What's It Like Living With A Saint Bernard

If you are thinking of welcoming a Saint Bernard into your family, this page will hopefully be helpful to you.

I have written about what it was like for me when I finally found and welcomed Bernadette into my home. I have tried to be as detailed as possible on all thier little habits and eccentricities so you will be able to get a pretty good idea just what living with one of these little angels is like.

I have also included what it has been like for me welcoming a rescue dog into the family.

You will also find a few tips on finding a Saint Bernard of your very own.

I had searched for almost twelve years for a Saint in my area. (At the time, I didn't know about the SBCA Rescue Program.) Every time I would see a Saint Bernard in a movie, on television, in a magazine or a book I would fall deeper in love with this beautiful breed. I was already the proud parent of Weylin, but I still desperately wanted a Saint. So many people had told me that Saint Bernards were too high-maintenance to worry with. I didn't care about that.

On October 28, 1997 my search finally ended. I finally found my Saint--a sweet little three-month old girl. I'll never forget the first time I saw her. She was playing with her brother. She had tackled him and had him pinned to the ground. She was standing on him chewing on his ears. When I walked to the side of the pen, she looked up at me, her ears flopping away from her face to reveal the most beautiful brown eyes I had ever seen. It was love at first sight. I can still see that picture in my memory each time I look into her big brown eyes or even think of her. When I was finally able to hold her, she licked my face and then crawled around my neck like a little living stole. My mother had to grab her to keep her from falling!! On the drive home, she climbed into the back window of the car and lay with her sweet little head resting on the speaker. It was all I could do to concentrate on my driving. I wanted to stop and hug her so desperately. That seemed to be the longest drive home!

In the time since I found Bernadette, she's come to mean the world to me. She's like a child to me. (Needless to say, a very spoiled child!) Every time I look into her eyes, see my walls covered in slobber, have to mop mud from the floors after she comes in from playing after a rain, have to get up at 2:45 in the morning to go for a walk and instead end up chasing a wayward frog or have to comb the couch and bed during shedding season, I'm reminded what a gift and blessing she is. I feel it was just meant for she and I to find one another. I treasure every second I have to spend with her. It feels like I had to search an entire lifetime for my sweet girl, but once that search was over, it was all worth it. My little 'pet store pooch' is just as precious to me as if she were one in a long line of champions.

You do not own a Saint Bernard--they own you--and you are very happy for things to be that way. The first time your Saint runs to meet you when you return home or when you wake up from a Sunday afternoon nap to find your baby snoring beside you, it's large head resting on the pillow, you'll realize that your hopelessly devoted to him or her and completely wrapped around their paw!

There is just something about these beautiful, noble dogs that you cannot resist--you have to love them! My Saints and the Flat-Coat have full run of the house and I think they are the real Heads of the Household. Pretty much whatever they want, they get. I can't imagine life without them now!!

About Adding A Rescue Dog Into the Family--

My girl, Bernadette was the first Saint I had ever had the pleasure of living with. I didn't know a single thing about the breed when I got her but the minute I looked into her eyes I fell in love with her!!

I was still learning all the Saintly habits and quirks when I found the message about Chewy needing rescue. The thought of taking on another Saint Bernard when I was still learning so much about the first was terrifying!! But, the more I thought about what his fate would be if no one wanted him the more I knew I had to do something.

About a week or two passed between the time I made contact with the wonderfully nice lady who helped me in the rescue process to the time I met Chewy. We scheduled a meeting on Memorial Day so I could pick him up. I think that I had fallen in love with him before I ever even saw him! Waiting for Memorial Day to arrive was so difficult. I kept wondering just what he would look like. Would he be rust, brindle or almost all white in color? Would he have a mask on his face? Just how big would he be? All of these questions and dozens more raced through my head every day.

When I picked him up I was taken aback. He had been severely neglected by his former owners. He had been starved and was drastically underweight, it looked like he hadn't had a bath in his life, he hadn't been brushed or combed and his fur was matted and he looked awful under his neck where he had slobbered into dusty fur. The only time he had even seen the doors of a veterinarians office were in cases of dire emergency (one of which it just sickens me to think about).

I know he must have been frightened coming from an abusive home and now unsure of what was going to happen to him. The way his fur was around his neck, he looked like a lion. My mother, who had gone with me to pick him up, and I were both a little intimidated by him. (Looking back now, how foolish it was to feel any apprehension toward him!)

We didn't know what to expect with him. We didn't know if he was aggressive or to what extent he had been mistreated. All we knew was that he desperately needed our help and our love. We were completely ready to give him all the love and attention he needed. If there is one thing a Saint Bernard needs, it is lots and lots of love.

Well, it was a long, hard road with Chewy, but, I think he made wonderful strides. He put on weight and he even looked like a Saint Bernard again and less like a lion!!

It didn't take as long as I thought it would to gain his trust. It has gotten to where he thinks of himself as the man of the house now!! I'm very impressed with how he has adapted to his new home and his new brother and sister. I've never had any trouble with fights or aggression. (The thought of adjustment trouble always lingered the in the back of my mind.)

All in all, I would say it was a wonderful experience with Chewy. I don't regret for a single minute bringing him into my home and life. Dealing with him was no different than taking care of Bernadette or my Flat-Coat. He needed a little more love and attention than my other canine kids, but he was worth it.

With the wonderful experience I had with Chewy now sadly behind me I can honestly say that I would gladly accept another rescue Saint into my home and life at any time. I firmly believe that taking the time and putting forth the effort to help an animal in need is one of the most rewarding things that can be done. The four and a half years I had with Chewy were important for him, I know, because he got the love and attention he desperately needed. But they were also important for me. I'd gladly go through it all again...

The Habits of Saint Bernards As I Have Experienced Them--

I haven't noticed many bad habits from the Saints. They do, however, have their little "quirks". Some things to bear in mind when considering adopting or buying a Saint Bernard are:

1. Regardless of what someone selling a St. Bernard says there is no such thing as a dry mouth Saint. Every Saint Bernard slobbers. Some more than others. Under normal conditions, I found that Bernadette slobbers much less than Chewy. If either of them become scared or nervous, the drooling greatly increases. Plenty of paper towels or clothes are a definite necessity. When their drool gets onto your clothes, the walls, or anything else it sticks like glue. I just know that there must be some kind of industrial use for Saint slobber!!

2. Saints do a lot of shedding. Both of my kids are rough coats (longhaired). The kids shed--profusely--twice a year. When they do, they get practically down to the bare skin. Bernadette has a much thicker coat than Max and seems to be shedding year-round. The carpets, beds, furniture and my clothes become covered in dog hair. It is a real job keeping up with the shedding. Don't be too surprised to find a Saint hair or two floating in your morning coffee or topping off your supper. All the brushing and vacuuming in the world can be done and you will still find some fur floating around.

3. Saints can be VERY afraid of thunderstorms. My Bernadette is deathly afraid of them as was Chewy. Max could really care less about them unless the thunder is extremely loud. Bernadette can hear anything that remotely resembles the sound of thunder and she immediately begin breathing heavily, drooling more and start seeking shelter. Shelter usually means the nearest closet or putting her head under the nearest bed. She sometimes likes to be held and comforted during thunderstorms although holding her doesn't really stop her from shaking. Bernadette reacts much the same way to the sound of airplanes, high wind, and heavy rain as she does thunder.

4. They do get VERY big. I would not recommend a Saint Bernard for an apartment dweller unless you have a very big apartment and very understanding neighbors. Bernadette currently weighs 118 lbs. and Chewy weighed around 125. (I don't have any figures on Max's weight yet as his yearly vet visit hasn't happened at the time this was written.) The weight is solid weight. Their size should definitely be strongly considered before making the decision to purchase a Saint. It is not uncommon for a Saint Bernard to tip the scales at well over 200 pounds. They need a lot of exercise and fresh air to help keep them healthy.

5. Their Eating Habits. Advice you can receive on this issue depends upon who you ask. For me, personally, I have found that my Saints actually eat less than Weylin does. Not too long after getting Bernadette, I began free feeding her. Chewy was fed this way and Weylin and Max are also currently fed this way. Each of them have their own huge bowl and they are kept full of food at all times. They are free to come and go as they please and eat as much as they wish. I have found they eat much less this way and are happier this way as well. They also eat less in the summer months when it is hot. How you choose to feed your Saint is up to you and your circumstances. Regardless of how you choose to feed your Saint, always make sure that they have as much to eat as they need (never let your dog--regardless of breed--go hungry) and that they have as much fresh water as they need. My Saints drink anywhere from 3-4 gallons (sometimes more depending upon the temperatures) of water per day.

6. Saint Bernards are NOT guard dogs. If you are needing a large dog that can serve as a protector in the house, I would recommend looking for another breed of dog. Saint Bernards are loving, friendly dogs that want to be a friend to everyone they come in contact with. They love all children and love to be petted--regardless of who is doing the petting. It's not to say that under no circumstances your Saint wouldn't protect you. I believe if there was real threat of danger, they would definitely protect thier loved ones. However, guarding is not thier forte. They prefer to be lovers, not fighters.

If, after knowing these things about Saint Bernards really feel they are the perfect dog for your home and life congratulations!! Having a Saint is such a rewarding, enjoyable experience. You will not regret your decision to get one.

As far as finding a dog, the SBCA can recommend reputable breeders in your area. Log onto their web site (you can use the link at the bottom of this page or on the main page). You might also want to consider checking into the Rescue Program. There are so many wonderful dogs that need loving homes who have found themselves in their present situation at no fault of their own. I imagine some people are intimidated by their size and don't want them anymore once they leave the cute little puppy stage everyone fell in love with from "Beethoven". That is so sad. Not everyone takes into consideration that they will not stay adorable, fuzzy bundles of joy forever.

I hope I have done a good job describing to you what it is like living with a Saint and in giving a few tips. If you have any further questions, feel free drop me a line.