Meet Beau. Beau is a 14-week-old St Bernard puppy.
I spotted him in Borough Market while he was sitting in front of Monmouth Cafe with his owner. He was deeply asleep, and looked like a big fluffy teddy bear. Thankfully, he wasn't at all cross at being woken up to do a bit of posing. The reason for that ease in front of the camera could be that Beau is used to a lot of attention and stars on his own website, called Strictly Beau.
Beau means beautiful in French and our Beau definitely fits the bill. He is incredibly good looking chappie with bags of charm. I was rather smitten with his big fluffy paws, speckled muzzle and a slightly mournful expression, which is so typical of a St Bernard. Apparently, sleeping and drinking tea are Beau's favourite things in life. He graciously accepted a couple of doggie chocs, before retreating underneath the bench again to get some more beauty sleep.
If you want to see what Beau will look like when he's grown up, you can have a look at his Dad.
The St Bernard is an old mountain breed, originally bred in the Alps. You may know the St Bernard as the dog with a mini barrel of brandy on his neck. They were, and still are, used to search and rescue people who become lost or fall victim to snow avalanches in the mountains. Although, I am not sure if they still ply the unfortunate tourists with brandy... St Bernards are large and strong, with a calm and focussed temperament. However, they can be a bit stubborn, so need a good, disciplined upbringing.
More about St Bernards: South of England St Bernard Club
