Information on AKC Saint Bernard Puppies
Saint Bernard 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
