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Learn how to judge the Saint Bernard by focusing on power, proportion, and temperament. Understand the breed’s essence with key guidelines.
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This article was originally published in Showsight Magazine, August 2013 issue.
The first sentence in our standard captures the essence of our breed: “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.” Our breed is currently presenting the following types in the ring: “Strong and Powerful with Substance,” “Cute and Cuddly,” “Overdone Caricature,” and from time to time, you will see a “Collie” type. If you categorize the dogs into these four types when you first look at it, the cuts will become very clear. Your initial impression when looking at our breed should be “Strong and Powerful with Substance.” The word Powerful is used in our standard many times.
The word “powerful,” as used in the standard, has two interpretations—strength and substance. Both strength and substance are specifically applicable to correct Saint Bernard type. To be powerful, a Saint Bernard must have an imposing head, great substance, and real strength. He will lack breed type if the head lacks adequate size or if the body or limbs have insufficient substance. It is important to note, however, that any Saint Bernard that fails to combine this large head and great substance with real strength and athleticism is incorrect.
The height at the shoulder should be a minimum of 27½ inches for males and a minimum of 25½ inches for bitches. The Saint Bernard as a breed is supposed to be a large, powerful dog. The ideal height of Saint Bernards is significantly greater than the minimum heights stated in the standard. It is important to remember that the standard was written to describe the shorthaired Saint Bernard and that the longhaired dog must resemble the shorthaired variety in every respect except for the coat length. Deserving dogs, regardless of whether they are shorthaired or longhaired, should be considered equally for awards.
Judges should use their hands to evaluate dogs, especially skillfully groomed longhaired Saints. Please make sure that the apparent mass and substance of the dog is not simply an illusion created by treating the coat to stand away from the body and/or legs. The chest should not reach below the elbows. You will need to use your hands to evaluate the depth of the chest in proportion to the elbow. Hair and skin may give the impression that the chest is dropped further than it is. Note: The shorthaired dogs in the ring will often appear smaller and of less substance than their longhaired competition. This often is a distortion of reality.
The overall height of a dog is measured from the high point of the withers to the ground. When viewing a dog in profile, either in real life or in photographs, the perceived length of the dog is the distance from the forechest to the rump, including flesh, skin, and hair. The height-to-length ratio is the subject of the “proportionately tall figure” phrase used in the standard. While there are many diverse opinions within the Saint Bernard world today, the consensus is that a dog whose figure is approximately 10% longer than tall meets this requirement. In normal stance, the length of the front leg from ground to elbow should be equal to or slightly greater than the distance from the elbow to the withers. In a correctly constructed Saint Bernard, the lowest point of the chest (i.e., skeleton but not flesh and hair) will be at the same height as the point of the elbow. The condition of proportionately short legs is contrary to the breed’s historic task and is therefore undesirable. It is important that the height of the Saint Bernard comes from the length of leg rather than the depth of the body.
In dogs with a dark mask, the expression appears more stern, but never ill-natured. Judges should be aware that the temperament of the Saint Bernard is of primary importance. Judges are asked to severely penalize inappropriate temperament whenever it is exhibited in their ring. Remember, form follows function; they were bred to rescue and help people, not to eat them or be fearful.
Our standard says: “Eyes on the Saint Bernard are set more to the front than the sides, are of medium size, dark brown with intelligent, friendly expression, set moderately deep.” When looking into the eyes, you should see intelligence and friendliness.
In judging the head, the dogs should have strongly developed high cheekbones. Do not mistake excessive cheekfold for proper cheekbone. When viewed from above, the skull widens at the cheek as it progresses from the point at the outer corners of the eyes near the rear part of the head.
The shape of the topskull combined with proper earset should create the appearance of a continuous arch. Beware, however, of a “round” head, usually an indication that the earset is too low. “Ears of medium size, rather high set, with very strongly developed burr. Muscles at the base flatten the flap, tender and form a rounded triangle, slightly elongated toward the point. 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 square, broader, and much more expressive appearance.
The conformation described in the standard implies a movement unique to Saint Bernards. This movement must reflect the proportions, substance, and power required of the breed. Although the standard does not specifically discuss movement or gait, the conformation dictates correct movement for a Saint Bernard. A correctly made Saint will move with good reach in front and balanced drive from the rear. Saints should not shuffle, amble, or lumber, nor should they overreach or take short, mincing steps. These dogs should move with a firm, level back and with the head carried more forward than erect.
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 Saint Bernard will tend to single track while trotting, and front and rear action will be smooth and straightforward without signs of looseness or weakness in the joints. The gait should be that of a massive, efficiently moving, powerful athlete. The gait should be evaluated while the dog is traveling at moderate speed on a loose lead; fast speeds and/or tight leads can only render a distorted picture of the dog’s true movement.
Judges are asked to demand a minimum level of acceptability in the following aspects of the dog: 1) Head type; 2) Proportions, balance, and substance; 3) Movement; and 4) Temperament. That is, any dog that ranks below a minimum level of correctness in any one of these features should not be given any further consideration, regardless of the quality elsewhere. Judges are reminded that they should always give their awards to the best dogs in the ring and not necessarily to the biggest dogs present. Although the standard makes much use of the word “powerful,” please be aware that the word implies strength and power as well as size and substance. Because of the importance of the head to the Saint Bernard breed, markings must always be secondary to correct head type.
Therefore, a Saint that is a “half mask” or a “baldface” is fully acceptable as long as the head structure is correct and pigment is black around the eyes, lips, and on the nose. In evaluating dogs with equally correct head structure, then preference should be given to the one with the desired full mask. Proper evaluation of the Saint Bernard will put great emphasis on the well-conditioned and athletic animal and will denigrate the overweight and out-of-shape dog. As a judge, you will often be asked to pass judgment on a massive dog that is no more than a fat and lazy “couch potato” that could never perform its historic task as an alpine rescue dog—such a dog is not a good specimen of the breed. Nor is mere height a virtue when it fails to be accompanied by the athletic balance and substance that make the correct Saint Bernard.
We ask the judges to always keep in mind that bigger is not necessarily better; the more correct dog is always better. Faults are all deviations from the standard, including sway back, disproportionately long back, hocks too much bent, straight hindquarters, out at elbows, cowhocks, weak pasterns, and upward-growing hair in the space between the toes. We have tried to capture the essence of the breed in this brief article. In addition to our standard, which provides more detail, we have an illustrated commentary on the standard as well as a Breed Study CD, which is available to judges at a special price. The illustrated commentary is available on our website. For information on these products or judges’ education seminars, please contact Victor Dingus, Judges Education Chairman via email at: vdingus@gmail.com.
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