GENERAL APPEARANCE : There are two varieties of the St.Bernard: Short-hair variety (Stockhaar, smooth coat) Long-hair variety (rough coat) Both varieties are of notable size and have a balanced, sturdy, muscular body with imposing head and alert facial expression. BEHAVIOUR-TEMPERAMENT : Friendly by nature. Temperament calm to lively, watchful. IMPORTANT PROPORTIONS : Ideal proportion for height at withers to body length (measured from the point of the shoulder to the point of the ischium) = 5:6. For the ideal relationship of height at withers to depth of chest see the following sketch. 
 HEAD : General : Massive and imposing CRANIAL REGION: Skull strong, broad, seen in profile and from the front slightly rounded; sideways it merges gently rounded into the strongly developed high cheek bones, falling away steeply towards the muzzle. Occipital bone only moderately pronounced. Supraorbital ridges strongly developed. The frontal furrow, which starts as the root of the muzzle and runs over the whole skull, disappears towards the base of the occiput. The skin of the forehead forms wrinkles over the eyes which converge towards the frontal furrow. When the dog is attentive, the wrinkles become more pronounced. When alert, the set-on of the ear and the topline of the skull appear in a straight line. Stop : Markedly pronounced. FACIAL REGION : Muzzle : Short, does not taper. Nasal bridge straight, with a shallow furrow running its length. length of muzzle shorter than its depth, measured at the root of the muzzle. Nose: Black, broad and square. Nostrils well opened. Lips: Edge of lips black. Flews of upper jaw strongly developed, pendulous, forming a wide curve towards the nose. Corner of mouth remains visible. Teeth : Strong, regular and complete scissor or even bite. Reverse scissor bite acceptable. Missing PM 1 (premolar 1) tolerated. Eyes : Medium size. Colour dark brown to lighter nut-brown. Not too deeply set, with a friendly expression. Eyelids as close fitting as possible. Complete pigmentation on eye rims. Natural tightness of lids desired. A small angular wrinkle of the lower eyelid with inconspicuous showing of the conjuntiva, as well as a small angular wrinkle of the upper eye lid are allowed. Ears : Medium size, set on high and wide. Strongly developed burr at the base. Ear flaps pliable, triangular with the tip rounded off. The back edge stands off slightly, the front edge lies close fitting to the cheeks. NECK : Strong, dewlap not too exaggerated. BODY : General General appearance imposing and balanced. Topline Withers well defined. Straight from withers to loin. Rump falls away gently and merges with root of tail. Back : Broad, strong and firm. . Chest : Brisket moderately deep with well sprung ribs, but not reaching beyond the elbows. Belly and lower line : Slight tuck-up towards rear. Tail: Set on broad and strong. Tall long and heavy, Its last vertebra reaching at least to the hocks. When in repose, the tall hangs straight down or may turn gently upward in the lower third. When animated, it is carried higher. LIMBS FOREQUARTERS General : Stance rather broad, straight and parallel when seen from front. Shoulders Muscular, shoulder-blade oblique, well attached to the chest wall. Upper arm The same length or only slightly shorter than the shoulder-blade. Angle between shoulder blade and upper arm not too straight. Elbow : Laying well onto the body. Forearm : Straight, heavy boned, tautly muscled. Pasterns : Vertically straight when seen from front and at a light angle when seen from the side. Forefeet : Broad, compact, with strong, well arched toes. HINDQUARTERS : General : Hindquarters muscular with moderate angulation. Seen from rear, the hind legs are parallel and not too close together. Upper thigh : Strong, muscular with broad buttocks. Stifle : Moderate angulated, turning neither in nor out. Lower thigh : Slanting and rather long. Hock joints : Slightly angulated and firm. Hock : Straight and parallel when seen from behind. Hind feet : Broad, compact, with strong well arched toes. Dewclaws tolerated as long as they do not hinder movement. GAIT : Coordinated, smooth reaching strides with good drive from the hindquarters. Hindquarters track in line with the forequarters. German shorthair bitch COATHAIR: Short-hair variety (Stockhaar, smooth coat) : Top coat dense, smooth, close lying and coarse, with rich undercoat. Buttocks lightly breeched. Tail covered with dense fur. Long-hair variety (rough coat) : Top coat plain, of medium length with a rich undercoat. Over the haunches and rump usually somewhat wavy. Front legs feathered. Buttocks well breeched. Short hair on face and ears. Bushy tall. COLOUR : Basic colour white with either small or large reddish-brown splashes ("splash coat") or a continuous reddish-brown blanket covering back and flanks ("mantle coat"). A torn reddish-brown mantle (broken up by white) is of equal value. Reddish-brown brindle permissible. Brownish-yellow tolerated. Dark brown shadings on head desirable. Slight black shadings on body tolerated. Markings : Chest, feet, tip of tail, muzzle band, blaze and patch on neck must be white. Desirable : White collar. Symmetrical dark mask. SIZE : Minimal height : dogs, male 70 cm (27.56 in) bitches 65 cm (25.59 in) Maximum height : dogs, male 90 cm (35.43 in) bitches 80 cm (31.5 in) Dogs which exceed the maximum height will not be penalized, provided their general appearance is balanced and their movement correct. FAULTS : Everey departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault which will be assessed according to the degree of departure from the standard. Lack of correct gender characteristics Unbalanced general appearance Strong wrinkles on head, excessive dewlap Muzzle too short or too long. Flews of the lower jaw turning outward Under- or overshot bite Missing teeth other than PM 1 (premolar 1) Low set on ears Light eyes Entropion, ectropion Eyelids too loose Sway back or roach back Rump higher than withers or falling away steeply Tall carried curled over back Crooked or severely turned out front legs. Poorly angulated, bowed or cow-hocked hindquarters Faulty movement Curly coat Incomplete or totally absent pigment on nose, around the nose, on lips and eyelids Faulty markings, e.g. white with reddish-brown ticks Faults of temperament : aggressiveness, shyness DISQUALIFYING FAULTS : Coat totaly white or totally reddish-brown Coat of a different colour Wall eye, blue eye. N.B. : Male animals should have two apparently normally developed testicles fully descended into the scrotum. |
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Copyright 2001 and
design 800 x 600 - Ethna Svendsen - Ciceronen Kennel
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