The breed of dog that Beethoven is or was is a long haired St Bernard.
The Saint Bernard or St. Bernard is a breed of very large working dog from the Western Alps in Italy and Switzerland.
They were originally bred for rescue work by the hospice of the Great St Bernard Pass on the Italian-Swiss border.
St Bernard dogs have a lifespan of between 8 to 10 years.
Today Saint Bernards can be short or long-haired, and their coat is white with red markings that can come in various shades.
Saint Bernards come in two coat types: shorthaired and longhaired.
The shorthaired Saint has a dense, smooth coat.
His longhaired brother has a medium-length coat that is slightly wavy.
Either coat type can be white with red or red with white.
Known to be loving, gentle and tolerant in spite of its size, Saint Bernards are a good with families with well-behaved children.
In addition, they are eager to please, making training easier.
Saint Bernards can be found in two coat types: shorthaired and longhaired.
The shorthaired coat is smooth but dense.