St. Bernards & Dry Mouth
The first Saint Bernard was bred by a Christian monk named Bernard de Menthon, who lived during the 11th century. He established a haven for travelers in the St. Bernard Pass between Italy and Switzerland. The St. Bernard dogs were used as guardians for the monks, as their draft animals and also as rescue dogs in the brutal Alpine storms. Through the years, St. Bernard breeders have developed certain standards for the breed. Dry mouth in St. Bernards is a variance on the breed standard although not forbidden in shows.
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St. Bernard Standard
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According to the American Kennel Club, the St. Bernard's "flews of the upper jaw are strongly developed, not sharply cut, but turning in a beautiful curve into the lower edge and slightly overhanging. The flews of the lower jaw must not be deeply pendant. The teeth should be sound and strong and should meet in either a scissors or an even bite; the scissors bite being preferable. The undershot bite, although sometimes found with good specimens, is not desirable. The overshot bite is a fault. A black roof to the mouth is desirable." The difference in the shape of the pendant determines if the St. Bernard will have dry mouth.
Deep Pendant
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Many St. Bernard dogs have a deep pendant, which is the pocket that their lower jaw forms. This pendant, or pocket, is the catch basin for the dog's saliva. When the pendant is too deep, the saliva gathers and overflows from the dog's mouth, forming large strands of drool hanging from either side of the dog's mouth. A deep pendant is not desired in the St. Bernard standard, but since 1955, a slight pendant is adhered to.
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No Pendant
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When a St. Bernard has no pendant in their lower jaw, the dog is known as a dry mouth St. Bernard. In this case, when the dog salivates it is easier to swallow and the drool does not gather in a lower lip pocket. Although the American Kennel Club states that a St. Bernard should have a slight pendant, they do not fault a St. Bernard for having dry mouth. In fact, from 1888 until 1955 the AKC St. Bernard Standard specified that the lower lip of the St. Bernard "should not be pendant."
Slight Pendant
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The slight pendant in a St. Bernard is the AKC standard. The dog's saliva does gather in the pendant but not to the extent of a deep pocket. The St. Bernard is still able to swallow the saliva without having too much heavy drooling. A St. Bernard has a much more regal and powerful appearance when thick strands of saliva are not hanging from the jowls.
Breeding Consequences
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When the American Kennel Club made the change in the St. Bernard Standard from no pendant to slight pendant, breeders were less vigilant in keeping the standard pure. As a result, many St. Bernard dogs have deep pendants and drooling problems.
The deep pendant also causes the dog to drink more water because the loss of saliva makes the dog continually thirsty.
Dry-Mouth Preferable
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Most St. Bernard owners prefer dry-mouth dogs. The care and maintenance for a dry-mouth St. Bernard is much easier than one with a deep pendant. Drooling St. Bernards require constant cleaning, especially on the chest and forelegs. The thick drool adheres to the fur on the front of the chest, causing clumps and matting.
Another consequence is the mess the drool causes in the home or car. The puddles of saliva need to be mopped up or wiped with paper towels on a regular basis. The odor from the hanging saliva also has an offensive fishy smell. Many times, people with other dogs get annoyed when a drooling St. Bernard slobbers on their dog or shakes and sprays saliva on everyone around them.
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- Photo Credit bb st bernard image by nathalie diaz from Fotolia.com
