Really Struggling- St Bernard

[NameChanged121222]

I'm so fed up at the moment and just feel like crying.

I have an 18 month old St. Bernard and a 6 year old Jack Russell Terrier. I'm really struggling to cope but everything that is upsetting me are all very obvious things, like the state of my house with hair and slobber and dog smell- what did I expect? I can clean the house top to bottom but it still smells like dog and there's nothing he or I can do about it, he gets groomed regularly.

He's terrible with new visitors to the house and my JRT eggs him on except when JRT greets people excitedly, he's small so it's not a big deal and settles down quickly. When the St. Bernard does it's a nightmare. I've now stopped having visitors except my closest (most robust) friends. Although to be fair to him, it doesn't last for long either before he settles down.

I made such a big deal to get him, my DP didn't want to and my parents and in laws all thought it was a terrible idea but I knew best and sold the idea to everyone and here he is and I can't cope. I love him, he's a gorgeous and can be so gentle and sweet. Nothing is his fault, it's all mine.

Do I just have to suck it up? He's happy, healthy and well looked after. We're literally just back from the groomers where they've been saying what a gorgeous boy he is and so loving. So, even though I'm unhappy do I just keep pretending everything's fine? Dog's lives are so short, I don't want him to have disruption or any unhappiness.

Also, I'm not sure my pride can take it. I made such a fuss about getting him. I haven't told anyone in real life how I really feel.

(Sorry it's long, thank you for reading this far!)

@Tessasanderson is an ignorant troll… proved by the fact she thinks the lifestages of a dog mean he’ll be now entering his ‘teenage stage’. 🤣

And dogs can always improve… people, Tessa, in your case I’m not so sure.

I find it seems more overwhelming when there are a few things you are trying to tackle all at once.

I suspect when you tackle the ones you can with training and age the smelly dribbly issue won't feature as large.

Nice update OP, sounds like it's late onset puppy blues on top of a load of stress.

I remember looking at my dog once and just thinking "why?" I had him for over 15 years and he was my true love.

Would also love to see an update.

Well, on the way to groomers he pooped in my new car, I pulled over and cleaned up- washed my hands in snow! Got him back home to a messy cold smelly house and thought ‘what am I doing?!’. Then got the heating on (for as long as I dared) tidied up, washed the floor, lit a candle and sat down with a cuppa and it all didn’t seem quite so bad.

All afternoon and evening he’s been a little/big dream. Just puppy blues mixed with my own rushing around because of the snow that caused him to get caught short! I’ll be alright and I even let him lick my yoghurt lid 😂

I posted soon after walking in the door, I should’ve given it all a minute!

Hang on in there op. He is so young and he will really quiet down when he matures. He won’t be mature until 3. This is his silly stage. Get a deodorising shampoo.