what breed?

 Maybe it WAS a Saint?  Breeds have changed a lot, even in that time...wouldn't surprise me if things like longer coat were being bred for now?

Other than that, no idea, sorry Karen!

 I did think about that Kate - just don't know but when I have the time I am going to try and find some of those pics online and have a better look.  They do not allow pics in the house - and if this is your house I'm guessing it's unlikely your dog is a mutt LOL.  It was a really neat looking dog but not one that the breed jumped out at me - thus everytime I saw another family pic with it I looked harder and harder at the dog - it is very clear that I am dog crazy

Not sure if this is the same dog featured with the kids but link

Ah this is the pic that really peaked my interest link second picture on the right hand side!

Interesting!   Check out the size of the paws!  I have no idea, I'm going to try Google and see what I find.

There is a 1902 NY Times article:

BISHOP DOANE GETS A DOG.; George Vanderbilt Presents a St. Bernard to Take the Lamanted Cluny's Place.

My computer won't let me open the article:

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=950CE7DA1E3DEE32A2575AC0A9679D946397D6CF

That house...WOW!   Looks like a very interesting place to tour!! 

Another breed that comes to mind is a Landseer Newf, they seemed to be pretty popular back then.

 It really does look like a Saint to me, and according to wikipedia (I thought I remembered this but wanted to confirm) Saints come in smooth coat and rough (long) coat varieties.  Allowing for breed variations over 100 years, that pic with the little girl looks like a smooth coat Saint, it has a lanky look to it but nothing that wouldn't be explained if the dog was still an adolescent.  The article linked above discusses a Saint "from the kennels of George Vanderbilt" so it sounds as though he bred them.

And Karen, nothing wrong with being dog crazy! LOL.

LillianD

There is a 1902 NY Times article:

BISHOP DOANE GETS A DOG.; George Vanderbilt Presents a St. Bernard to Take the Lamanted Cluny's Place.

My computer won't let me open the article:

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=950CE7DA1E3DEE32A2575AC0A9679D946397D6CF

You are awesome!

The house is amazing - it is all still furnished as it was, is still owned by the Cecil family (married Vanderbilt) and really 'castle-esque' in its size etc. I found the expose on how they made it interesting and as an 'outdoors' person the gardens and all the landscape could keep you busy for days.  I know I am off topic here but lastly the landscape was designed by Olmstead which is the guy that did Central Park in NY.

If I am ever in that area, I am definitely taking a tour. It looks AMAZING, I think it would definitely be fascinating to see!   I was spending a long time on the website just checking it out, really cool!

I think it is probably a smooth-coated St. Bernard.  I found a painting of a smooth-coated Saint that's older, and it looks quite similar. 

Yes, that's a Saint.  They weren't quite as massive and "heady" as they are now (no dogs were, actually).

Biltmore is amazing.  I guess you are seeing the Christmas decorations, too?  I'd love to do that but I just can't justify the expense.  Or I'd love to do Michaelmas.  I've been twice, once in summer and once in early spring.  The last time, I treated my mom and sisters who had just moved here from CA and they were just floored.  It takes a lot to impress a native San Franciscan! 

My favorite part is the gardens.  And the views from the promenades.  The house was quite lovely but if I had lived there you couldn't have gotten me indoors most of the year. 

brookcove

I'd love to do that but I just can't justify the expense.

I thought too that the pic with GV and dog looked very saint but the one with the daughter is such a splay footed beast, cracked me up.