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Saint
Bernard
Working Group
Breed Standard
SHORTHAIRED
General
Powerful, proportionately tall figure, strong and muscular in every part, with
powerful head and most intelligent expression. In dogs with a dark mask the expression appears more stern, but never ill-natured.
Head
Like the whole body, very powerful and imposing. The massive skull is wide,
slightly arched and the sides slope in a gentle curve into the very strongly
developed, high cheek bones. Occiput only moderately developed. The
supra-orbital ridge is very strongly developed and forms nearly a right angle
with the long axis of the head. Deeply imbedded between the eyes and starting at
the root of the muzzle, a furrow runs over the whole skull. It is strongly
marked in the first half, gradually disappearing toward the base of the occiput.
The lines at the sides of the head diverge considerably from the outer corner of
the eyes toward the back of the head. The skin of the forehead, above the eyes,
forms rather noticeable wrinkles, more or less pronounced, which converge toward
the furrow. Especially when the dog is alert or at attention the wrinkles are
more visible without in the least giving the impression of morosity. Too
strongly developed wrinkles are not desired. The slope from the skull to the
muzzle is sudden and rather steep.
The muzzle is short, does not taper, and the vertical depth at the root of the
muzzle must be greater than the length of the muzzle. The bridge of the muzzle
is not arched, but straight; in some dogs, occasionally, slightly broken. A
rather wide, well-marked, shallow furrow runs from the root of the muzzle over
the entire bridge of the muzzle to the nose. The flews of the upper jaw are
strongly developed, not sharply cut, but turning in a beautiful curve into the
lower edge, and slightly overhanging. The flews of the lower jaw must not be
deeply pendant. The teeth should be sound and strong and should meet in either a
scissors or an even bite; the scissors bite being preferable. The undershot
bite, although sometimes found with good specimens, is not desirable. The
overshot bite is a fault. A black roof to the mouth is desirable.
Nose (Schwamm)
Very substantial, broad, with wide open nostrils, and, like the lips, always
black.
Ears
Of medium size, rather high set, with very strongly developed burr (Muschel) at
the base. They stand slightly away from the head at the base, then drop with a
sharp bend to the side and cling to the head without a turn. The flap is tender
and forms a rounded triangle, slightly elongated toward the point, the front
edge lying firmly to the head, whereas the back edge may stand somewhat away
from the head, especially when the dog is at attention. Lightly set ears, which
at the base immediately cling to the head, give it an oval and too little marked
exterior, whereas a strongly developed base gives the skull a squarer, broader
and much more expressive appearance.
Eyes
Set more to the front than the sides, are of medium size, dark brown, with
intelligent, friendly expression, set moderately deep. The lower eyelids, as a
rule, do not close completely and, if that is the case, form an angular wrinkle
toward the inner corner of the eye. Eyelids which are too deeply pendant and
show conspicuously the lachrymal glands, or a very red, thick haw, and eyes that
are too light, are objectionable.
Neck
Set high, very strong and when alert or at attention is carried erect. Otherwise
horizontally or slightly downward. The junction of head and neck is distinctly
marked by an indentation. The nape of the neck is very muscular and rounded at
the sides which makes the neck appear rather short. The dewlap of throat and
neck is well pronounced: too strong development, however, is not desirable.
Shoulders
Sloping and broad, very muscular and powerful. The withers are strongly
pronounced.
Chest
Very well arched, moderately deep, not reaching below the elbows.
Back
Very broad, perfectly straight as far as the haunches, from there gently sloping
to the rump, and merging imperceptibly into the root of the tail.
Hindquarters
Well-developed. Legs very muscular.
Belly
Distinctly set off from the very powerful loin section, only little drawn up.
Tail
Starting broad and powerful directly from the rump is long, very heavy, ending
in a powerful tip. In repose it hangs straight down, turning gently upward in
the lower third only, which is not considered a fault. In a great many specimens
the tail is carried with the end slightly bent and therefore hangs down in the
shape of an "f". In action all dogs carry the tail more or less turned
upward. However it may not be carried too erect or by any means rolled over the
back. A slight curling of the tip is sooner admissible.
Upper Arms
Very powerful and extraordinarily muscular.
Lower Leg
Straight, strong.
Hind legs
Hocks of moderate angulation. Dewclaws are not desired; if present, they must
not obstruct gait.
Feet
Broad, with strong toes, moderately closed, and with rather high knuckles. The
so-called dewclaws which sometimes occur on the inside of the hind legs are
imperfectly developed toes. They are of no use to the dog and are not taken into
consideration in judging. They may be removed by surgery.
Coat
Very dense, short-haired (stockhaarig), lying smooth, tough, without however
feeling rough to the touch. The thighs are slightly bushy. The tail at the root
has longer and denser hair which gradually becomes shorter toward the tip. The
tail appears bushy, not forming a flag.
Color
White with red or red with white, the red in its various shades; brindle patches
with white markings. The colors red and brown-yellow are of entirely equal
value. Necessary markings are: white chest, feet and tip of tail, noseband,
collar or spot on the nape; the latter and blaze are very desirable. Never of
one color or without white. Faulty are all other colors, except the favorite
dark shadings on the head (mask) and ears. One distinguishes between mantle dogs
and splash-coated dogs.
Height at Shoulder
Of the dog should be 27½ inches minimum, of the bitch 25½ inches. Female
animals are of finer and more delicate build.
Considered as faults--are all deviations from the Standard, as for
instance a swayback and a disproportionately long back, hocks too much bent,
straight hindquarters, upward growing hair in spaces between the toes, out at
elbows, cowhocks and weak pasterns.
LONGHAIRED
The longhaired type completely resembles the shorthaired type except for the
coat which is not shorthaired (stockhaarig) but of medium length plain to
slightly wavy, never rolled or curly and not shaggy either. Usually, on the
back, especially from the region of the haunches to the rump, the hair is more
wavy, a condition, by the way, that is slightly indicated in the shorthaired
dogs. The tail is bushy with dense hair of moderate length. Rolled or curly
hair, or a flag tail, is faulty. Face and ears are covered with short and soft
hair; longer hair at the base of the ear is permissible. Forelegs only slightly
feathered; thighs very bushy.
Approved April 13, 1998
Effective May 31, 1998
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Saint Bernard Rescue Foundation, INC.
saintrescue.org