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vanessahook

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As some of you know i lost my St Bernard nearly 4 weeks ago now. I had wanted a St Bernard since i was about 9 and my mum and dad finally gave in when i was 14. He was the first dog my family had had but we had always had cats and i have always had horses too. In the last two years we have lost two cats, my horse had to go out on loan (long story) and my beautiful dog has also gone. We didn't replace any of the animals as they left us so for the first time in my life i find myself at 25 without any animals. My mum and dad have made nosies about getting another dog but i have my own house now so it would be their dog, not mine.

I feel like a would like another animal (horse not an option at the moment) and i can picture another dog but not sure what breed. My house is an o.k size but i have limited outdoor space but im in a rural area so could very easily do long walks right from the doorstep. I sadly work full time way from home but my partner freqently works from home. I would love another giant breed but i'm not sure it would be fair given that i dont have masses of space, anyone keep big breeds in small places??

I'm quite "lost" at the moment, has anyone else been through this stage? I feel extremely lonely but don't want to rush out and try to "replace" my lovely boy. Any thoughts greatly appreciated.
 
I'm so sorry for all your losses. I think go for it! Get another dog, you are obviously a knowledgable owner.
I dont really think the size of dog should always go on the size of houseetc you have but the lifestyle you leave.
I used to have a labrador and a dalmation when I lived in a 2 bedroom flat with no garden but I was working full time with horses including having my own and they came everywhere with me and used to come out riding as well so actually they were never at home in the day and we literally just slept in the flat.
I now have a big ish house and still have the lab who is now old and a young Weimaramer but I now work full time in an office but my husband is at home in the daytime most of the time and they come up the yard morning and evening for a good run round the fields catching rabbits and then we go training on a weekend and they are very happy dogs.
 
I agree with Cyberchick, go for it, could you go to the local rescue center maybe someone will win your heart and you can bring him or her home?
Best of luck.
 
First some {Hugs} and then I want to say I think it sounds very reasonable to take it a little calmly. For some people it's right to get a new one straight away, but for others it's not.

I have sometimes thought about that we've had cats since I was about 8 years old and I only have vague memories about how it is to live without cats. My late Buhund died in January 2008 and for the first time on 15 years I only had one dog and though I still had Jonna, it felt very strange and even a little bit wrong.
For instance only leashes for one dog in the hall (have with both harness and collar) and four empty dog-beds in the living-room when Jonna was sleeping on the floor under the sofa, I hardly dare to think about how I would have felt if I wouldn't have had anyone.




About getting a new one, it depends on what you mean with small, if it's so small so that a S:t Bernard would crash things only by walking from one end of the house to the other, then it's to small for that sort of large breed. Otherwise then as far as I know, most large breeds aren't known to be especially wild indoors.
If you're only having small outdoor space then, well most Swedish gardens is to small for a dog to get all it's exercise there anyway. So as long as if you have the time for long walks and spend so called quality time with a dog, then it's at least worth looking into.

Personally in your shoes, I would probably already be looking at dog breeds in books or on internet, maybe (
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I choose to link the S-list on the first site) http://www.dogclub.co.uk/dogs/list-S.php or http://www.dogchannel.com/dog-breeds/dog-breeds.aspx , or trying to find a rescue site to look on possible rescues at, maybe like http://www.adoptadognortheast.org.uk/ .


Good luck whatever you choose.
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We had a tiny house and garden and had an Irish wolfhound. The size of house is unimportant as long as the dog is exercised in the right way according to breed. Our boy in the peak of his fitness was out for 6 hours very hard hunting a day. I was at home all the time. If you look at it this way, all he used the house for was to sleep and eat. The garden was enough for a bouncy play and a lie down and chill out. The rest of the time he was out. I would not recommend a wolfie however, if you need to kennel a dog whilst on holiday. However the good side is that hubbs is around and if he can spare the time, they are a breed that needs a lot of exercise. Doon't be convinced by those sites that say 1 hour a day. They are a hunting breed and will hunt. Ours was a prolific hunter. You have loads of plusses in you favour... You know about bloat and management, you know about the risks of OCD etc on young dogs, hubbs is at home etc. The wolfie is such an amazing breed and I shall post piccies up if you liek showing you that small house and garden is irrelevant. You sound like a top owner and I am sure any big woofer would be delighted to be yours!!!!
 
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