Hello Britz,
I only read the first five comments on your post, So I hope I am not going to repeat anything that has already been said, But I thought I might give you some advice that was given to me by My Grandmother who I would defiantly say is Very Wise.
I got My Saint Bernard Butterfly when my Second child was a Baby, Maybe not the smartest time to get a Dog, because they do require a lot of training, I was also Pregnant with my third Child... I spent a lot of time at first Training her, and it worked well, When my new Baby was born it became very Hard to keep training her, because the Children needed so much attention also, And because She became a Huge Puppy, And as we all know Puppies love to jump and Play. Butterfly had to spend a lot of time outside, Because I always seemed to be nursing a Baby, and she was always knocking over my other Baby. Not to be mean, But because she was a Clumsy Pup... I know this is off the Subject a little, But this is where my Grandma Came in...
She reminded me how important it was to Make Butterfly feel like she was part of the Family, By leaving her outside of the House I was excluding her from her Pack. ( Us) She Told me how important it was to have her in the house. If I want to have a Dog who is going to be a Family companion I should make her feel like family, and be sure to make her feel like a Member of our Pack...
I always made it a point to bring Butterfly in the House while the Little kids were napping.. I would walk her around and teach her how to respect the house, and show her what was expected... Not in one day of course... Many many days of consistency... I would leash Butterfly while I would nurse, and she was able to see how I was with the Children... She was also like a Child, So I started off by Raising her like one...While she was a Big Pup she did do Quite a bit of time outside, She was a Big Clumsy Pup like most Big Dogs are... But it was very important for her to be in the house as well, and feel like a part of the pack.
At dinner time I would leash Butterfly to my Chair and she would sit there and watch us eat... When we were done I would always give her a treat or some leftover meat... She learned fast to sit and behave while we ate, and that she always got rewarded for doing it.. Now every night at dinner she lays down by the table while we eat of course without a leash, But it was very easy to teach her what I expected from her, and she was happy to do it.
I personally am for a Dog that lives in the house. I think Big Dogs make great house pets, But they do take a lot of time to train, But it is also fun to do, And the Pay off is worth it. Keep in mind though that a Big Dog is like a Puppy until they are about two years old, So don't become discouraged or frustrated.. They become adult dogs then, and they are very graceful and careful when they Move..But is important to teach them now what you expect from them... Dogs Love to make us happy, Be sure to reward your Dog for what they are doing right, and not to get angry when they Mess up.. It does not take them Long to figure out that doing good things make us happy, But be very consistent..
Butterfly now is a great indoor Dog, and by watching me she has become very Motherly, and careful around my Children... Our Dogs watch us close, even when we don't know it..The same way in a Wolf pack the way the pups watch the Alpha dog, and they learn from them, The same way our Dogs need a Alpha to learn from in our Packs... Be your Dogs Alpha... If your Dog is left outside on it's own it may Take on the Role of the Leader. You never want your Big dog or any other Dog to be the Leader.. They Love to be a Part of the Pack, And the are very Happy when they have a Strong leader..
Sorry so Long, But I. Love this Kind of Stuff!
Take the Time to Train your Dog in the House while your Husband is Away... Soon your Husband will appreciate what you have done, and see how well it can work..Your Dog will also be much Happier, and so will You.
Good Luck Britz,
Shell