Here's how to join The Saint Bernard Ring!

What is acceptable

• Homepages of Saint Bernards.
• Pages with information on Saint Bernards and dogs of any kind.
• Pages focusing on images and links to Saint Bernards.
• Pet pages that include Saint Bernards.
• Pages of interest to Saint Bernards owners (ie, health, etc).
• Commercial pages offering pet products.

What is not acceptable

• Pages that depict any kind of animal cruelty.
• Pages not appropriate for websurfers of all ages (PG).
• Pages with nothing but Webring links.
• Pages having nothing to do with dogs.
• Pages having Slanderous remarks about other Clubs or people.

Guidelines and Statement of Policy of the Saint Bernard Club of America:

The basic reason for breeding and exhibiting the St. Bernard is for 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 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:

A. Maintain high standards of health, care, safety and humane treatment of their dogs.

B. Remember that a very small percentage of St. Bernards are of breeding quality. Over-production of should be avoided.

C. Use only physically sound and temperamentally sound stock, free from hip dysplasia, eye malformation, and poor temperaments. St. Bernards with outstanding defects should be spayed or neutered.

D. Refuse stud service to any bitch that is unregisterable or shows the above or other obvious defects.

E. 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.

F. 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 more severe evidence of hip dysplasia. X-ray should be read by recognized authorities on the disorder. Not every veterinarian is competent to take or pass upon such X-rays.

G. Refrain from breeding the bitch until her second season, preferable 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 stock nor 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 commercial pet outlets, nor buy or sell in litter lots, nor sell to persons whose activities tend to degrade the Breed.

4. The buyer shall be supplied with a truthful four-generation pedigree, written instructions concerning the care, feeding and training of the dog purchased, and written statement as to the inoculations and other veterinary care and a Bill of Sale in accordance with AKC requirements.

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 registered dog. If the dog is not for breeding, this may be agreed to in a written contract between buyer and seller.

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 his breeding in order to better analyze his own programs.

10. Breeders shall exhibit at dogs shows where feasible. In so doing, they shall show a spirit of good sportsmanship and behaveand 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.