Has anyone ever owned/or still own a st bernard?

S

samanthajane

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Hi, in just under 9 weeks time i will be getting a new puppy.

I've had dogs before but never a st bernard. I done a bit of looking on the web but each site tends to be the same that doesn't have a great deal of information.

Would anyone know of a site that would help me more, or have experience themselves.

They can be prone to a few medical conditions, and they tell you what these are but just dont tell you the symptons to watch out for, or how to help prevent them. Like because of their size and weight you are advised to give them supplements.....they just dont say which ones. And that they can get twisted stomaches, so not to feed them 1 big meal, to space it out during the day in 2-3 meals. But it doesn't say if these have to be a certain time apart.

Just general things that i wouldn't have come across before.

Thanks
 
Hi SamanthaJane...

What a wonderful thing to look forward to... I LOVE St Bernard's... Too big for me to manage, though... They're built like a donkey... Some of my friends have them, and there's just two things I would advise...

1. As your pooch gets bigger, feed him/her from a dish on a small stool... Their height means that they can't reach to the floor while standing without their legs splaying...

2. Get him/her insured... You don't want huge vet's bills...

Oh there is a third piece of advice... Have fun with your donkey... Ooops sorry, I mean dog... Please let me know how it goes... I'd love to hear all about the joys!... Oh and have you seen the movie 'Beethoven'???...

Darth...
 
Haha yeah i know they are big......but fingers crossed the one i'm getting wont be like a donkey, both the mother and father are small ( well small in a st bernard way ) they kept 2 from the first little, both females and there not huge.

Good idea about feeding them from a stool, i hadn't thought of that.

I know there big, but they are gentle giants. Never seen the full movie of beethoven just a few seconds here and there.

The owners are keeping them untill they are the full 10 weeks, and they have said that they will start training them early, the sooner the better so i've been told. The main thing is not for them to get into a habit of jumping up on people!!
 
well it is fantasy and set in america......would you expect anything less. should i be worried that my doll will turn against me as well. ( too scared to actually see the film...was it even a doll?? )

But i'll make sure all the vaccinations are upto date anyway!

Also if anyone has any ideas for a name....... in the past we've had a dog called woof woof, a cat called meiow, the then scoobydoo and shaggy. I'm trying not to let the kids think of a name. They would probably come up with tinkerbell or something!
 
Sorry SamanthaJane...

I can't resist this name suggestion... 'Tiny'...

Do try to see Beethoven... It's the funniest film ever....

Darth...

P.S... Or another name suggestion... 'Titch'!!!...
 
samanthajane said:
I know there big, but they are gentle giants.
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You cannot make this assumption about any breed, a dogs behaviour is a reflection of good and responsible ownership, its up to you to stick with exercise, discipline and affection and let her know who the pack leader is!!

There is one locally to me, he is enormous. The owner says that she has trouble controlling him - he is very territorial and if he decides he is going to run to the window and bark at someone outside she cannot stop him physically - this is where mental domination is VERY important. You must be the boss!!!

As regards tips and advice specific to St Bernards, why not contact the Irish Breeders Association and get put in touch with someone experienced with the breed?

Id also advise obedience classes with a dog that size.

Good luck with it - gorgeous dogs!!
 
Of course you can never say that about any breed of dog. But in general they are know for being passive and gentle...again with the right training and looking after.

"He is enormous" - hense why i have gone for a female, they are smaller than the males.

Thats a great idea about the Irish Breeders Association.

Do you know of any classes around north dublin, when i had my last dog ( before he was stolen from my back garden ) i looked around and couldn't find any so i had a trainer come to my house, expensive but worth it. I learnt a lot from her so i will be able to put that to use as well, but you right it's advised to get them used to other dogs asap because of their size.

And i'm still stuck on a name. ( thanks darth but i think i'd look even more stupid calling out "Tiny" or "titch" then when i had was calling "woof woof" )

So far in names by bf has suggested...monster, my daughter wants her to be called stitch or lelu and my son wants to name her after some wrestler i cant remember the name!
 

The DSPCA (based in south dublin) are running training classes now, and theyre not expensive either. Im not suggesting you travel all the way across to them but you could give them a call and see what they can recommend in your own area?
The website is www.dspca.ie - you will find details, including info about the trainer, there.
 
Thanks very much again i'll get in contact with them and see if they know of any other classes on the north side.
 
Hee Hee... Was teasing about 'Tiny' and 'Titch', SamanthaJane...

A friend in the US called her female St Bernard 'Bernie'...
 
sorry to say i wasn't teasing about 'woof woof'

He was always good and was trained and did what ever i told him too apart from one time i let him off the lead at portmarnock beach......never did it again.

Me and the bf running alone the beach screaming 'woof' ( something like the marly and me scene ) only it lasted a lot longer. He'd stop wait for us to nearly catch up with him and then leg it again!! We got some very disapproving looks that day!!!

Are you teasing about bernie aswell???

Oh and i'm downloading beethoven at the moment. The first one anyway there's loads of them!!!!
 

Ha Ha!!!... That story reminds me SO much of my late gran who was fond of the drop (and known for it), called her German Shepard 'Whiskey'... Yep, you've guessed it... Dog got out one morning when the postman called, and there was my gran tearing down the street in her nightie yelling at the top of her voice "Whiskey, Whiskey"...

No, I'm afraid I'm not joking about 'Bernie'... Same person called her other dog 'Puddles'... Never claimed that the owner was sane!...

Enjoy Beethoven... The films are brilliant!...

Darth...
 
Contact for the St Bernard Club of Ireland is Mr A Long-Doyle 01-2874274.

Dog Training Ireland have training classes in Blanchardstown.

They need daily grooming and dribble a lot.

10 weeks is too old to get a puppy - better 7-8 weeks.
 
Why is 10 weeks to old to get a puppy? Would you suggest that i dont get this puppy. I dont think the owners would let them go any earlier they said they were going to keep them for 10 weeks cause they think this is better.

I read that as long as you start training them between 2-3 months then there should be no problems.
 
The puppies should be well weaned off their mother at this stage and will have already started to bond with their siblings and their new family, whereas you want it to start bonding with your family as early as possible.

By 7 weeks they are already quite alert, mischevious and capable of being toilet trained (which is the first hurdle you will need to deal with). Other basic training like bed-time, feeding routines etc you should start as early as possible also. You can also start basic obedience training from an early stage like "NO" and praise/reward training also.

You can't take him to group training classes until he had all his vaccinations. This is very important for socialisation with other dogs. In the meantime, get him socialised with all kinds of people and kids. Get him used to his environment around your home and let him know his limitations.

I have had a lot of experience with top breeders in UK and they always recommended 7-8 weeks as best. Give your breeder a blanket for his mother to sleep on that you will then take home with you. If you can get a special dog crate and only plastic bed - he'll chew the fabric beds.

Some Whelpi (mother's milk formula) for the first few weeks. The training nappies are quite good as long as strictly enforced but keep lots of newspapers also. Get him used to gentle grooming asap. Lots of things he can chew on until he's finished teething - but nothing too small or he could choke. Get him used to collar and lead asap - he'll scratch at new collar for a few days, then he'll be fine.

Don't answer his whines for company for the first few nights and he'll soon stop. Latex gloves, a mop and lots of dettol also required! Also worming tablets from your vet - done bother with the ones you can buy in pet-shops. Get the breeder to give you some of the food he's used too. Then if you want to change food, do it gradually over a few weeks. Puppies need 30% protein in their diet.
 
Rois said:
They dribble a lot.
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I didn't like to mention this before now but a guy who lives near us has one of these dogs. I was taking our dog to the park one day and stopped to speak to the owner of the St. Bernard and admire his beautiful dog. The dog proceeded to put his head in the window of the car and the amount of slobber/dribble was unbelieveable. The dog was totally unconcerned about it and the owner was so used to it that he barely noticed.
 
Another thing to remember Samantha, get him used to car travel asap also.
 
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