INTRODUCTION

The Saint Bernard is a giant among dogs; he is kind, gentle, loves children and is an excellent family pet. The Saint Bernard Club of America welcomes your interest in our breed.

The Breeder Advertisement section is provided as a convenience to anyone looking for a Saint Bernard. Members have paid a fee to be listed in this directory, have been SBCA members for at least five consecutive years, must have bred and/or owned a minimum of two champions, and have signed the SBCA’s Guidelines and Statement of Policy which is shown below.

THE LISTING IN THIS DIRECTORY IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS AN ENDORSEMENT BY THE SBCA.

The questionnaire is provided to offer each prospective puppy buyer a foundation for discussions with the breeder. Please also consider the information below and the information provided in our booklet, “Owning a Saint Bernard.”

The Saint Bernard Club of America cannot guarantee the quality or health of puppies and/or breeding stock of the breeders listed within. The sale of a puppy or adult is a contract between the buyer and seller. The SBCA is not a party to that contract.

HEREDITARY DEFECTS

The following is a list of common hereditary defects found in Saint Bernards for which breeders should screen their dogs. Problems, however, are not limited to this list:

• • Hip and Elbow Dysplasia ( buyers can search the OFA database at http://www.offa.org/ )
  • Entropian (see AKC Rules governing dog shows; dogs who have undergone corrective surgery CANNOT be shown)
  • Epilepsy
  • Bad Temperament
  • Heart Defects

The SBCA supports and encourages breeders to complete basic health screening tests for all breeding stock. Dogs meeting these basic health screening requirements will be issued Canine Health Information Center (CHIC) numbers. For potential puppy buyers, CHIC certification is a good indicator the breeder responsibly factors good health into their selection criteria. The following are the basic health screening recommendations for the Saint Bernard.

• • Hip Dysplasia – Min Age 24 Months (One of the following)
    OFA Evaluation ➚
    PennHIP Evaluation (min age 24 months)
  • Elbow Dysplasia – Min Age 24 Months
    OFA Evaluation ➚
  • Eye Examination – Min Age 22 Months
    Eye Examination by a boarded ACVO Ophthalmologist ➚
  • Cardiac Evaluation – Min Age 24 Months (One of the following)
    Congenital Cardiac Exam by Boarded Cardiologist ➚
    Advanced Cardiac Exam ➚
    Basic Cardiac Exam by Boarded Cardiologist ➚
  • Degenerative Myelopathy
    DM DNA Test from an approved lab ➚
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis (Optional but recommended)
    OFA evaluation from an approved laboratory ➚

FACTS

1. Puppy buyers should visit as many breeders as possible and ask to see the parents of the puppies.
2. ALL Saints should be friendly and outgoing.
3. Puppies should be kept in a clean environment and be socialized by the breeder.
4. Puppies should not leave the kennel or their littermates until a minimum of seven weeks.
5. Breeders should be happy to give you references.
6. Responsible breeders provide AKC registration papers with each dog unless reasons such as spay/neuter are provided.
7. The average life expectancy of a Saint Bernard should be 8-10 years.
8. Saints do DROOL – there is no such thing as a dry mouth.
9. All Saints shed.
10. Saints are NOT guard dogs.
11. Breeders should be responsible for the dogs they have bred and be willing to find new homes for the occasional dog who needs it.
12. High prices do not determine quality.

To help you find breeders in your area, the breeders in this directory are listed alphabetically by state and kennel.

GUIDELINES AND STATEMENT OF POLICY

Saint Bernard Club of America, Inc.

The basic reason for breeding and exhibiting St. 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 with this aim, the following practices are suggested:

1. Breeders shall strive for perfection of the St. Bernard in accordance with the Official Standards set by the American Kennel Club. In this regard they shall:
   
   1. Maintain high standards of health, care, safety and humane treatment of their dogs.
   2. Remember that a very small percentage of St. Bernards are of breeding quality.
   3. Use only physically sound and temperamentally sound stock, free from severe hip dysplasia, eye malformations, and poor temperaments. St. Bernards with outstanding defects should be spayed or neutered.
   4. Refuse stud service to any bitch that is unregisterable or shows the above or other obvious defects.
   5. Study and learn the good and bad points of their own stock, never doubling up on a known or visible fault or faults represented in the pedigrees of the dogs concerned.
   6. Ideally, X-ray for evidence of hip dysplasia at the age of one year or older, treating the mild cases as they would any other fault and excluding from breeding programs dogs with evidence of severe hip dysplasia. X-rays should be read by recognized authorities on the disorder. Not every veterinarian is competent to take or pass upon such X-rays.
   7. Refrain from breeding the bitch until her second season, preferably waiting until at least 18 months of age. A bitch shall be bred no more than two out of three seasons, this depending upon the size of the litter whelped and her condition. It is suggested that in most cases a period of one year lapse between litters.
2. Breeders shall not sell stock or offer stud services without true representation to the public, nor use misleading or untruthful statements verbally, in writing, or advertising.
3. No member shall buy or sell St. Bernards through brokers, agents or commercial pet outlets nor buy or sell in litter lots, nor sell to persons whose activities tend to degrade the breed.
4. Puppy buyers should expect from their breeder a packet containing the following: a truthful four-generation pedigree, a vaccination and health record, written instructions concerning the care, feeding and training of the dog purchased (Basic Care booklets are useful here), a Bill of Sale and Application for Registration in accordance with AKC requirements with the limited registration category used when appropriate, copies of the Illustrated Commentary and tri-fold standard, an application blank for subscriber status to the SBCA, referral to website location and the Advisor Program, and lastly a contract stipulating what the breeder’s policy is regarding the rare stiuation where the puppy can longer be kept by the purchaser. Ideally, no dog from an SBCA breeder should end up in Rescue.
5. Purchasers shall be urged to spay or neuter St. Bernards not suitable for breeding.
6. Registration papers shall be supplied without extra charge with every AKC dog. If the dog is not for breeding, this may be agreed to in a contract between buyer and seller, and/or placed with AKC’s Limited Registration status.
7. A breeder shall guarantee the health of his stock subject to a veterinarian’s examination within 48 hours of the sale.
8. Breeders shall price their dogs in accordance with local rates for quality St. Bernards. Undercutting the price of Saints eventually will make it impossible to breed good dogs for the return which can be anticipated.
9. A breeder shall try to keep in touch with the progress of this breeding in order to better analyze his own programs.
10. Breeders shall exhibit at dog shows where feasible. In so doing, they shall show a spirit of good sportsmanship and behave and dress so as to enhance public opinion of the Breed.
11. Members shall not degrade any other kennel or member. It is the obligation of all to give advice and assistance to less experienced fanciers in a spirit of kindness and courtesy.
12. No puppy shall be placed prior to being wormed and inoculated in accordance with standard veterinary practices.
13. Breeders will not place their puppies prior to seven (7) weeks of age.
14. It is our intent that no dog bred by a member of the SBCA will be homeless, turned in to a rescue organization, or surrendered to an animal shelter. Breeders will be responsible for the dogs, bitches and litters which are directly owned, co-owned or whelped by them.
15. SBCA members, especially those breeding litters, should have a concern and responsibility for the genetic health and welfare of the breed. One way of demonstrating such a commitment is the support of research through the SBCA Charitable Foundation’s Health Initiative.

In applying for membership in the Saint Bernard Club of America, members agree to comply with all rules and regulations of the American Kennel Club and with the rules and By-Laws as set forth in the Constitution of the Saint Bernard Club of America. Members understand that serious infractions of the above where they are deemed detrimental to the Breed or the individual dog, will result in expulsion from the Club, as outlined in the Constitution in Article VII.

Select the link below to download a complete listing of breeders.