Saint Bernard Club of America

WELCOME TO OUR BREED

Welcome to the Saint Bernard Club of America Website!

We want to thank you for your interest in our wonderful Breed!

Our club was incorporated in 1888 to protect and promote the Saint Bernard.  As preservationists of the Saint Bernard, we endeavor to inform and educate interested parties about our breed.

We recognized that this is not a breed for everyone to own…… but those of us that do are enamored with the love, size, affection (and the hair and the drool).

Our website is designed to educate and inform:

        • Potential and Current Owners of Our Breed
        • Potential and Current Members of our Club
        • Potential AKC Judges
        • Breeder referral
        • History of our Breed
        • Specialty Show Results – Past and present
        • Information about our Yearly National Specialty Show
        • Member documents, Forms, Club information and Member access
        • Education and discussions on our wonderful breed.

Our volunteer board is always happy to talk to people about Saint Bernards  – (See the “About Us” below), assist in finding a Breed Advisor in your area to help you know what to look for when looking for the perfect puppy or referring you to reputable rescue, to help get you involved in a local Saint Bernard Club (even if you don’t “show”), and to educate both Newbies and Judges about why we are so passionate about the these giant dogs.

From Conformation Showing, to Obedience, Rally, Weight Pull, Drafting/Carting and other events as well as the most important snuggles on the couch, we hope that our website…our Board…and our Members will convey and spark the same passion we have with our beautiful dogs to you.

President Saint Bernard Club of America

ABOUT US

The Saint Bernard Club of America is the official organization recognized by the American Kennel Club as the

national parent club of the Saint Bernard

Who can join? Membership is open to persons 18 years or older, in good standing with the American Kennel Club, who subscribe to the purposes of the Club, and who agree to abide and uphold the club’s
Guidelines and Satatement of PolicyConstitution and By-Laws.

Applicants must be sponsored by two SBCA members who have been members in good standing for at least three years. Applicants will be an associate member (without voting or office holding privileges) for a period of one year.

To join the SBCA please visit the Membership page to fill out an application.

Although the true origins of the Saint Bernard breed are not well documented, some aspects of this extraordinary breed are known. Authenticated facts combined with reasoned speculation are believed to best describe the development of this magnificent breed.

The Monastery and hospice were founded by Bernard de Menthon, an Augustine monk, in the middle of the eleventh century (no exact date can be found).  These edifices were located in the only pass through the Alps between Italy and Switzerland. Being the site of heroic rescue tales, it was later named the Great Saint Bernard Pass to differentiate it from the Little Saint Bernard Pass that is between France and Italy. The altitude at the Great Saint Bernard Pass is a little more than 8,000 feet above sea level. As it was snow free only a few months during the warmest part of the summer, it was very dangerous for foot travelers journeying to or past the hospice. Being caught on foot in that difficult terrain during unexpected inclement weather was often fatal, but those who braved that treacherous territory were comforted to know that the hospice was staffed with dedicated monks and their special dogs. Read more…

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.

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. Read more…

The basic reason for breeding and exhibiting Saint Bernards is the improvement of each generation of the breed over the previous generations. All breeding and exhibiting activities should be viewed in this light. In keeping to this aim, the following practices are suggested.  Read more…

134

   YEARS     INCORPORATED

800

MEMBERS & SUBSRIBERS

1,983

AKC REGISTERED SAINT BERNARDS 2020

132

        NATIONAL         SPECIALTIES

WHAT'S HAPPENING

See up-coming specialty events, specialty results, and the national archive of all past results.

NATIONAL SPECIALTY

2024 SBCA National Specialty Show

More Information Coming Soon!

NATIONAL WINNERS

2022 SBCA National Specialty Show

Congratulations to the 2022 SBCA National Specialty winners. Hosted by the Central Region.  We hope to have the photos online in early November 2022.

NATIONAL ARCHIVE

Past Specialty Winners

View the Saint Bernard Club of America national archive of past Best of Breed and Best of Opposite national specialty winners.

THEIR FUTURE IS BRIGHT

The SBCA is a non-profit organization.  Membership is open to all persons who are in good standing with the
American Kennel Club and who subscribe to the purposes of this Club. 

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