3. Bernard, St.
* Average Cost: $1,800
Origin Country: Swiss/Italian Alps
The St. Bernard is a large, strong working dog, weighing up to 260 pounds and standing as tall as 35 inches. Originally bred for rescue by the St. Bernard Pass hospice, these dogs helped save people stranded in the snow near the Italian-Swiss border.
St. Bernard, Shutterstock and Artush
Named after the Italian monk Bernard of Menthon, who bred them in 1660, the St. Bernard is famous for heroic rescues.
Loved by many, St. Bernards have appeared in movies for years. The 1990s film Beethoven, featuring a St. Bernard, was so popular it led to seven sequels.