Other Name(s) Alpine Mastiff, Bernhardiner, Saint Bernard Dog, St. Bernard, St. Bernard Dog, St. Bernhardshund
Breed Type Pure
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Breed Spotlight
Origins
The ancestry of the Saint Bernard breed is easier than that of many breeds due to the excellent records kept from an early date by the monks of the hospice at St. Bernard. It is believed that Mastiff-type dogs entered the region with their Roman masters about a hundred years before the birth of Christ. These Molassers, also referred to as Tibetan dogs, were originally from Asia. The monks probably crossed these dogs with the Great Dane and the Great Pyrenees before the fall of the Roman Empire in 476 CE. After that, the pass wasn’t often used for travel, isolating the monks and their dogs. This isolation ensured that crossbreeding would be rare, thereby preserving the traits of the breed.
Later, during medieval times, the pass was again heavily traveled as people on religious pilgrimages crossed the Alps using the Montjoux pass. Around the year of 1000 CE, Bernard of Montjoux was consecrated as Saint Bernard of Montjoux. His primary concern was providing aid to travelers at the pass, so the pass was renamed St Bernard Pass in honor of this saint.
Art often chronicles the history, and the first record of dogs living at the hospice is a painting from the 1690s depicting two dogs that are obvious ancestors of the St. Bernard. It seems that dogs from the valley were brought up to the hospice as gifts for companionship and protection. When the monks took their dogs out with them as they helped the lost and weary travelers, they soon realized their dogs were great at tracking and began to train them to help with rescues.
From 1774 to 1827, an account was kept of the monks and their dogs. Included in this narrative was a description of one of the most famous St. Bernards, Barry, who lived from 1800–1814. Barry has often been portrayed with a small keg of brandy around his neck, thought to have been carried that way to help the shivering victims of the deep Alpine snow. When studied more carefully, however, it appears as though the flasks were not usually carried around the dog’s neck—a minor fact that takes nothing away from the forty heroic rescues credited to Barry. His stuffed body is on display in the Museum of Natural History in Berne, Switzerland, to this day. It serves to honor Barry and all the other St. Bernards who have helped people in peril crossing the treacherous pass. The hospice still honors the memory of this fine dog by always having one of their dogs named Barry.
In 1800, Napoleon Bonaparte led his army across the harsh Alpine mountains into Italy, an event that was represented in a painting called “Napoleon Crossing the Alps” by Jacques Louis David. During this time, several French soldiers were saved by the St. Bernard dogs following an avalanche. In fact, one of Napoleon’s soldiers was buried at the hospice when he lost his life in a battle fought nearby. The name of General Desaix is still inscribed on the marble plaque where his body lies in the hospice’s chapel.
The original St. Bernard had a short, smooth coat, but around 1830 the monks crossbred the dogs with Newfoundlands to lengthen their coats in the interest of warmth. However, this idea backfired, as the longer fur would get balls of ice in it, slowing the dogs down and actually making them colder. Soon, the monks decided to return to the short-haired, smooth-coated dogs and gave their long-haired, rough-coated dogs to the villagers living in the valley below their hospice. The rough-coated type is still very popular with dog fanciers and makes as great a companion dog as the smooth-coated dogs.
Today, there is limited need for the rescue dogs of the past as there is very little foot travel, except for the rarely seen hitchhiker. If there is a need for a rescue team, they can usually arrive at the scene by helicopter. Just the same, there are still a good many skiers, so the hospice keeps search-and-rescue-trained St. Bernards that are occasionally called upon for their services.
Breed Characteristics
Head: Somewhat mesaticephalic skull-type, moderate in size and in proportion to the rest of the body. It is deep and broad, with the topskull being as wide (measured from one side to the other in front of the ears) as it is long (measured from stop to occiput). The width between the outer edges of the cheekbones is approximately equal to twice the width of the muzzle. The topskull is slightly arched when viewed from the front or in profile. When ears are brought to alert, the ears and topline of the skull may appear to form a straight line. The topskull gently slopes toward the supraorbital ridges, which are strongly developed. The occiput is just moderately perceptible. A median furrow starts at the stop and runs up the topskull, disappearing toward the occiput. When the dog is brought to alert, some wrinkling on the forehead is permissible. Excess wrinkling is undesirable. The depth of the head above the muzzle is approximately equal to the length of the muzzle.
Eyes: The eyes are moderate in size and proportionate to the rest of the skull. They are somewhat deeply set. The eye color may range from light brown to dark brown. The eye shape may be open-almond, diamond, or lemon-shaped. The eye rims are well-fitted and well-pigmented. Naturally well-fitted eye rims are most desirable. Eyes that are incapable of completely closing shut, or eyes without top and bottom lids meeting snuggly when closed, are not desirable. Dogs with exposed haws or pink membranes, loose eyelids, or other eye abnormalities are to be disqualified. Any signs of entropion or ectropion are incorrect for this breed, and dogs exhibiting such signs should be disqualified.
Ears: Medium in size, set high and wide on the skull, and drop. They are triangular in shape, being wide at the base with rounded tips. A slight lift at the base is desirable. The inner edge should lie close to the head. The ears are never long and hound-like or fly away.
Muzzle: The muzzle is full, deep, and broad. The plane, or bridge of the muzzle, is straight. The width at the base of the muzzle is equal to the length of the muzzle. The depth of the muzzle should equal twice the length of the muzzle. The plane of the muzzle is straight and level. There is no taper to the muzzle, and with the flews and lips, the muzzle is squared off, forming a block shape as opposed to a wedge shape found in many other breeds. The upper and lower jaws are well-developed, approximately equal in length, and have good bone substance, never appearing snipey or weak.
Nose: The nose is broad, well-pigmented, and black. The nostrils are well-opened.
Neck: Moderate length allows for proud head carriage. The neck is strongly muscled with a slight arch. It tapers smoothly from the deeper and broader body toward the head. The neck is fairly clean-cut; however, somewhat looser skin on the throat forming a very slight dewlap is permissible.
Chest: Deep and broad but never wider than deep. The brisket extends to the point of the elbows.
Body: Solid, deep, and of good substance. The body is never light or refined. The width at the forequarters is approximately equal to the width at the hindquarters.
Feet: Oval to round and compact, with well-arched toes and tough pads.
Tail: Set rather low on the croup. It is thick at the base and tapering toward the tip. The tail is carried in accordance with the dog’s mood and energy level. When moving or alert, the tail may be carried upward but never up over the back or tucked. The tail is somewhat long, with the tip of the last vertebrae extending to the hock joints when held down. The tail may be straight, gently curved, or with a curve toward the end.
Movement: The Saint Bernard breed’s original purpose required them to negotiate a number of maneuvers over varying types of terrain at high altitudes. This included long treks, swift travel, digging, and climbing, all of which required strength, agility, and power. Therefore, the modern-day Saint Bernard’s movement should reflect all of these characteristics. Movement should be agile yet powerful, effortless, efficient, and never heavy or encumbered in any way. The characteristics of a healthy structure are evident. When moving away, the forelegs and rear pasterns should remain parallel to one another. When viewing movement from the front, the forelegs should remain parallel, with elbows and paws moving neither in nor out. From the rear, the back pads should be visible when the rear legs are extended. As speed increases, the forelimbs and hindlimbs will converge to the center line of gravity. From the side, the topline should remain firm and level. Good reach of movement in the front allows the forepaw to extend out in line with the nose. When extended, the width between the forefeet should be approximately equal to the width between the hindfeet when extended, indicating balance, good reach, and good drive. Dogs that exhibit any sign of breathing or locomotive difficulty shall be disqualified from the show ring.
Temperament: The Saint Bernard is a wonderful companion dog, being calm and even-tempered. They are loyal, affectionate, and patient. Their patience and large size make them a durable companion for children, although training them to be mindful of their large size should be implemented early on to ensure they don’t accidentally harm the children. As natural watchdogs, they keep their eyes, ears, and noses peeled for their family’s safety. Although mostly friendly, some adults may grow to be indifferent toward strangers, which is not a fault. Any unprovoked aggressive or fearful behavior toward people is incorrect for this breed.
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Breed Standard
BREED GROUP 9: Large Guardian Pastoral/Mountain Dogs
Proportions: The Saint Bernard is an off-square to somewhat rectangular breed with the body length (measured from the point of the forechest to the point of the rump) being slightly (between 7-10%) greater than the height at the withers. The ideal body-length-to-height ratio from the point of the shoulder to the point of the rump compared to the height at the withers is 10:9. Females may be slightly longer. The body is well put together and substantial with solid bone. Although the Saint Bernard is considered a large-breed dog, preference should be given to moderately sized specimens capable of both strength and endurance to perform the job that they were originally developed for, not the overly massive, heavy-boned, and pendulous-skinned specimens that are becoming prevalent in the breed. Preference should be placed on soundness and quality instead of sheer size alone. A lesser-sized specimen can be given preference if all of the elements of quality and soundness are present. The weight of males or females is always in proportion to height.
Head
General Appearance: Somewhat mesaticephalic skull-type, moderate in size and in proportion to the rest of the body. It is deep and broad, with the topskull being as wide (measured from one side to the other in front of the ears) as it is long (measured from stop to occiput). The width between the outer edges of the cheekbones is approximately equal to twice the width of the muzzle. The topskull is slightly arched when viewed from the front or in profile. When ears are brought to alert, the ears and topline of the skull may appear to form a straight line. The topskull gently slopes toward the supraorbital ridges, which are strongly developed. The occiput is just moderately perceptible. A median furrow starts at the stop and runs up the topskull, disappearing toward the occiput. When the dog is brought to alert, some wrinkling on the forehead is permissible. Excess wrinkling is undesirable. The depth of the head above the muzzle is approximately equal to the length of the muzzle.
Expression: The expression is intelligent, contemplative, friendly, and watchful.
Stop: The stop is definite, preferably forming a 90-degree angle between the topskull and muzzle.
Skull: The ideal muzzle-to-skull ratio is 2:1, with the topskull being longer than the muzzle. The ideal muzzle-to-skull axis is parallel or may be slightly convergent.
Muzzle: The muzzle is full, deep, and broad. The plane, or bridge of the muzzle, is straight. The width at the base of the muzzle is equal to the length of the muzzle. The depth of the muzzle should equal twice the length of the muzzle. The plane of the muzzle is straight and level. There is no taper to the muzzle, and with the flews and lips, the muzzle is squared off, forming a block shape as opposed to a wedge shape found in many other breeds. The upper and lower jaws are well-developed, approximately equal in length, and have good bone substance, never appearing snipey or weak.
Lips or Flews: The flews are thick, covering both upper and lower jaws and hanging right at the line of the lower jaw. They should not fall away sharply or be so firm as to give a tapered appearance to the muzzle but instead gently (almost imperceptibly) curve toward the jawline. The length of the flews is equal to 1.5 to 2 times the length of the muzzle. The lips should never appear overly pendulous or hang well below the jawline.
Nose: The nose is broad, well-pigmented, and black. The nostrils are well-opened.
Cheeks: The cheeks are well-developed and well-muscled, never appearing chiseled or coarse.
Dentition and Bite: Forty-two strong, clean, and white teeth. The bite may be level, scissor, or reverse-scissor. Contact must be made between the top and bottom incisors. Missing or broken teeth due to routine work are not to be penalized.
Eyes: The eyes are moderate in size and proportionate to the rest of the skull. They are somewhat deeply set. The eye color may range from light brown to dark brown. The eye shape may be open-almond, diamond, or lemon-shaped. The eye rims are well-fitted and well-pigmented. Naturally well-fitted eye rims are most desirable. Eyes that are incapable of completely closing shut, or eyes without top and bottom lids meeting snuggly when closed, are not desirable. Dogs with exposed haws or pink membranes, loose eyelids, or other eye abnormalities are to be disqualified. Any signs of entropion or ectropion are incorrect for this breed, and dogs exhibiting such signs should be disqualified.
Ears: Medium in size, set high and wide on the skull, and drop. They are triangular in shape, being wide at the base with rounded tips. A slight lift at the base is desirable. The inner edge should lie close to the head. The ears are never long and hound-like or fly away.
Body and Tail
General Description: Solid, deep, and of good substance. The body is never light or refined. The width at the forequarters is approximately equal to the width at the hindquarters.
Neck: Moderate length allows for proud head carriage. The neck is strongly muscled with a slight arch. It tapers smoothly from the deeper and broader body toward the head. The neck is fairly clean-cut; however, somewhat looser skin on the throat forming a very slight dewlap is permissible.
Chest: Deep and broad but never wider than deep. The brisket extends to the point of the elbows.
Topline: Level from slightly prominent withers to croup. The back is broad, strongly muscled, and straight, yet supple. The loin is taut, flat, level, or slightly arched, yet supportive. The back is never swayed or roached.
Croup: Long, broad, and gently sloped.
Underline: A slight tuck-up is present, or the underline may run parallel to the topline. The underline is taut and firm, without any indication of sagging or excess weight.
Ribs: Long, well-sprung, well-laid-back, and oval-shaped, never barrel-chested or slab-sided.
Tail: Set rather low on the croup. It is thick at the base and tapering toward the tip. The tail is carried in accordance with the dog’s mood and energy level. When moving or alert, the tail may be carried upward but never up over the back or tucked. The tail is somewhat long, with the tip of the last vertebrae extending to the hock joints when held down. The tail may be straight, gently curved, or with a curve toward the end.
Forequarters and Hindquarters
Forequarters: The forequarters are always balanced with the hindquarters and well-angulated with well-laid-back shoulder blades. Shoulder blades are approximately equal in length to the upper arm and forearm.
Elbows: The elbows are close to the body. The point of the elbows is approximately half the dog’s height at the withers.
Forelegs: Frontal View: Straight, of good muscle, solid bone, and parallel to one another. Side View: The forelimbs appear straight with strong pasterns.
Pasterns: Never weak or broken.
Hindquarters: The upper and lower thighs are equal in length, strong, sturdy, of solid bone, and well-muscled. Rear View: When viewed from the rear, the rear pasterns are parallel to one another. Side View: Good angulation will allow the rear toes to align with the point of the rump or within one to two paw-lengths behind the point of the rump, with the rear pasterns remaining perpendicular to the ground and parallel to one another.
Stifle Joint: Well-angulated with a good bend to well-let-down rear pasterns.
Angulations: The angulation of the hindquarters is always in balance with the angulation of the forequarters.
Feet: Oval to round and compact, with well-arched toes and tough pads.
Coat
Skin: Well-fitted, yet supple. The skin should never obstruct the outline of the dog.
Coat Type: The Saint Bernard breed comes in two coat varieties: the Stockhaarig (smooth coat) and the long coat.
Stockhaarig coat variety: Thick, close-lying outer coat is short on the body, slightly longer, thicker, flat, or wavy on thighs and bushy tail. Short, dense undercoat.
Long-coat variety: Medium length with feathering on ears, neck, chest, brisket, underline, thighs, and plumed tail. A wave in the coat is permissible. Short, dense undercoat.
Coat Color or Pattern: CKC recognizes two color varieties of the Saint Bernard breed: the standard and nonstandard.
Standard coat color variety: Various shades of tan, orange, red, mahogany, red-brown, and yellowish-brown, all with or without mask extension, light, medium, or dark sabling, grizzle, brindle, all with a dark mask that extends at least to the brows, but may extend throughout the body. Mask extension may appear almost black on the body but should have a lighter undercoat, and white face markings may cover the mask on some individuals. All may be with mantle (Irish piebald markings that include the feet, tip of the tail, nose band, nape spot, or full collar, with or without a blaze) or splashed (predominantly white with splashes of the above-listed colors). Etching around white edges is permissible. Never any one color or pattern without white.
Nonstandard coat color variety: Black and white, tan or red with saddle and white, lemon and white, cream and white, solid white, and any other color not specified in the standard coat color variation.
Movement
The Saint Bernard breed’s original purpose required them to negotiate a number of maneuvers over varying types of terrain at high altitudes. This included long treks, swift travel, digging, and climbing, all of which required strength, agility, and power. Therefore, the modern-day Saint Bernard’s movement should reflect all of these characteristics. Movement should be agile yet powerful, effortless, efficient, and never heavy or encumbered in any way. The characteristics of a healthy structure are evident. When moving away, the forelegs and rear pasterns should remain parallel to one another. When viewing movement from the front, the forelegs should remain parallel, with elbows and paws moving neither in nor out. From the rear, the back pads should be visible when the rear legs are extended. As speed increases, the forelimbs and hindlimbs will converge to the center line of gravity. From the side, the topline should remain firm and level. Good reach of movement in the front allows the forepaw to extend out in line with the nose. When extended, the width between the forefeet should be approximately equal to the width between the hindfeet when extended, indicating balance, good reach, and good drive. Dogs that exhibit any sign of breathing or locomotive difficulty shall be disqualified from the show ring.
Temperament
The Saint Bernard is a wonderful companion dog, being calm and even-tempered. They are loyal, affectionate, and patient. Their patience and large size make them a durable companion for children, although training them to be mindful of their large size should be implemented early on to ensure they don’t accidentally harm the children. As natural watchdogs, they keep their eyes, ears, and noses peeled for their family’s safety. Although mostly friendly, some adults may grow to be indifferent toward strangers, which is not a fault. Any unprovoked aggressive or fearful behavior toward people is incorrect for this breed.
Faults
All dogs should be in proper healthy condition, free from disease or defect. Any departure from this description is considered a fault. Unless altered, all male dogs should have two fully descended testicles.
BREED GROUP 9: Large Guardian Pastoral/Mountain Dogs
Proportions: The Saint Bernard is an off-square to somewhat rectangular breed with the body length (measured from the point of the forechest to the point of the rump) being slightly (between 7-10%) greater than the height at the withers. The ideal body-length-to-height ratio from the point of the shoulder to the point of the rump compared to the height at the withers is 10:9. Females may be slightly longer. The body is well put together and substantial with solid bone. Although the Saint Bernard is considered a large-breed dog, preference should be given to moderately sized specimens capable of both strength and endurance to perform the job that they were originally developed for, not the overly massive, heavy-boned, and pendulous-skinned specimens that are becoming prevalent in the breed. Preference should be placed on soundness and quality instead of sheer size alone. A lesser-sized specimen can be given preference if all of the elements of quality and soundness are present. The weight of males or females is always in proportion to height.
Head
General Appearance: Somewhat mesaticephalic skull-type, moderate in size and in proportion to the rest of the body. It is deep and broad, with the topskull being as wide (measured from one side to the other in front of the ears) as it is long (measured from stop to occiput). The width between the outer edges of the cheekbones is approximately equal to twice the width of the muzzle. The topskull is slightly arched when viewed from the front or in profile. When ears are brought to alert, the ears and topline of the skull may appear to form a straight line. The topskull gently slopes toward the supraorbital ridges, which are strongly developed. The occiput is just moderately perceptible. A median furrow starts at the stop and runs up the topskull, disappearing toward the occiput. When the dog is brought to alert, some wrinkling on the forehead is permissible. Excess wrinkling is undesirable. The depth of the head above the muzzle is approximately equal to the length of the muzzle.
Expression: The expression is intelligent, contemplative, friendly, and watchful.
Stop: The stop is definite, preferably forming a 90-degree angle between the topskull and muzzle.
Skull: The ideal muzzle-to-skull ratio is 2:1, with the topskull being longer than the muzzle. The ideal muzzle-to-skull axis is parallel or may be slightly convergent.
Muzzle: The muzzle is full, deep, and broad. The plane, or bridge of the muzzle, is straight. The width at the base of the muzzle is equal to the length of the muzzle. The depth of the muzzle should equal twice the length of the muzzle. The plane of the muzzle is straight and level. There is no taper to the muzzle, and with the flews and lips, the muzzle is squared off, forming a block shape as opposed to a wedge shape found in many other breeds. The upper and lower jaws are well-developed, approximately equal in length, and have good bone substance, never appearing snipey or weak.
Lips or Flews: The flews are thick, covering both upper and lower jaws and hanging right at the line of the lower jaw. They should not fall away sharply or be so firm as to give a tapered appearance to the muzzle but instead gently (almost imperceptibly) curve toward the jawline. The length of the flews is equal to 1.5 to 2 times the length of the muzzle. The lips should never appear overly pendulous or hang well below the jawline.
Nose: The nose is broad, well-pigmented, and black. The nostrils are well-opened.
Cheeks: The cheeks are well-developed and well-muscled, never appearing chiseled or coarse.
Dentition and Bite: Forty-two strong, clean, and white teeth. The bite may be level, scissor, or reverse-scissor. Contact must be made between the top and bottom incisors. Missing or broken teeth due to routine work are not to be penalized.
Eyes: The eyes are moderate in size and proportionate to the rest of the skull. They are somewhat deeply set. The eye color may range from light brown to dark brown. The eye shape may be open-almond, diamond, or lemon-shaped. The eye rims are well-fitted and well-pigmented. Naturally well-fitted eye rims are most desirable. Eyes that are incapable of completely closing shut, or eyes without top and bottom lids meeting snuggly when closed, are not desirable. Dogs with exposed haws or pink membranes, loose eyelids, or other eye abnormalities are to be disqualified. Any signs of entropion or ectropion are incorrect for this breed, and dogs exhibiting such signs should be disqualified.
Ears: Medium in size, set high and wide on the skull, and drop. They are triangular in shape, being wide at the base with rounded tips. A slight lift at the base is desirable. The inner edge should lie close to the head. The ears are never long and hound-like or fly away.
Body and Tail
General Description: Solid, deep, and of good substance. The body is never light or refined. The width at the forequarters is approximately equal to the width at the hindquarters.
Neck: Moderate length allows for proud head carriage. The neck is strongly muscled with a slight arch. It tapers smoothly from the deeper and broader body toward the head. The neck is fairly clean-cut; however, somewhat looser skin on the throat forming a very slight dewlap is permissible.
Chest: Deep and broad but never wider than deep. The brisket extends to the point of the elbows.
Topline: Level from slightly prominent withers to croup. The back is broad, strongly muscled, and straight, yet supple. The loin is taut, flat, level, or slightly arched, yet supportive. The back is never swayed or roached.
Croup: Long, broad, and gently sloped.
Underline: A slight tuck-up is present, or the underline may run parallel to the topline. The underline is taut and firm, without any indication of sagging or excess weight.
Ribs: Long, well-sprung, well-laid-back, and oval-shaped, never barrel-chested or slab-sided.
Tail: Set rather low on the croup. It is thick at the base and tapering toward the tip. The tail is carried in accordance with the dog’s mood and energy level. When moving or alert, the tail may be carried upward but never up over the back or tucked. The tail is somewhat long, with the tip of the last vertebrae extending to the hock joints when held down. The tail may be straight, gently curved, or with a curve toward the end.
Forequarters and Hindquarters
Forequarters: The forequarters are always balanced with the hindquarters and well-angulated with well-laid-back shoulder blades. Shoulder blades are approximately equal in length to the upper arm and forearm.
Elbows: The elbows are close to the body. The point of the elbows is approximately half the dog’s height at the withers.
Forelegs: Frontal View: Straight, of good muscle, solid bone, and parallel to one another. Side View: The forelimbs appear straight with strong pasterns.
Pasterns: Never weak or broken.
Hindquarters: The upper and lower thighs are equal in length, strong, sturdy, of solid bone, and well-muscled. Rear View: When viewed from the rear, the rear pasterns are parallel to one another. Side View: Good angulation will allow the rear toes to align with the point of the rump or within one to two paw-lengths behind the point of the rump, with the rear pasterns remaining perpendicular to the ground and parallel to one another.
Stifle Joint: Well-angulated with a good bend to well-let-down rear pasterns.
Angulations: The angulation of the hindquarters is always in balance with the angulation of the forequarters.
Feet: Oval to round and compact, with well-arched toes and tough pads.
Coat
Skin: Well-fitted, yet supple. The skin should never obstruct the outline of the dog.
Coat Type: The Saint Bernard breed comes in two coat varieties: the Stockhaarig (smooth coat) and the long coat.
Stockhaarig coat variety: Thick, close-lying outer coat is short on the body, slightly longer, thicker, flat, or wavy on thighs and bushy tail. Short, dense undercoat.
Long-coat variety: Medium length with feathering on ears, neck, chest, brisket, underline, thighs, and plumed tail. A wave in the coat is permissible. Short, dense undercoat.
Coat Color or Pattern: CKC recognizes two color varieties of the Saint Bernard breed: the standard and nonstandard.
Standard coat color variety: Various shades of tan, orange, red, mahogany, red-brown, and yellowish-brown, all with or without mask extension, light, medium, or dark sabling, grizzle, brindle, all with a dark mask that extends at least to the brows, but may extend throughout the body. Mask extension may appear almost black on the body but should have a lighter undercoat, and white face markings may cover the mask on some individuals. All may be with mantle (Irish piebald markings that include the feet, tip of the tail, nose band, nape spot, or full collar, with or without a blaze) or splashed (predominantly white with splashes of the above-listed colors). Etching around white edges is permissible. Never any one color or pattern without white.
Nonstandard coat color variety: Black and white, tan or red with saddle and white, lemon and white, cream and white, solid white, and any other color not specified in the standard coat color variation.
Movement
The Saint Bernard breed’s original purpose required them to negotiate a number of maneuvers over varying types of terrain at high altitudes. This included long treks, swift travel, digging, and climbing, all of which required strength, agility, and power. Therefore, the modern-day Saint Bernard’s movement should reflect all of these characteristics. Movement should be agile yet powerful, effortless, efficient, and never heavy or encumbered in any way. The characteristics of a healthy structure are evident. When moving away, the forelegs and rear pasterns should remain parallel to one another. When viewing movement from the front, the forelegs should remain parallel, with elbows and paws moving neither in nor out. From the rear, the back pads should be visible when the rear legs are extended. As speed increases, the forelimbs and hindlimbs will converge to the center line of gravity. From the side, the topline should remain firm and level. Good reach of movement in the front allows the forepaw to extend out in line with the nose. When extended, the width between the forefeet should be approximately equal to the width between the hindfeet when extended, indicating balance, good reach, and good drive. Dogs that exhibit any sign of breathing or locomotive difficulty shall be disqualified from the show ring.
Temperament
The Saint Bernard is a wonderful companion dog, being calm and even-tempered. They are loyal, affectionate, and patient. Their patience and large size make them a durable companion for children, although training them to be mindful of their large size should be implemented early on to ensure they don’t accidentally harm the children. As natural watchdogs, they keep their eyes, ears, and noses peeled for their family’s safety. Although mostly friendly, some adults may grow to be indifferent toward strangers, which is not a fault. Any unprovoked aggressive or fearful behavior toward people is incorrect for this breed.
Faults
All dogs should be in proper healthy condition, free from disease or defect. Any departure from this description is considered a fault. Unless altered, all male dogs should have two fully descended testicles.
Dog Fact #14
Although it hurts to hear it, dogs aren’t the biggest fans of hugging. To a dog, an arm around the body is seen as a display of dominance instead of an affectionate gesture. At least petting is still A-OK, though.
