Snowbear weighs the same as an average adult male, 75kg, and towers over his fellow pooch Beethoven (naturally a St Bernard). Snowbear gets lavished with attention wherever he goes and between him and Beethoven they’re eating everything Mr Randfleish can afford to give them.

Gary Randfleish commented about his two very hungry dogs:

“He’s a very friendly, calm soul who loves people. He’s my best mate, and him and Beethoven make quite a pair and match each other quite well.”

Mr Randfleish is an experienced dog owner, having owned many different breeds in the past. He has owned large dogs such as Great Danes and Irish Wolfhounds too, so he knows about hungry, high maintenance dogs. In his opinion however, Snowbear beats them all hands down when it comes to maintenance.

Bear the Mountain Dog

“We go through lots of food – mainly chicken mince and wings, bones and dry food but he doesn’t like canned food. He won’t touch the stuff.”

Being such a large dog he requires a fair amount of exercise, and goes for daily walks with his owner where he is greeted by happy children and adults alike. Mr Randfleish does feel however that handling Snowbear on the lead can be difficult, especially when he sees something he wants to examine up close:

“He’s very strong so it can be dangerous when he tugs at the lead but he has the most sensitive hearing so the minute he hears something, he’s off investigating what it is.”

If you’re more interested in a low maintenance dog you can have a look at our guide on low maintenance dogs.

There are so many animated shows featuring dogs that this was a hard one to trim down to five. Inevitably, the results are controversial. There are some that you may have thought as an obvious shoe-in that cruelly didn’t make the cut. There was much discussion here at Dream Dogs Towers over who should be included. Other technicalities arose, such as whether K-9, Doctor Who’s radar-eared sidekick should count as a dog at all – after all, he was real in some sense – or Dino, Fred Flintstone’s pet who acted like a dog but looked like a Brontosaurus.

Fisticuffs ensued and noses were bloodied, but after the dust settled we were left with this, our list of the top five cartoon dogs.

Scooby Doo

Arguably Hanna Barbera’s flagship cartoon show; the show stuck to a tried and tested format, with dull-as-ditchwater Fred, minx Daphne and spectacles-dropping frump Velma playing the straight man to Scooby and Norville ‘Shaggy’ Rodgers. Scooby and Shaggy would split from the rest of the gang on the hunt for ‘Scooby snacks’ (whatever they were), and what would follow was predictable. Scooby and Shaggy would try to escape the monster by pretending to be chefs or barbers, Scooby would fall into a trap laid by Fred and someone would appear behind a secret wall panel.

Scooby Doo and the gang

Don’t even think of mentioning Scrappy Doo.

Dogtanian

Cursed/blessed with a memorably catchy theme tune that seemed never-ending, and terrible dubbing; Dogtanian and the Three Muskehounds was a take on Alexandre Dumas’ classic novel. This cartoon managed to win a place in the hearts of kids everywhere, despite the dodgy animation (how did Dogtanian ever manage to slice that apple in to slithers whilst it was in mid-air?).

Accompanied by Porthos, a German shepherd, Athos, a St Bernard and Aramis, a Spaniel, he conspired to make the life of Cardinal Richleux a misery. There was also the suggestion of some inter-species how’s-your-father between Dogtanian and Milady, a mysterious feline.

Muttley

Dick Dastardly’ erstwhile companion and member of Wacky Races’ Vulture Squad, Muttley was a mix of a bloodhound, pointer and hunting dog. He’s famous for being completely unintelligible – his dialogue usually consisted of something along the lines of ‘Sassafrassarassum’ – which leads me to suspect that Don Messick, the actor who originally portrayed him, managed to slip some swear words past the censors. Like any real dog, Muttley craved affection, and Dick Dastardly would reward his nefarious deeds with a medal.

Dick Dastardly and Muttley

Brian Griffin

The dry witted, epicurean, alcoholic pooch is the pet of the Griffins in cartoon show Family Guy. A budding novelist, his books are a running joke on the show; Faster than the Speed of Love, his only novel to be published, failed to sell a single copy. Rather than resorting to usual canine tropes involving licking oneself where the sun doesn’t shine, Brian is the voice of reason, even if he can’t resist rummaging through the garbage.

Sparky

Being gay, Stan’s beloved pet Sparky in South Park is unusual in the world of animated dogs. Dismayed at the thought of his pet being a “gay homosexual”, Stan tried to force the pooch into being more masculine, but he showed no interest. Instead, he ran off with Big Gay Al, who had a menagerie of gay animals aboard his Big Gay Boat Ride.

As is usual for South Park, the children all learn something about tolerance and freedom of choice from it. The show won plaudits for its portrayal of gay characters, even though George Clooney, a manly bugger by anyone’s standards, voiced the chiffon scarf wearing pooch.

Well there you have it. Our week long list of lists has come to an end. Sure, some choices were controversial – but if you think we’ve missed some deserving dogs out, be sure to leave a comment and put us straight – unlike Stan managed with Sparky.

Despite my indifference, soap operas are huge everywhere. Whether it’s a dour Mancunian grumpfest like Albion Market, the ten-gallon, shoulder padded exploits of everyday Texan oil barons or wigged out Mexican daytime soaps about doctors, inheritance battles and unwitting incest, there’s no mistaking their popularity. In salutation to the humble soap actor, we at Dream Dogs give you our top 5 UK soap star dog owners.

Patsy Palmer

The 38 year old actress, who found fame playing Bianca, the freckled foghorn and bedeviller of cockernee thickie Ricky in EastEnders, owns a Shar Pei called Layla. Although you may think that she’s only ever been in the soap, she’s also starred in Grange Hill, Drop the Dead Donkey and The Bill, but ‘let’s face it, who hasn’t been in The Bill? She also played a teen with a face like a welder’s bench in a Clearasil advert.

Kym Marsh

Marsh, 34, from Merseyside, recently hit the headlines over adopting an abandoned Labrador called Oliver in January. The hapless pup was left in a cardboard box outside a pet shop in Surrey, but found a home with Marsh. Unfortunately, it was not to be. Oliver didn’t get on with Charlie the Chihuahua, Marsh’s other pet pooch, and was banished back to the dog pound.

Ironically, Oliver had previously featured in a program about abandoned dogs. Luckily for him, he was soon re-adopted and Marsh was said to be embarrassed about the whole episode.

William Roache

Coronation Street stalwart Bill Roache, known to the nation as Ken Barlow, had a bad experience with his Labrador after it attacked and killed a neighbour’s Yorkshire Terrier. The actor, who successfully sued The Sun newspaper because they accused him of being boring (go figure), initially denied that his pet of eight years was involved in the incident, but when the local constabulary got involved he had the aggressive Lab put to sleep. He appeared on the Richard and Judy show to explain why he had to do the responsible thing.

Rob Kazinsky

The EastEnders hunk, who played Sean Slater, recently got a two month old German shepherd pup. Having a devil of a time naming her, he turned to Twitter and asked his followers to come up with a name for his new pet. Kazinsky, who is said to be currently penning a series ‘inspired’ by Sex and the City, named his pet Roxy, after the EastEnders character with whom his was romantically involved.

Gemma Merna

The Hollyoaks star, who plays Carmel McQueen in the soap, recently said that she has no plans to become a mother as her time is taken up looking after her pups. Speaking of her pets, she said:

“Phoebe’s a curly-haired Westie and Cole’s a St Bernard. They take up most of my time – it’s like having two kids. They like to play, but can be quite hard work.”

Keep your ear to the ground for tomorrow’s top 5 list…

The national dog of Switzerland, which is where the breed originated, the St Bernard was recognised by the United Kingdom Kennel Club in the late 1800s with the first St Bernard Club being formed in 1882, followed by the formation of several others. This eventually culminated in the English St Bernard club, formed in 1922, the parent club for the breed.

Typical St Bernard facts

Height: Male 75cm (30 in)
Female 70cm (28in)
Weight: Male between 75 and 91kg (165-200lb)
Female between 68 and 91kg (149-200lb)
Average litter size: Between 5 and 10, although can be more.
Life expectancy: Between 8 and 11 years, although sometimes they can live to 13 or 14 years of age.
Good with children: Yes
Kennel Club classification: Working dog

Colour of a St Bernard

St Bernards are typically white with tan, orange and red-brindle patches on the body, which can vary in intensity. The muzzle, chest and legs, along with a blaze down the centre of the face are white. Black markings will also appear on the head and face, giving the St Bernard its well recognised appearance.

Grooming a St Bernard

There are two types of coat: rough haired and smooth. Both types of coat will benefit from daily brushing with a short toothed slicker brush, as well as a wide toothed comb to keep moulting to a minimum. You should also remove any knots or tangles. Care should be taken to keep the eyes and ears clean, as well as good dental care.

Common ailments/Health issues of a St Bernard

St Bernards are extremely strong, robust dogs who usually enjoy good health. Hip and elbow dysphasia can be hereditary in the breed so it is essential that the parents have undergone the necessary tests to avoid any problems. Hereditary heart and epilepsy conditions can also occur but again, the correct testing should avoid potential health problems in your puppy. Like many larger breeds the St Bernard can be prone to stomach bloat but correct feeding times, which do not immediately follow or precede exercise periods, as well as advice from your vet will keep your St Bernard healthy.

Temperament of the St Bernard

A St Bernard really is a gentle giant, very happy to play with children and other dogs as well as loving family life. A St Bernard will easily adapt to new additions to the home as well as adapting well to surroundings.

Training a St Bernard

It is advisable to train and socialise your St Bernard from a young age so that he will respond to your commands and be well behaved around others. A St Bernard tends to respond well to gentle training methods and is eager to please. As with all large breeds, training to walk well on the lead is essential as they are extremely strong, so control is necessary.

Exercise for a St Bernard

A St Bernard isn’t fully grown until 12 to 18 months of age so care should be taken not to over exercise whilst their bones, which are soft and easy to damage, are still growing. As puppies and young dogs they require short walks each day but when they reach twelve months they will require a little more exercise, building to a total of about 60 to 90 minutes each day, split into two walks. Longer walks will be appreciated as the St Bernard will adapt to most conditions within reason.

History of the St Bernard

The St Bernard originated in Switzerland between 1660 and 1670, when monks bred dogs descended from mastiff type dogs used by the Romans and monks as guard dogs. These early St Bernards were much smaller than the breed today, although with the same colouring.

In the early 1800s the breed came close to extinction after particularly bad storms and avalanches one winter killed many of the dogs, almost wiping the breed out. The breed was saved by cross breeding with similar dogs in nearby valleys. At this time the breed was without a name, although many called them Alpine Mastiffs or St Bernard Mastiffs.

They were eventually named after the St Bernard pass after a famous St Bernard, called Barry, saved the lives of 40 people lost in snow on the treacherous pass. On his 41st mission, Barry was killed by a traveller. The dog’s body was preserved and is still displayed at the Natural History museum in Berne, Switzerland.

Interestingly, the image of a St. Bernard with a cask of brandy tied around his neck rescuing stranded travellers was created by artists who portrayed the St Bernard this way. However, it is true that the St Bernard was used as a search and rescue dog with a search team until fairly recently, although it is now more usual to employ the services of a helicopter.

Famous St Bernards

There are many well known St Bernards who have appeared in films and on television. One that many will remember fondly is Schnorbitz, who appeared with comedian Bernie Winters on stage.

A well known book by Stephen king, which was later made into a film, introduced Cujo who portrayed a lovely St Bernard who contracts rabies and turns into a beast that terrorises a small American town.

Another movie star St Bernard played the part of Beethoven in 1992 in the movie, and its sequels. US football team the New Orleans Saints have a mascot called Gumbo, a well known St Bernard.

Useful St Bernard links

The English Saint Bernard Club

South of England St. Bernard Club

Yesterday, 51 year old Mary Ellen Collis pleased guilty to failing to meet the care and welfare needs of 14 St Bernard dogs and to causing unnecessary suffering to a further 85 St Bernards.

The dog breeder was formerly of Wardana Kennels, Brigstock and the RSPCA was alerted to the dogs condition by the general public.  In November last year, the RSPCA, a vet and the police were appalled at the state of the dogs they found at the dog breeder’s kennels.

The dog kennels were covered in faeces and urine with no fresh water or food available for the St Bernard dogs.  The dogs ranged from just 9 weeks old to 8 years old and their coats were found matted and filthy.  Nine puppies were outside in a pen where heat lamps were available but switched off.  Another thirteen dogs were in the kitchen with water but no food provided.

85 of the dogs were ill with a range of issues from eye conditions, ear infections, ulcerations and abscesses on the skin.  Three puppies were so thin you could see their ribs.  Many of the dogs were emaciated and one was so dehydrated she could not stand with open sores on her feet from urine scalds.  One St Bernard had to be put to sleep at the scene by the vet to save his suffering further and another died at the vets overnight.

Judging by the condition of the dogs, the vets concluded the breeder had neglected them for many weeks and even months.

RSPCA inspector Clint Davies commented: “To show such a disregard for the basic needs of so many animals is unacceptable.  Whilst there was no deliberate cruelty here, these dogs had been left in such a poor state that others may have died had we not been alerted. Many were in pain and suffering just because they had not received veterinary treatment and food.

“Thanks to the hard work of vets, our inspectors, officers and animal centres, new homes have now been found for all of the dogs. This could not have been done without the support of the public across the country who have once again helped us to provide a lifeline for animals in desperate need.”

The court was advised that Collis had been keeping dogs for 30 years without problems and her actions were out of character due to bankruptcy and her financial issues rather than a deliberate attention to neglect her dogs.  She will be sentenced at the end of this month.

This is a sad case; as we have reported in the past, the recession has certainly caused many people to abandon their dogs but to keep any dog in this state is unacceptable.

All the St Bernard dogs have now been rehomed into good homes by the RSPCA, who continue to require the public’s support, funding and for people to keep an eye out for signs of any animal abuse.

As regular readers will know, it was not too many months ago that the BBC documentary Pedigree Dogs Exposed and the follow up news that the BBC has dropped Crufts from its broadcasting schedule after 15 years has put the BBC at the centre of many arguments over how the Kennel Club encourages dog breeding for appearance as opposed to health.

It emerges that two-year-old Gumbo, whose real name is Shamus, is the 200lb son of two Crufts champions, top bitch Chandlimore Town Gossip With Carsahon and the top stud dog Poolsway No More Mr Nice Guy.  Shamus was actually entered in Crufts in 2008 with his competition name Enter Carashon Just The Ticket At Newkasbern and his brother, Carashon Take A Chance With Chandlimore, was top St Bernard at Crufts last year.

Reportedly, there have been many complaints from dog owners about the apparent double standards of the BBC especially as in the soap, Gumbo’s new owner, Bradley Branning, enters Gumbo in a dog show and later decides to use Gumbo as a stud dog in order to make some money.

Fourteen controversial dog breeds were linked to genetic disease, one of which is the St Bernard. This particular breed did not appear in the Pedigree Dogs Exposed programme, although it did appear in the ‘at risk’ breeds list from a panel of canine experts.  The BBC demanded that the Kennel Club drop these dog breeds from the show and when the Kennel Club refused, the BBC dropped the show from its schedule.

The fourteen dog breeds the BBC wanted to ban from Crufts television coverage are the Basset hound, Bloodhound, Bulldog, Cavalier King Charles spaniel, Chow chow, Clumber spaniel, Dogue de Bordeaux, German shepherd, Mastiff, Neapolitan mastiff, Pekinese Shar pei, Rhodesian ridgeback and, rather ironically, the St Bernard.

According to the RSPCA, the St Bernard breed tends:

“to be bred very large when they are already large and this can affect their breathing, cause heart conditions and strain the dog’s skeletal system”

Eastenders favourite dog extra, Well’ard, was portrayed as a mongrel although he was actually a rare Belgian Shepherd.

A spokesperson for the South of England St Bernard Club, Jim Coots, stated:

“I think the decision to introduce a St Bernard is very hypocritical . . . I have complained to the BBC. I watched an episode this week and there was even talk of breeding from the dog so they were even advertising possible bad breeding on the programme.”

The president of the English St Bernard Club, Pat Muggleton, also commented:

“Lots of people are commenting about this very strange decision by the BBC. When they won’t allow a St Bernard to be televised from Crufts it seems peculiar they are having it on EastEnders.”

Even the Kennel Club’s secretary, Caroline Sisko, released a statement saying:

“We are mystified by the decision. It seems very hypocritical. It could be one part of the BBC not knowing what the other has done. I watched it this week and was shocked. It is so odd. In one breath the BBC say the breed is at risk and the next minute they are showing a St Bernard as a show dog on BBC TV as if it is perfectly OK. Of course we as a club see no problem with the St Bernard, but the decision seems odd when we were told we had to stop the breed being shown at Crufts.”

In their defense, a BBC spokesperson said:

“There is no BBC rule to say St Bernards should not appear on screen at all following the decision to suspend broadcast of Crufts. A St Bernard appearing as a lovable fictional pet in EastEnders is very different in context to seeing them upheld as exemplary breeds in a prestigious televised dog show.”

The BBC went on to state they had received less than ten complaints and the owner of Shamus, Jean Miccican, did not wish to comment but said that Shamus was being well looked after at the BBC studio.

The dogs were found after breeder Mary-Ellen Collis disappeared without trace, her whereabouts are still unknown. Her kennels, the Wardana Kennels, are in Northants. The RSPCA rescued the dogs after the police were alerted to the dogs’ distress by a member of the public.

The RSPCA suspect that the dogs had been abandoned for up to a week. The dogs have now been rehoused in kennels close by in Peterborough and Nottingham. The RSPCA believe that four of the dogs found were housed there while the owners were away on holiday; the owners of two of those dogs have still to be notified, but two have been reunited with their owners.

RSPCA Justin Stubbs stated:

There was faeces everywhere and upturned bowls. Something has gone wrong.

Because they are such big dogs you wouldn’t expect to see so many dogs in such conditions.

I’ll be going home and having a stiff drink tonight. But it looks like we can do something with them.

Fifty-year-old Mrs Collis, the owner of the kennels is well known in breeding circles and her whereabouts are of the deepest concern for the Kennel Club.

A spokesman for the Kennel Club stated:

The Kennel Club is deeply concerned to hear about the alleged conditions that the dogs belonging to Mrs Collis have been found in and her apparent disappearance.

As an Accredited Breeder, Mrs Collis’ premises have been inspected by the Kennel Club and at that time there was nothing to give any cause for concern.

The Kennel Club is disturbed to now hear about the alleged dramatic decline in her dogs’ living conditions.