wrinkles in his face and the loose flap on his neck/throat area, and he ads that very playful nature that Saint Bernards have!
"Calamity Jane" AKA "Calimity", is a Brown, Black Mask, and White Female Mini Saint Bernard out of Dot & Johnny. Born September 12th, 2009. She is a 2nd generation 1/2 Saint Bernard and 1/2 Cocker Spaniel. Very small! Puppies by Dusty will be 3/8, 37.5% actual Saint Bernard.
"DeSoto" is a male Mini Aussiedoodle. He has a great temperament, and a curly, no shedding coat. We will occasionally be using him with some of our girls for low to no shedding Mini Saintberdoodles!
