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We've had a few dog threads on here. My wife and I are thinking about getting a large breed. Our two favorites right now are the English Mastiff and St. Bernard. I know there are a few Mastiff owners here. Just wondering if anyone here has had experiences with the St. Bernard breed.
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My old room mate had a Saint Bernard puppy and gave it to my parents friends. Besides the fact it ate so much food due to its large size, it was a great family dog and lived like 13-14 years. It did have issues hear and there costing them some costly vet bills, but am unsure of the details.
You should google both dog breeds to get a feel for their health issues and typical life span. Great family dog though.
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Great info. We've been Googling details. Like many large breeds, dysplasia and heart problems are the most common concerns. I worked as a Vet Tech for four years when I started university but never had a St. Bernard in clinic. I believe the Cali weather would be a little harder on the St. Bernard as its coat is very similar to that of a Husky or Malamute.Originally Posted by FRDave
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Is this going to be an house dog or an outside dog?
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Good question. Indoor mostly. We have a home that's almost 3700 SQ ft on a 10,000 SQ ft lot. The dog will have room in the yard but would be kept in doors much of the time.
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Other than cleaning up the dog hair, I'd say its a good choice. My mother had one she could leave alone for 10 hours at a time with no furniture chewed up or no landmines left on the carpet.
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what about a great dane?
i know they do not live as long as the others, but they are very loyal/gentle dogs
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My favorite big dog of all time is the Rhodesian Ridgeback, Great Dog. I would look into them. St. Bernard dogs do need a lot of grooming care. Hair is an issue. But they are big sweet dogs.
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Love dogs but had my fill of large breeds and all the work / cleanup that comes with them. Micro breeds from now on for me:
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a friend of mine has had a couple of St Bernard's and I know he does have a lot of vet bills and grooming bills.
The real cool part is every know and then when he gets it groomed he will leave a the end of the tail and the front shoulders so it looks just like a lion.
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German shepard or Sieberian Husky for me not massively big like the st bernard etc you mentioned.
Very loyal and great dogs they both are the husky can be a bit more awkward to train but they are lovely dogs and epic for cardio too.
By the sounds of it you have plenty of room I'msure there will be more experienced people commenting on here but from my experience they would be my personal choices
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What's the average temp there 15 min from Mexico?
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They do prefer the cold the huskys but they seem to acclmatise very quickly but yeh that is something I forgot depends where you are in the US I suppose.
The other dog you could try is a Rotti lovely dogs once they are trained correctly and very protective.
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Usually 70-80F most of the time. For a few weeks in the summer, it does get HOT (95 or higher) but it doesn't last long. "Winter" months are usually 60-70.
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Oversized dog with a coat for winter. Man just get a Lab. Be cool once in your life. I will say though the Aussie I have now is smarter.
Why such a large breed?
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Labs are great too just a bit quiet dog lol
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Yes, hair is probably the one reservation I have. We have a cleaning staff come in once a week but dog hair is one of those things you can never stay ahead of!!! I've had many dogs. Loved them all but ya, dog hair annoys me to no end and a big shaggy dog like a St. Bernard is certainly going to shed like crazy - especially in California!
The other issue with St. Bernard's I have heard about is their drooling. Apparently they can be pretty messy or so I am told. I believe the salivary glands responsible for drooling can be removed without affecting their digestion and normal salivary processes.
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Are you sure you're not an Asian chic? My Korean girl friend had dogs just like those ones! Lol
My last two dogs (my ex has them now) were Jack Russel Terriers.
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Husky or Malamute was our original choice. I've heard they need a lot of activity and are "escape artists" but once trained are great dogs. Then we considered the Mastiff breed. To me, the St. Bernard seems like a mix I the two. Temperament of a Mastiff, coat of a Husky.
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My neighbor had a yellow lab. Beautiful dog. Very friendly.
I want a large intimidating dog. One that "looks" like a brute. The English Mastiff is one of those breeds that looks intimidating but from what I've read and heard, are very docile. They don't bark much and were bread to track and subdue poachers, lol. The St. Bernard has a similar temperament.
For many years I thought a Dalmatian would be cool. I've met a few of them and they seem to be a lot more vicious than I had expected. Mean buggers the ones I've met.
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Malamutes are angry fookers. Wouldn't be too keen on them personally.
Yeh the huskies are brilliant to work there way out of things but once you have high walls you are fine, they are quite active but they do settle down I have been round my friends one since he was a pup and he does jump around when he sees you first then will chill for the evenin.
They are loveable rogues tho love attention etc but great dogs.
If you want an intimidating dog. A Rotti right up your street they are big gentle giants and with short hair they don't create a massive amount of messz
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I know you want a specific type of breed, but you could always go rescue a dog from a shelter. Sometimes they even have specific shelters for certain breeds.
Just to throw another type of big breed out there, maybe check out the Cain Corso if you want intimidating. Look at the size of those claws!
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Gearbox has a Cain Corso. He loves his dog. Lunk on the other hand.....not a fan. He claims they are worse than pit bulls.
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I thought about Rottis and Dobermans. My wife doesn't like the Rotti as much. I've met Rottiswith both good and bad temperaments. Some can be down right mean if not trained well but the same can be said of many breeds.
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Bullmastiff – This breed is known for its physical strength, protection instincts, courageousness, and extreme family loyalty. If an intruder crosses its path, a Bullmastiff will typically use its strength to knock them over or block their path. The breed is very docile in a family environment, however, and makes a great household pet.
2. Doberman Pinscher – If you have a large piece of property that you are trying to protect, a Doberman Pinscher is a great guard dog for you. This breed is incredibly fast and is able to reach an intruder in a short amount of time. Known as the fifth-smartest dog breed in the world, Dobermans are fearless, alert, and loyal dogs.
3. Rottweiler – Originally bred as cattle-protecting dogs, Rottweilers are known to be relentless protectors of their pack. They are an intelligent breed and extremely loyal to their owners. Rottweilers are known to be aloof with strangers until properly introduced to them and are very quick learners.
4. Komodor – Traditionally used to protect herds of sheep, the Komodor possesses a natural guard dog ability. This breed is active, courageous, loyal and known for its dignity and strength. If properly socialized and trained in obedience, this breed makes a devoted family pet.
5. Puli – Pulis are known for their suspicious nature. They are always alert and will bark to alert their owners of anything out of the ordinary. Pulis are very smart and require constant companionship. They make great additions to families with active lifestyles, as they love hiking, running, and outdoor activities.
6. Giant Schnauzer – Giant Schnauzers are strong, powerful, and dominant dogs that require strict training. This breed requires a lot of mental and physical stimulation and requires constant attention. Giant Schnauzers are powerful, compact, and intimidating. Their extreme family loyalty makes them excellent guard dogs.
7. German Shepherd – German Shepherds are bold, confident, and fearless. They are extremely intelligent and quick to learn commands, thus making them a favorite police dog breed. German Shepherds have a calm demeanor when in a household but can quickly react when their family or home is threatened.
8. Rhodesian Ridgeback – Originally bred to hunt lions, this dog has a strong prey drive and tends to be independent in nature. Ridgebacks are loyal and make natural watchdogs. They are said to be selective in their barking so when a Ridgeback barks, it needs to be taken seriously. Rhodesian Ridgebacks must be properly trained and managed, as they are not naturally obedient. The breed loves to cuddle and often thinks it’s a lapdog.
9. Kuvasz – This breed is very territorial and has a strong instinct to guard its family and home. The Kuvasz tends to be aloof with strangers but craves affection from its family.
10. Staffordshire Terrier – Often confused with the American Pit Bull Terrier, the Staffordshire Terrier was bred for bear and bull fighting. Their aggressive and protective natures make them excellent guard dogs but require them to be properly socialized and trained from an early age. Staffordshire Terriers make great household pets, known to only be aggressive when protecting a family member.
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I have had German Shepherds my entire life and they are amazing dogs.
I now have an Australian Shepherd and he is by far the most obedient and loyal dog I have ever had. They are not large breeds but I highly recommend looking at an Australian Shepherd.
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Very true about the rotti they will come to you once they feel they can thrust you.
@mi dobermans are lovely if a bit thick lol friend has two of them and they the most relaxed ever but a bit like the lights are on but no ones home deal lol
Training is key with all dogs imo
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Man that is a beautiful looking dog
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I see people laugh when I'm walking her. But she's a chic magnet in the summer...
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Damn.....you might have stumbled on to something. With those dogs I may attract more Asian girls.....and I could use every advantage!!! Lol
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Get this dog. It's a Caucasian Mountain Shepherd. They use them to guard Russian prisons. They look like bears.
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While I believe any dog can be a loyal, gentle creature, I also believe that if not properly trained, certain breeds are definitely more prone to be vicious.
My buddy had one of the most friendliest dogs. So friendly, she wouldn't even bark at strangers or new company. She was a pure pitbull. Sadly, I just read a story about two Cain Corso dogs that attacked and killed a neighbouring lady. However, their was video surveillance proof and the victim had made several distress calls to the police that the owner was setting the dogs on her. One day while walking, the man let them out and they killed the lady. The dogs were shot by police upon arrival. The dogs owners were taken in for questioning and let go regardless of the evidence. Those poor dogs. It wasn't their fault they had a stupid a$$ owner.
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While I cant possibly agree with Cape anymore than I already do about the Lab. Best dog I have owned in my entire life. She has ruined me from ever owning another dog after her death. I miss her daily!
For you needs and from my experience with them in a professional and personal setting, you would do great with a Shepard. I would consider either a Dutch Shepard (very nice look) or the traditional German Shepard. I have seen them along side of other breeds and they literally out smart them. The loyalty is amazing, the look and reputation is intimidating, the longevity is good and health issues limited. The are adaptable to most climates and are easy to train. The only complaint would be their nickname comes for a reason...German Shedders lol.
I'm a big believer in good breeding and checking out the temperament and intelligence of the dam and sire. Then spend time with the litter and avoid the alpha unless you are prepared for the headaches that come with it. They can be amazing but they will fight for top dog position often. It can be taxing on the nerves.
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Yup!
My parents had one while I was in college. I would bring him in the bar, so easy to get women! He was the most obedient dog, more so than the golden retriever I had as a kid.
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Holy shit that's a big dog!
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My thoughts exactly!!!!
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Had two GSs growing up. Very loyal. Very protective. My dad sent the male to obedience training program offered by local office that trained police dogs. That dog was so well trained and obedient it was crazy. I'm sure my dad figured sending me to the same obedient school would have done me some good!!!! Lol
Agree about the alpha issue. The first JRT I got was a female. An absolute bully in the litter. I made the mistake of thinking her dominance over the litter was cute. That bitch have me nothing but trouble. Wouldn't listen to me and every time I gave her shit, she growled at me. Little bitch bit me several times. Lol
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What? No love for the gentle, sweet basset hound? Mine's an angel. Big, but not too big. Good luck when your 180# dog wants to share the couch with you.
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My first and favorite dog as a boy was my Basset Hound! She followed me everywhere. Shared my food, slept in my bed (and farted there too!!!!) and was a great companion animal.What? No love for the gentle, sweet basset hound? Mine's an angel. Big, but not too big. Good luck when your 180# dog wants to share the couch with you.
No dog is getting on my couch or bed. I've made that mistake with other pets. I'm the Alpha Male (okay, my wife is but I'll deny ever saying that!!!!!) and the next dog stays on the FLOOR!!!!
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I know its not the two you mentioned. ..but I used to have an akita. Most loyal dogs you will ever have. Mine was 150#. But almost like a huskie. Better for colder areas. Miss her....
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