Vaccinations/Vet Check-Ups

Our puppies are all examined by a vet and given their vaccines around 6 weeks old, before going off to their new homes. They are de-wormed every two weeks as well as at the vet. Your pup will be due for their next check up or second round of vaccines between 10-12 weeks old. They will then be given boosters and any additional vaccines that you and/or your vet determine are necessary at that time. There are also optional vaccines such as Lymes. It's a good idea to avoid dog parks and public places where other potentially un-vaccinated animals may be to keep them safe from illnesses such as parvo-virus until they have received their full set of shots. I believe they get their rabies shot around 14 weeks. Always keep up on your pup's health and vaccines to give them a nice long life.

 

Training

It's a good idea to begin training your baby Saint as soon as you bring him or her home. We have had so much fun training ours, and I can almost say it's been done with complete ease. They're incredibly smart dogs and when you mix that with their eagerness to please their family, you can't go wrong!

We have trained Boris and Greta to ring a bell when they need to go outside. They picked up on that rather quickly. There is an old fashioned brass bell hanging on our door knob, but they also sell bells made specifically for this use. I like this bell, because it can be heard from anywhere in the home.

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I do start potty training the pups during their time with me. They will usually cry or bark when they need to go out. Puppies usually need to go out immediately after eating as well as when you see them sniffing around.

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A few things I was told that I found valuable was to start walking the dogs and socializing them from an early age. I did read that you don't want to over walk them when they're little because of their growing hips and joints, so that's also something to consider, but moderation is a good thing. Saints are also heat-stroke prone, so try to choose a cooler time of day for walks, and don't leave them out in the heat. They're wearing a fur coat after all.

 

It's vital to keep in mind how large and powerful they will become in a short amount of time. I think it's important for them (and us) that they're comfortable around most people and other dogs as well. We also want them to be enjoyable and safe to walk on a leash. If your dog does pull on the leash, there's a halter for sale at Wal-mart that is pretty much life changing. It's called the "Gentle Lead" and you could always use that while you work on correcting the pulling issue, if needed.

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Things like jumping up on you when they're excited to see you may be cute when they're small, but again it's important to remember how large and heavy your dog will become. I basically recommend treating him or her like they are large right away and to not encourage that type of behavior.

Start crate training from day one as well if you will want them to use one so they feel safe in it. I start crate training the puppies while they are here with me by leaving a large crate in their pen area with the door open. They all love to sleep in it so they will probably be used to it by the time they get to your home. You want your dog to love its crate and to think of it as their safe space if you will. You shouldn't use it as a punishment or they may avoid it. I leave the door open on ours and my dogs gladly go into their crate for a nap completely on their own. They also happily go in when asked. They don't bark to get out of their cage. These are things I find very important even though they aren't crated very often.

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I've found E-collar training to be a super helpful addition to our regimen. These collars have three settings which are beep, vibrate and shock. If you are against the use of shock collars, I'm here to tell you that the beeping and vibrate function can be enough to up the level of communication with your dog dramatically. We've had a set in use for over a month now, and I agree with the fantastic reviews online. If your dog is just distracted or being stubborn (which Saints can be) that beep gets their attention and brings it back to you so that they can be properly re-directed. There's also an optional light on our set which I love to use at night time.

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Early car rides is another good thing to consider as it will be difficult to convince a full grown Saint to get in the car for a trip to the park or vet if they're too scared.

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We live in an age where there's an endless amount of information available at our fingertips. Youtube has a plethora of dog training videos available to us for free. I have definitely utilized them, and I recommend for anyone buying a dog of any breed to do so as well. If you put the effort and time into proper training, it WILL pay off, and you will have a lovely, polite and obedient companion for years to come! Do take training seriously.

 

Grooming

Bathing dogs the size of mini ponies can seem overwhelming, but it doesn't have to be. This is another thing I started super early and frequently, and made it fun! It worked out well, because Boris and Greta will jump into the bath tub on their own and wait for me to bath them. They LOVE bath time. 

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Checking and cleaning their ears isn't optional. It's part of their health. They have large floppy ears that trap moisture and if you neglect to clean them they can get infections. I think cleaning ears and clipping nails is another thing to start very early so they aren't afraid of either.

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I tried a "Furminator" brush at someone else's recommendation as a de-shedding tool, and it was so effective I couldn't believe it. SO MUCH fur came off of them with the Furminator. I brushed and brushed for probably half an hour when Spring arrived. It helps remove their undercoat which normal brushes do not do.. They honestly loved it. You can find the Furminator at Wal-mart. It was around $30. I was skeptical but it ended up being worth every penny.

 

Ticks and Fleas

Make sure to keep up on tick and flea treatments to keep them at their best, especially if you live in a heavily wooded part of the country, like we do. They have a coat, and then they have an undercoat. Let's just say their fur is thick! When I first got Boris, he did get a tick out in the yard. I called the vet and they sent me to a specific pet store for an item where they knew the owners personally. When I got there, the manager recommended against buying his product and to instead go home and wash him with Dawn, because it would kill any tick or flea... I thought that was good honest information so I'm passing it on. Your vet can prescribe something like Simparica Trio to deal with ticks, fleas and heart worm if you ask. Keeping the yard trimmed short is a must, and if you're uncomfortable with spraying your yard (I don't like to use pesticides for many reasons, my garden being one of them) look into using food grade diatomaceous earth. I love that stuff! That can also be found at Wal-mart or on Amazon.

 

Good food is a must as well. Large dogs have large nutritional needs that shouldn't and can't be ignored. They grow around 5 pounds a week! Opt for food that is designed specifically for large breed dogs. Look for one with Glucosamine and Chondroitin in it, because it's great for their joints. Probiotics are good too. They also need access to plenty of fresh water at all times. They drink a lot! We joke that they could use a trough.

 

Toys and Chews

Be careful when choosing toys and/or bones! I was shocked at the amount of chewies that had disastrous reviews online. Some can splinter and/or shatter and lead to injury or even death. It good to choose bones that are fully digestible. As for a chewie, I have found the Nylabone to be quite resilient. We also use a Kong filled with peanut

butter and treats. It's just a good idea to supervise your pup when they use these things if you're unsure. My dogs also love stuffed animals, which I think is so cute. I do give the puppies toys and stuffed animals to play with as well. 

 

Home and Garden

It's a good idea to spread high traffic grass seed in the yard so that when it rains they don't tear up the yard and make it all muddy. 

I do keep an attractive and thick blanket on my couch as a cover. If you look online there are pictures of Saints sitting on the couch almost like a human, and mine do this. 

I recommend a powerful vacuum. I can't say enough good things about the Kirby. 

 You will also want to scoop their poop quite regularly to prevent it from being stepped on or from taking over the yard.  I like to use a five gallon bucket with a trash bag in it as well as a lid that seals it shut until it can be buried, lol. 

Yes, they can reach the BBQ ribs on the table...

I've found it's sensible to gate off any rooms you want to deny access to as well.

 

Emotional Support

Saints are well known for the amazing emotional support they freely give to people of all ages. They are commonly used as therapy dogs. You may have heard them being called, "nanny dogs," because of their love for children. I can see why these things are true after living with them, but I also feel that they need proper attention in return. They're not needy or jealous dogs at all in my opinion. They don't have highly demanding exercise requirements either, and they sleep a lot. They are docile and so loving in nature. They do need proper stimulation and attention though like any pet. My dogs have never really shown any destructive behaviors like chewing on furniture, etc. and I feel that it's because they were always given plenty of attention, so that's something to consider. Honestly, it's hard not to shower them in attention, especially if there are children around to play with or even a second dog.

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In Conclusion

I'm sure I will add to this list as time goes on, but lastly I do want to share that I've found Saint Bernards to be surprisingly easy to train and live with. Their large size does not equate to large issues in my opinion, when they are properly cared for. They're certainly playful, but again, they are famous for being lazy and docile in nature, which I just adore! They like to snuggle and play, but they also like to just go off alone and sleep for hours.

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