DP wants to get a Saint Bernard pup when we live in a small terraced house

[pedigreecapers]

Hello everyone. My partner (who is usually rational and level-headed) has recently become enamoured with the idea of us getting a Saint Bernard pup. He has never owned a large breed before and neither have I. I think it's a terrible idea because we simply don't have the space for such a large dog. He says he knows people who have large breeds in small houses and that the dogs seem fine. I also have to mention that Saint Bernard pups from respected breeders are among the most expensive breeds locally. A Saint Bernard pup is several times more expensive than a JRT pup for example. There is also the cost of food, grooming and vet bills which are higher compared to smaller breeds. What are your thoughts? Is having a large dog in a small house really such a bad idea or am I being a bit unreasonable here?

DP’s stupidity about this issue would put me off getting any dog with him!

Imagine having to pick up the 💩

I wouldn't do this, but on the plus side he will bring you brandy in a little wooden barrel whenever you need it.
(That's the dog not your DP, by the way)

Your house would smell and I say this from experience of giant dogs. I think that’s the worst bit. Along with the cost. And the slobber. And the being tied down.

I would ask what about that breed does he like, if you are fine to get a dog but it is just size could you take him to see other breeds of puppies and get him to fall in love with a more suitable one?

My friend in a 3 bed small terrace had a bull dog which was absolutely fine, nice and lazy after the madness of zoomies?

Don't.

They are so sweet natured but they are the size of a small horse and they shed, drool and smell horrendously. They also have a lot of health issues and cost a small fortune to insure - what a PP is paying upthread for their puppy is well over double what I pay for a 6yo beagle on full life coverage.

Medications, flea and wormer and even vaccinations cost more money as they are priced by the size of the dog. Even things like collars, beds and food bowls are going to be more expensive the bigger the dog.

They don't need loads of exercise but they take up loads of room - you can't just put a St Bernard in a crate either so what will you do when you leave the house and need to keep it somewhere safe?

No

Another thing to mention is transport - I would bet good money that your current car is nowhere near big enough to fit a 12 stone dog!

I'd find the drool scene from Beethoven on you tube for him.

Im going against the grain here and will say that dogs do not need any space at home. That is if you properly take them out and exercise/entertain them properly outdoors.
My dogs just sleep at home. We are outside for min 3h per day though and a lot more on weekends when we go on hikes etc. so i take them out for an hour before work in the morning, another hour around lunch time and a 1-2h evening walk.
Its really time consuming to have a dog, but if your DH does the work, then the dog wont need a big house or a garden.
If anything people get lazy with gardens and often think they do t have to walk the dog as much, because theres a garden he can enjoy. This mindset is completely wrong and will lead to problems and make unhappier dogs.

My St Bernard is 3, this post sums things up nicely we wouldn’t be without him but he is a lot to deal with.

The drool and fur is awful, constantly hoovering, wiping down walls, washing clothes, lint rollering and dusting. We are limited as to who we can have round for dinner as soon as food is there the drool just runs like turning on a tap.

Land shark stage comes fast and they are huge even then! I deffo wouldn’t have one with young children, mine thinks he is the size of a small dog.

He is stubborn but food motivated so training wasn’t as bad as we thought it might be but still took a lot of work. You have to socialise early and that’s a lot of work, mine looks at us for a cue in situations he is not sure about so keeping calm and reassuring him is important. Mine has guarding traits they are a mastiff, he went through a phase of resource guarding and actually biting, that look a lot of work to stop. Zoomies are hilarious but again another level, we don’t have much downstairs to beak luckily. We have floor that can be mopped downstairs, he is not allowed upstairs.

At 3 he is much calmer than my labradors we had before, doesn’t chew, and is not bothered about being left alone for a few hours. However if we put him in kennels he chews his body and causes open wounds.
he doesn’t eat loads or need much exercise and is perfect wfh company.

we all absolutely love ours he is such a loving friendly dog but I always say to people you have to really want one to enjoy owning one. We wanted one for years did all the research etc. We pick our dogs on personality/breed traits/behavour even that is no guarantee but you of what you will get but you are more likely to get a dog that will fit in with the sacrifices you are prepared to make. Also important is to do your research around the breeder and testing. Good luck!

I suppose how big is a “small terrace”? For example 2 reception rooms, a large garden and 3 big bedrooms and a kitchen diner? Or 1 reception room, one small bedroom no garden?

Has he considered where puppy would sleep? Do you have space for a crate? Can you block off the stairs for the first 8-9 months to prevent their joints being damaged clambering up/down the stairs?

Is he strong enough to handle the dog as it grows and hits adolescence? Do you have hardwood/lino floors that would cope with the drool?

Do you both work? If not from home, could you take the dog with you? Could your workplace accommodate a giant breed?

Do you have a trustworthy pet sitter or would you know where to find one?

*you meaning referring to your husband in most contexts.

The couple also have to deal with a lot of St Bernard slobber that thanks to Hercules' height gets smothered up their walls - and sometimes over strangers' children.

This couple have a 4 month old baby - what will happen when she starts to crawl and toddle around amongst all that hair and slobber!

Bit dramatic. I have 3 kids and none have died from fluff ingestion yet 😄

We had a St Bernard as Kids , we also had a large house and 5 acre garden . You just cannot entertain the idea of a saint in a small terrace . They slobber , shed hair and are huge .

Im going against the grain here and will say that dogs do not need any space at home.

St Bernard's are the size of a small pony - of course they need space in the house.

That doesn't mean they need a massive mansion or anything, but they do need a lot more space than your average dog - plus you need to consider the damage a 12 stone dog can do just by existing.

My 10 year old also wants one. He’s 10. We already have two large labs - we are in a 3 bed semi detached with a huge garden - it’s a no until he moves out!

I know it's a cliche but if you want a soppy gentle giant type that copes well in a small space then why not a greyhound? Some of the males are really statuesque. Also, no drool, no smell, no grooming requirements, little shedding. (I am biased cos I have one but they really are great pets!)

Could you find a local owner of a St B near you, through the St B club, to visit you in your home to show your DP the dog fully grown plus discuss upkeep costs.

Not a good idea AT ALL!

My ex boyfriend's family had one- fully grown it weighed more than me! It used to go on his boat and he push it in for swimming exercise.

I can heartily recommend a small sized mongrel.

Smart, trainable, loyal and loving (the yappy nippy ones are where someone hasn't bothered because they were small and cute as puppies. Train them as you would any larger dog and you won't go wrong). Cheap to insure, feed and vet bills are smaller too!

Most importantly they are healthy, robust and rarely ill. I've never had one die before 18 years old. Two lived into their early twenties, still zooming about until the day they didnt wake up. It's still always a heartbreak when they die, but so much better to know they have had as long and as healthy a life with you as possible. I couldn't look a dog in the face that I had bought knowing it would be dead before it was 10 years old, and certainly in pain and unwell before that.

Genuine mongrels are pretty hard to find these days as there aren't many stray unneutered dogs wandering around. Most dogs in rescues are the results of deliberate but often poor breeding and often have behaviour problems. The mongrel I had from being a stray pup was a far easier dog than my current pure breed rescue ( still lover her)