History

11th century, at 2449 meters above sea level On the Great St. Bernard Pass, monks built a boarding house for travelers and pilgrims. There, large mountain dogs have been used for guarding and protection work since the 17th century. Since 1695, the dog has been recorded in the form of illustrations, and in 1707, there was a written record about it in the accommodation. The dog was used as a companion dog and was used to rescue travelers lost in snow and fog. The dog's many lives-saving stories are documented in The White Death, published in multiple languages. The claim that it led Bonaparte's army through the pass in 1800 made the dog (then known as the Barry) famous in Europe throughout the 19th century. The legendary dog "Barry" became the poster child for a rescue dog. The direct ancestors of the are large farm dogs that are more common in this area. After several generations of breeding according to established standards, the dog was bred into the breed it is today. Henrich Schmitchell, from Holligan, near Bern, was the first to publish pedigree papers for his dogs in 1867.

In February 1884, the registration of Swiss breed dogs began. The first registered St. Bernard was "Leon," and the next 28 were also related to St. Bernards. On March 15, 1884, the Swiss St. Bernard Club was established in Basel. At the International Dog Congress on June 2, 1887, the St. Bernard was officially recognized as a breed in Switzerland, and the Congress also issued breed standards as constraints. Since then, the St. Bernard has been considered the national dog of Switzerland.

Origin

Switzerland

English Name: ST. Bernard

Hair Length: Long Hair

Function: Companion, Watch and Shepherd

Lifespan: 8-10 years

Personality

It is a super-large dog with a very docile personality, easy to approach, kind and friendly. It is loyal to the owner, likes to be with children, suitable for companionship with children, and is very tolerant to children. Easy to train, good at lifesaving and adaptable to cold climates. In Denmark, whenever a blizzard comes, they show their hands and rescue countless people in distress in the vast snowfield. However, it requires a large space, so it is not suitable for urban breeding. If given enough space, food, exercise, can become a very good family dog.

General Appearance: There are two species, the shorthaired (two-ply, "Stockhal") and the longhaired

Important proportions:

to the shoulders The ideal ratio between the height of the hump and the length of the body (measured from the top of the shoulder to the tip of the hip) is 9:10

The ideal ratio between the height of the withers and the depth of the chest is shown in the sketch below

The overall length of the head is slightly more than one-third of the height to the withers

The ratio of muzzle depth (measured from the root) to muzzle length is 2:1

Muzzle length slightly more than one-third of total head length

Behavior/Temperament: Friendly by nature. Calm, lively disposition; alert

Head Profile: Powerful, well-characterized, expressive

Skull: Strong, broad, slightly rounded in side and forward views. When alert, the ears stand up and the top of the skull forms a straight line and slopes gently toward the sides of the well-developed, strong cheekbones. It falls sharply from the forehead to the muzzle. The occipital bone is moderately developed and the eye ridge is strong. The anterior depression from the forehead is well developed and reaches the middle of the skull. The skin on the forehead forms fine folds above the eyes, converging in a depression forward. These folds are more pronounced when he is concentrating; otherwise, they are less pronounced.

Stop: Very obvious.

Nose: Black, wide, square. Nostrils are large.

Mouth: Broad. The bridge of the nose is straight, slightly concave.

Lip: Dark spots around the lips. The pendulous part of the upper jaw is well developed, strong and not too pendulous, forming a broad curve towards the nose. The corners of the mouth are clear.

Jaws/Teeth: The upper and lower jaws are strong, broad and of equal length. The scissors bite or pincer bite is well developed, neat and complete. Close to the protruding mouth, there should be no space between the upper and lower incisors. Missing PM1 (premolar 1) and M3 still qualify.

Eyes: Medium size. Color changed from dark brown to walnut. Moderately sunken, friendly eyes. The eyelids are preferably tightened naturally. A small crease on the lower eyelid, a faintly visible third eyelid, and a small crease on the upper eyelid are allowed. The eye frame is fully pigmented.

Ears: Medium in size, set high and wide. Helix well developed. Easy to zigzag, triangular, with rounded tips. The rear edge is slightly straight, and the front edge is close to the cheek.

Physical Profile: Imposing, well-proportioned, unusual, muscular.

Withers: Well-structured

Back: Broad, strong, firm. Topline straight, flat above the waist.

Rump: Long, barely sloping, articulates naturally with the base of the tail.

Chest: Moderately deep, with natural expansion of ribs, but not barrel shape. Does not protrude below the elbow line.

Vent and ventral line: Slightly raised towards the back.

Tail: Broad and strong. long and heavy. The end touches at least the hocks. At rest, the tail is turned down vertically or slightly up at the third joint. When happy, lift higher.

Forequarters Overview: Legs straight and parallel when looking forward. Stand properly apart.

Shoulders: The shoulder blades are flat, well muscled, and articulate naturally with the chest.

Upper Arm: Longer than shoulder blade. The angle between the upper arm and shoulder blade is not too blunt.

Elbow: Close to the body.

Forearm: Straight, strong bone, lean musculature.

Bone: vertical when looking forward, in coordination with the forearm; slightly flat when looking sideways.

Forefeet: Broad, toes strong, close and well arched.

Hindquarters General: Well-developed, well-angled. Viewed from behind, the hind legs are parallel, but not very close.

Upper thighs: Strong, muscular and broad.

Knee joint: The angle is natural, not outward or inversion.

Lower thighs: Sloped and longer.

Hocks: Slightly angled, firm.

Metatarsals: Straight and parallel when viewed from behind.

Hinfeet: Broad, toes strong, close and well arched. Upper claws may be present if movement is not hindered.

GAIT/MOVEMENT: Forequarters stretched, hindquarters well driven, back firm. Front and back feet are in a straight line as you move forward.

Coat:

Shorthairs (Stockhal, double coat): The outer coat is thick and smooth; close to the body and thick. The undercoat is more hairy. The thighs are somewhat like breeches. The tail is densely hairy.

Longhairs: The outer coat is flat, of moderate length, and the undercoat is more abundant. The face and ears are short; the rump and crotch are usually slightly curly. The front legs are thinly coated. There is a "breeches"-like coat on the thighs. The tail is densely hairy.

Color: Mainly white with small or large reddish-brown spots (splash coat) until a full reddish-brown cloak covers the back and sides (cloak). dog). A full reddish-brown cloak is a great value. Reddish browns with dark spots are also acceptable. Tan is also available. Shadows on the head are best. The body may be slightly black.

Must have white markings: chest, feet, tip of tail, edge of muzzle, markings on neck.

The ideal markings: White neck. Symmetrical black face.

Dimensions:

Height to Withers:

Males: Min 70 cm, Max 90 cm

Females: Min 65 cm, up to 80 cm

There is no penalty if the maximum height is exceeded, as long as the overall appearance is well-proportioned and the movement is correct.

Defects: Any deviation from the above points is considered a defect, the degree of which is strictly proportional to its class and its effect on the health and welfare of the dog.

Any dog with obvious physical and behavioral abnormalities should be considered disqualified.