The type within the Saint Bernard |  Biometrics |  General characteristics |  Head |  Nose |  Bridge of the muzzle |  Flews and muzzle  | Jaws |  Dentation |  Strength of the dentature |  Skull |  Eye  | Ear |  Neck |  Body |  Back |  Front limbs |  Hind limbs  | Coat |  Skin |  Height at withers |  Weight | 

  The skull has a width and bizygomatic width equal to 6,4/10 of the total head length (and is therefore very long: 25,6% of heigth at withers). When viwed in a frontal prospective it appears slightly rounded with a high forehead and well marked frontal tuberositas sagittaly subdivided from the median furrow. This furrow follows the nose bridge's furrow backward. It has sa its base, the naso-frontal suture and lies on the wide frontal fossa. Starting just below the nasion point, it disappears at the summit of the skull. Ethnicaly fundamental characteristics are extremley developed frontal tuberositas in all three dimesions, a very deep frontal fossa, and a sunken median furrow. Any deviance from it implies disqualification.
  The skull, when viwed from the profile forms an irregular arch. The arch-shape is more evident in the sub-frontal region (where the bone layer is quite arched over all the sinusoid area). It is flatter in the subcranial region along the sagittal crest (which is rather pronunced).

Proper relations between skull and muzzle
Cephalic index = 64 Total head length = 36/37% of heigth at withers
Skull length and width = 6,3/6,4/10 of total head length
Muzzle length = 3,6/3,7/10of total head length
Lateral sides of the muzzle are parallel to each other

(Above left): proper skull
(Above right): hypertrophy of the temporal muscle (fault)
(Below left): overdeveloped temporal muscle both on sides and above which implies flattening of the skull
(Below right): hypotrophy of the temporal muscle and too marked bone structure (bony and oldish head)

  In the frontal subregion the two-paired bones rise abruptly from the apophysis of the nostrails and from the upper jaw forming the skull depression known as "stop". The angle formed in the median zone of the front (median furrow) is of approximately 120º (cranio-facial angle) and at the level of the frontal tuberositas in 90-95º (sinus-nasal angle). In some subjects the highest point of the skull is on the frontal bone, at about 2 cm from the point of junction between the two frontal crests with the sagittal crest. Whereas in others the highest point is at the summit of the occipital apophysis. In the first case, which more auspicable, the convergency of the axis seen from behind always begins very far below the occipital apophysis. In the first case the convergency between axis is never invalidated as the back prolongation of the the facial axis exits very much below the occipital apophysis. In the latter case, which is more desirable, there is alweys a clear convergency and the occiptal crest is never too pronounced. Nevertheless, a volumetric augmentation of it, within certain boundaries, does not imply a serious fault if not associated to, as frequently occurs, to an exaggerated development of the sagittal crest and a reduction of the skull.

Skull in lateral prospective	Naso-frontal depression

  In a flat skull the skin of the forehead often forms an excess of wrinkles because the tegumentum, not spread out well on the arched bone, becomes flabby (Bloodhound head). Characterized in general by parallelism or divergency of the cranio-facial axis, the flat-skulled Saint Bernards are typical of the English breeding. They derive from a crossing that occured during the 14th century between the first imported Swiss specimen and the mastiff (with the intention of increasing size and weight). These dogs cannot obtain any show placement in continental Europe or in the U.S.A.

(Left): highest point of the skull from a frontal prospective; (Right): highest point of the skull on the occipital apophysis	"Bloodhound" head (old English type) (severe fault)

  When viwed from above, the head appeares squared due to the protrusion of the zygomatic arches and the powerful muscle mass as a whole.
  The temporal muscle in particular, must be well developed but not hypertrophic. In fact the head of the Saint Bernard, given its great bone structure development, seems angulated with prominent bones. It is slightly depressed in the fontanelle-region and moderately arched in the parietal-mastoidal-temporal area.
  Vice versa, if the bone development of the skull and the zygomatic arch is normal but the temporal bone is hypertrophic, the aforementioned slight depression of the fontanelle disappears and the orbital arches are rounded, the head becomes curved at the parietal bones; in other words it becomes spherical, smooth (lacking in ridges) and has somewhat of a vulgar look.
  Therefore, when the hypertrophy of the temporal bone is so very thick as to inhibit the skull's development, the head appears swallen equallyon both sides but flat on the top, with bulges on the forehead and flattened orbital arches. The latter defect, which causes the head to lose its characteristic of plasticity and nobility, is very serious.
  If, vice versa, the muscles of the head (particularly the temporal muscles) are hypotrophic, the prominent bones are too visible and the fontanellas excessively sunken (head bony, emaciated and oldish). Such a defect is the worst among the above-mentioned.
  The orbital arch is strongly evident and carved (an ethnic characteristic). The zygomatic arch is very well developed but the cheek below it tends to faltten. Bulging cheeks tend to take away nobility and are therefore to be penalized.
  
  

The superior part of the skull needs to be angular	"Bloodhound" head divergent cranio-facial axis (great fault) (Fleischli)	Overdeveloped masseters

  The eyes, of average size, are moderatly deep (a consequence of the great development of the frontal sinuses) and are sub-frontally positioned. The frontal position, which occurs when the palpebral (eyelid) axis and the median axis of the head close a straight angle, is tolerable. However it is in reality due to a skull that is vulgar, overtyped, and almost always associated with round and ox-shaped eyes.
  The semi-lateral position is always a very serious defect (for females as well) and usually occurs bind to a sianted (oriental) eye. The lateral and ultra-lateral position carries the penalty of diesqualification. Sunken, small or bulging eyesare severly penalized as they alter the features of the subject.
  The iris must be dark-brown, expeciall nowadays when there is the tendency to breed dogs of a deep fawn colour and with very dark masks (in general the iris must show the same as the darkest part of the mantle excluding the mask). A light-coloured iris implies a relevant loss of points. In the Saint Bernard the eye is said to be of light colour when it has the shade of blond beer. Hazel-brown is tolerated. Blue eyes lead to disqualification.
  

  Very importnt is the look, which must be intelligent, friendly and dreamy. Some males and frequently females, have a particularly tender expression, which is desirable only in the case when it is bind to the typical expression of nobility and majesty (to which concurs the whole of the head as well).
  An eye of the proper characteristics of colour and shape, but not benevolent, is to be penalized. In fair males eyes are very far apart (up to 9 cm). Eyes too close to each other modify in a negative way the dog's expression and are frequently bined to a flat skull ant to frontal sinuses transversally poorly developed.
  The ocular aperture is rhomboidal and forms, apart from the two regular corners of the eye (nasal or internal and temporal or external), the angular superior fold and the angular inferior fold placed repectively rather high towards the nasal angle and rather low, slightly towards the temporal angle. Female's eyes must display the same characteristics. A dog with round or oval eye is to be banished from reproduction.
  An eye with insufficient angulation is severely penalized. The lower corner fold has the shape of a sharpy cut triangle with a narrow base. It must be as close as possible to the center of the eyelid rim. It should show the white of the eye and just a little of the conjuctiva. This triangle, when the eyelid rim is black and the nictiating membrane has little or nor pigment, constitutes an important coefficient of nobility.
 Excessive side placement of the lower corner fold is a very common defect that is sometimes associated to an excessive drooping of the eyelid and a consequent reddening or hypertrophy of the conjuctiva.


  Now and then in sluggish dogs with very abundant loose skin, the tegumentum thickens along the forehead and the supraorbital arches. It weights down the eyelids till they cover a part of the eye. This is a defect that spols completely the features of the dog. A totally pigmented nictitating membrane is undesired, particularly if associated to a droopy upper eyelid or widespread lower corner fold. In fact, the apperance of abundant conjuctiva underneath a completely black nictitating membrane confers an ugly expression to the dog (which worsens if the pigmentation concerns one eye only). If, on the other hand, the is completely closed and the conjuctiva is minimally visible, the black nictitating membrane will not constitute a defect. It is a complex problem that would require a wider discussion also in relation to the doubtless vulnerability of the Saint Bernard's eye.
  When the head is carried erect, the eye must show a little conjuctiva. If the lower eyelids are hanging droopily or in a half-moon shape, the animal looses nobility and the proper expression. The eyelid rims must be strictly black-pigmented. Even partial lacking of pigment is a sign of degeneration.

  The ears, as much as the eyes, contribute to the breed's type and to its angular, noble apperarance. Of average size compared to the size of the head, the ear flaps hang down and have a triangular shape. The muscular auricles (outer ear) are large, strong, mobile and have a large base. They are set somewhat high (inserted above the zygomatic arch). At their point of attacment they jut outward, making the upper portion of the head appear wider and more marked.
 When the dog is alert, the upper sides of the head are formed by the ear, which is somewhat raised at its point of insertion.
  Viewed from the profile, the ear insertion is limited to 3/4 of the length of the skull starting at the occiput. In the back it can reach as low as the point of attachment of the head to the neck.
  The front edge of the ear lies horizontally against the cheek and the head. In profile, the top to bottom outline is a double curve in the shape of an inverted "S". The back edge leans forward and somewhat outwards
 It forms, together with the lower edge, a blunt angle that appears at eye-level when the dog is alert. Ears carried back (that is, at less than 3/4 of the length of the skull starting at the occiput) - as in timid dogs - deprive the head of its incisive quality. They are to be penalized along with ears set too high or too low.
  If the base of the ear is narrow and the auricle muscles are relaxed, we have flabby earflaps. If the base is too wide, the result is a butterfly flap. In either case, the upper line of the head is altered. These defects imply severe penalisation.
  The tip of the flaps must not descend lower than the throat. The ear is of proper size when, outstretched, covers half of the muzzle bridge length. It is the author's opinion that the forehead wrinkles, cited in the Standard, must be almost invisible when the head is held erect and only slightly evident when the dog is alert. Accentuated wrinkles deprive the dog of nobility and confer a fierce expression.
  The German judge Boppel, during a convention of speciality judges held in January of 1905, presented four profile sketches of Saint Bernard heads. The first one, defined by him as ideal, represented the famous dog Kean owned by dr. Künzli from Switzerland. The second, third and fourth, progressively departed from this ideal type with the aim of establishing a scale of values useful to the judges.
  In the author's opinion these sketches are at present surpassed and therefore are here presented others, along with their respective comments (see drawings).

The most difficult thing about breeding a Saint Bernard is to preserve the head type. The ideal type of head lies somewhere between the hypotype and the hypertype.
  What we call "type" in the Saint Bernard is the work of man. This means that if we do not select type constantly, nature will very soon take the upper hand and give us back the original model. Long ago in the wild ancestors of the Saint Bernard, the flews were certainly less deep, the eye opening rounder, the forehead flat and the muzzle cone-shaped. Such are the characteristics of a hypotype if displayed nowadays in breeding kennels.
  Contrasting the hypotype we can also find the hypertype. In this case the typicalness is thrusted to the extreme limit, sometimes shaping a mock of a dog. The head has an exaggerated convergency of the cranio-facial axis, a very high forehead, a spherical skull with semi-nasal angle tending toward acute, very short muzzle, and very often incomplete and atrophied teeth.

 The neck is set high and must smoothly merge with the withers, shoulders and chest. It is extremely powerful with a marked separation from the nape. The upper profile is considerably arched. It seems somewhat short but its length equals the total length of the head. The neck measures 4/10 of heigth at withers. Its perimeter corresponds to 9/10 of heigth at withers.
 The correct shoulder inclination and heigth at withers makes the neck appear longer and more balanced. Whereas short withers and too tight scapulo-humeral angle, make it look too short.
  The dewlap, examined when the dog is at attention (with the neck erect), is well developed but not exaggerated. Excessive dewlap is often bind to loose skin and other signs of sluggishness, and is to be penalized.
 Also to be banished are a fragile neck and with no separation from the nape. To be severely penalized is the neck which does not merge smoothly with the withers, shoulders and chest, which shows little arching of the upper profile and is too long or too short.

Ideal body-constitution of male and female	Bone-structure	Zoognostic regions

Top

  The length of the trunk from the tip of the shoulder to the tip of the buttocks exceeds by 12/15% heigth at withers.

Chest

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Very wide and open, with extremly developed pectoral muscles. Its width, in direct proportion to the width of the thorax, reaches in fair males up to 30% of heigth at withers.
  A narrow chest and with musles poorly developed is to be penalized.

Chest cage

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The function the Saint Bernard has as a work-type dog needs a maximal wideness of the pulmonary area as well as a great asset of the cardio-vascular system, therefore the chest must be very well developed in all three dimensions (heigth, depth, width), as well as in its perimeter.

Heigth
The heigth of the chest is generally measured from the top of the withers to the lower edge of the sternum (sterno-vertebral diameter). It corresponds to the half of the dog's heigth at withers. The thorax must descend to the elbow without outreaching it. The sternal profile (long and fundamentally horizontal) is, therefore, at even distance between ground and withers.
  A fairly common defect, and one to be penalized, are low withers. This somewhat reduces the distace between the elbow and the shoulder (lowering the sternum below the elbow level). This makes an otherwise proper thorax seem too high.
  Sometimes in females and in older dogs, particularly if corpulent or with lax girth and shoulder, a perfect chest can appear too low. A thorax lacking in heigth compromises the animal's ability to function and therefore constitutes a serious defect.

Depth
The depth is measured from the manubrium (cranial part) of the sternum to the middle part of the last false rib (sagittal diameter). It is considerable in the Saint Bernard (due to the great obliqueness of the rib arches and the consequent width of the intercostal spaces) being equal to 55% of the heigth at withers. This notable depth allows for a greater trunk length with respect to heigth, while still maintaining short, solid loins.

Width
The width of the chest, which in the Saint Bernard reaches high values (corresponding in fact to 35% of heigth at withers) is determined by the crrosswise diameter at the most arched part of the rib cage. In many subjects this diameter is greatest at mid-heigth of the dog. In other dogs, expecially the German bred, is greatest in the lower part of the thorax.
   The ribs are long, well-hooped but without excess. To be banished is the flat thorax. To be penalized is the barrel-chest that obstrucks gait and detracts nobility. Also penalized is the narrow or stream-lined chest.
   Streamlining is created by a sharp reduction in the crosswise diameter of the lower part of the rib cage and it results in an emptyness between the thorax and the elbow such that the latter becomes droopy and sometimes oscillating. It is a fairly common defect in the Saint Bernard, especially in young subjects of great size and long limbs.
  When the crosswise diameter is less than 35% of heigth at withers the forearms are too close together (narrow front). When the diameter is greater than 35%, the forearms are too far apart (wide frot). The first defect is worse than the second and is therefore more severely penalized.

Thoracic perimeter
It is at least 30% superior to heigth at withers. Corporal index is, as stated before, of 80.

Withers

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Withers are long, wide, very prominent and harmoniously merging with the back. The prominent and long withers indicates, above all, notable length of the spinal apophysis which, along with the apex of the scapula (shoulder blade) constitutes the skeletal bases. These apophyses are the tension levers of the vertebral spine and the elevator muscles of the shoulder (trapezium and rhomboid).
  The higher the apophyses, the more they aid in stiffening and solidifying the back and loins, increasing the contraction of the elvator muscles in the shoulder and indirectly, in the impelling force of the posterior. Therefore a high, backward extended withers contributes to the making of a straight topline, well-sloped shoulder and powerful stride.
  A common defect in the Saint Bernard, as stated before, is the low, short withers that make the toplineappear long. This, in concomitance with a too tight scapular-humeral angle or excessive sloping of the arm, shift the center of gravity toward the front. Dogs with this series of defects are "thrown-forward" and as a consequence tend to hoist the front legs a little.
  They have a clumbsy gait and little energy due to the reduction of the elevator muscles in the shoulder and weakness of the posterior drive. The withers which are high and short are to be penalized. They create a too sharp a demarcation in the topline and thereby impedes the harmonious merging of the withers with the back.

Top

  The back has the function of support and the task of conveying the hind drive to the front. In the Saint Bernard the back is somewhat long, very wide, muscular, strictly straight, and slightly descending from the front backward. Its length corresponds to 33% of the dog's heigth at withers.
  The most common defects of the back are kyphosis and lordosis. The arched back or carpus back (kyphosis), normal in young Saint Bernards of 4 to 14 months, is characterized by a longitudinal curving that begins, in general, at the 10th dorsal vertebra and blends into the lumbar curve. Dogs with a carpus back suffer a reduction of movement and capacity to develop forward speed. This is due to the fact that a kyphotic dorsal-lumbar segment, which weakens the drive, acts as a hindrance to the thrust of the back limbs. It should be underlined that even though the carpus back has the defect of being excessively rigid and of breaking the movement, it has the quality, as a real and true bridge, of being resistant and very solid. The author belives therefore, that since the malformation is of modest entity and is not associated to a posterior muscle deficiency, it should be overlooked.
  This is in consideration of the fact that the Saint Bernard is not a fast dog and it's often used for load work. The saddleback (lordodis), rather frequent in the Saint Bernard, is in correlation with a slackening of the lower ligaments of the vertebra in dogs with short withers and long back and loins. It consists in a longitudinal concavity which can be limited to a portion of the topline but often stretches from the withers to the rump. Dogs with this very serious malformation are tierd, lacking in solidity and sedentary.
  This is because (other than creating obstacles to the transmission of the drive, as in kyphotic dogs) the energy expended in keeping the back straight is not available for posterior thrust. The saddleback is therefore always heavily penalized. Occasionally in some dogs one observes an interruption in the topline corresponding to the position of the 11th dorsal vertebra. This defect often accompanies high, short withers and an insufficient development of the dorsal muscles. It is not very serious in a trotter such as the Saint Bernard. However it is penalized because the back must be strictly straight.


Loins

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The loin is the connecting point between the back and the front. In the Saint Bernard it must be short, very wide, somewhat curved, extremely muscular, and must merge harmoniously with back and rump.its length is even to the width and equals the 20% of heigth at withers. Sharpless is unacceptable. It is to be penalized if it is long, poorly set, flat, wobbly, and too sensitive to pressure.
  
Abdomen and flanks

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The abdomen is full and little retracted. Its lower profile, which follows roughly the horizontal profile of the sternum, rises harmonically to the flanks. The retracted abdomen is generally accompanied by a kyphotic back (and follows rickets or a malfunction of the digestive tract). It is penalized like the hollow abdomen (always an expression of sluggishness, obesity or improper feeding).
  The flanks are, like the loins, very short. The hollow of the flank is not very pronounced. Long and sunken flanks are to be penalized.

Rump

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The rump is the fulcrum for the transmission of impulses from the withers to the front. It has a great influence on the angulation of the back limbs and is, therefore, also judged in relation to this. In the Saint Bernard it is long and extremely wide due to optimum muscular and skeletal development.
  Its length, measured from the end of the hip to the end of the buttock, corresponds to 33,2% of heigth at withers. Its average width is determined anteriorly between the two ends of the hip and posteriorly between the two ends of the buttocks. It equals 15,5% of heigth at withers.

Roof-shaped rump (fault)

  Its slope, from the end of the buttock, must form an angle with the horizon that measures 15°- 30°. We can therefore define it as slightly sloping.
  Numerous dogs have a hollow abdomen with an angle of about 40°. As stated before, the Saint Bernard is a trotter. In view of that it is the author's opinion that a rump with an angle of up to 40° should not be penalized. Obliquity of the rump exceeding this limit is almost always accompanied by a posterior carried underneath itself and, consequently a defective footfall.
  On the contrary, it should be emphasized that a horizontal rump would e desirable in the Saint Bernard. Many subjects of this breed have shown that when the angle is less than 25° the posterior limbs are carried notably backward.
  The withers become straight and the barycentre is shifted towards the front. Therefore, when the rump is short, as well as when is too horizontal, a series of movement limitations occurs. The pelvis is very spacious in both sexes. The top of the hip, in an exhibitional subject, is slightly lower than the withers. A somewhat higher posterior is tolerable in young dogs up to 18 months. A rump that is too horizontal is to be penalized if it is accompanied by a deviation of the limbs. Also penalized is a hollow rump as well as a narrow, short, sharp or not fleshy enough rump..

Tail

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The tail is set high, very large at the root and tapers towards the end. It is long and heavy. It hangs down at rest (or with only the tip curved upward). Its length is 70% of heigth at withers. When the animal is excited, the tail can be more or less lifted over the back but never curled into a ring (fox tail). Puppies always carry their tail rolled.

Sexual organs

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The testicles are regularly developed. They are fully descended and movable into the scrotum.

1) Naso-labial elevator muscle 2) Canine muscle 3) Labial buccinator muscle 4) Risorius muscle
5) Masseter 6) Major zigomaticus muscle 7) Temporal muscle 8) sternodoideus muscle
9) Parotido-auricular muscle 10) Digastric muscle 11) Occipitale muscle 12) Sterno-cephalic muscle
13) mastoid-humeral muscle 14) Biceps 15) Trapezius (dorsal-cervical)
16) Angulare scapular muscle 17) homotrachelianus muscle 18) Deltoideus muscle 19) Triceps
20) Anterior extensor muscle of the metacarpus and of the fingers. 21) Flexor of the metacarpus
22) Lateral flexor of the metacarpus 23) Obliquus flexor of the metacarpus 24) Internal elbow muscle
25) Phalanx elevator longus 26) Dorsal major muscle 27) Pectoralis ascendens 28) Abdominal musculus rectus 29) Abdominal musculus obliquus major 30) Gluteus medius 31) Musculus tensor fasciae latae 32) Psoas muscle 33) Gluteus superior 34) Femoral biceps 35) Semimembranosus muscle
36) Anterior tibial anteriore muscle 37) Musculus longus falanx extensor
38) Long muscle extensor of the leg 39) deep phalanx flexor 40) Tendinis Achillis

1) Intramaxillar bone 2) Maxilla 3) Frontal bone 4) Parietal bone. 5) Processus zygomaticus 6) Mandible
7) Orbit 8) Atlas 9) Last neck vertebra 10) Ist rib 11-12) costae spuriae 13) Manubrium of the sternum
14) Apophysis xiphoidea. 15) IIIrd dorsal vertebra 16) XIIIth dorsal vertebra 17) Ist lumbar vertebra
18) Last lumbar vertebra 19) Sacrum 20) Tail 21) Scapula 22) Humerus 23) Radius 24) Ulna 25) Carpus 26) Metacarpus 27) Phalanx 28) Pelvis 29) Coxofemural articulation 30) Femur 31) Patella 32) Tibia
33) Fibula 34) Tarsus 35) Metatarsus 36) Phalanx



It. Int. Champ. Bruno del Soccorso (son of Anton v. Höfli),
named "the Head" by american saintbernardists

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