What Kind of Dog Is Beethoven? Breed Explained

Few dog movies have captured the hearts of animal lovers. This includes the movie “Beethoven”. It is a movie that tells a story about the bond between the Newton family and their newly adopted puppy. This movie took the 90s by storm and fans started to inquire about what kind of dog Beethoven was.

What Kind of Dog Is Beethoven?

Beethoven dog breed was a Saint Bernard. It is a type of mountain dog. The Saint Bernard is a giant working breed from the Western Alps. This dog was originally developed for rescue missions along the border of Italy and Switzerland.

The Beethoven type of dog is massive. They are known to be muscular dogs weighing from 120-180 pounds. While they may have a large frame they also have friendly expressions, gentle nature, and love bonding with their families. They are known as “gentle giants”.

In recent times, people have considered Saint Bernards as family pets. They are famous for their affectionate and easygoing nature. These dogs can sense human emotions. Due to this reason, they are excellent service animals, especially for psychiatric support. Their tender nature helps bring smiles to faces. They do leave a bit of fur around the house but if you are not bothered by it then you’ll find them loving companions.

Their instinctive friendly nature can immediately reduce the fear of their large size. They are protective of the family members and well-behaved with children. So if you have children at home, you can rest assured that they will not injure them.

Beethoven types of dogs are eager to please, hence making their training easier.

Temperament

What breed of dog is Beethoven? Beethoven is the Saint Bernard with calm, easy-going, and low energy. It is a slow-mover dog but a quick learner. They have a very affectionate and loving nature towards the family and are friendly towards strangers. They will interact with the other pets in a house but will be hesitant towards unfamiliar dogs.

Moreover, when they reach adulthood they play for a short duration. Although they are not the best watchdog due to their large size they can scare any intruder. They are a good choice for people of all ages due to their war nature. But since they are big it can be difficult to handle for elderly people or children.

Additionally, with their low energy level and low tolerance for heat, you can not choose them as jogging or hiking companions. It should be noted that these are common traits of this breed and not specific to individual dogs.

Grooming and Care

These dogs have fluffy and furry bodies that require care to keep them healthy and joyful. They have a thick double coat that helps to keep them warm in chilly weather. Regular grooming which includes brushing their fur and occasional baths will keep them looking clean.

Due to their muscular body, they need moderate exercise to avoid becoming obese if not taken care of. Furthermore, being overweight will cause joint issues. So, avoid over-feeding them since excess weight will strain their joints and worsen problems in the hips or elbows.

The St. Bernards’ bodies are prone to heat exhaustion, so it is necessary to ensure they are not exercising in hot weather. Additionally, ensure they exercise in the shade and have water to keep their body cool. There are some signs you can spot when they have heat exhaustion. This includes, heavy panting, dark red gums, and weakness.

Moreover during the grooming session, look for any signs of infection such as redness or sores. Ensure that the eyes should be clear with no discharge. If you’re unsure about grooming, ask the breeder or visit a professional groomer.

Feeding

They need 5 to 6 of dry food, divided into two meals. The quantity of food consumed by a dog depends on their body weight, age, metabolism and the level of their activity. Active dogs will need more food then the less active ones. If they are fed with quality and nutritious food then the frequency of their feeds will be less.

To figure out if your dog is obese, you will have to measure their waist and feel their ribs, without pressing too hard. If you do not feel their ribs, it indicates that they are overweight. Thus, you will need to decrease the quantity of their food.

Coat Color

This breed has two types of coats. One is shorthaired and the other is long-haired. The short-haired has smooth and thick hair on thighs and tail. In contrast, the long-haired coat is slightly wavy with feathering on the forelegs and bushy thighs and tail.

Furthermore, the coats are either red with white or white with red. It can range from brindle patches to brownish-yellow color. Additionally, white markings on the chest, neck, nose, feet, and tail tip. Their attractive features include a white spot on the neck, a white blaze on the face, and dark markings on the head and ears.

Conclusion

This article explored the famous dog “Beethoven” from a 90s movie. We found that the dog is from the Saint Bernard breed, who are large and gentle dogs. They are known for their friendly socializing skills and need proper grooming and exercise for better health and well-being.