St. Bernards

Popularised by the 1992 film Beethoven, St. Bernards were originally bred as rescue and working dogs. Full grown males can weigh up to 240 lb (110+ kg) and stand up to a metre tall.

The tale that St. Bernards often rescue people with a barrel of brandy worn around their neck appears to be entirely improbable. It's also worth noting that brandy would kill a person suffering from hypothermia.

The St. Bernard name originates from a traveler's hospice on the St. Bernard Pass between Switzerland and Italy.

Other famous St. Bernards include Cujo, and a brief appearance near the end of the 1969 James Bond film, On Her Majesty's Secret Service.