When when people say, " NOT For Everyone". When it comes to Great Pyrenees, and the Saints.
What do they do that they can't be for everyone?
Well, it's not just saints and pyrs that are not for everyone. Really, any dog could be called "not for everyone", because every breed of dog has it's own features. And pretty much every big dog will have the same core issues to deal with.
That being said, as a saint owner I will say that these are the issues that are off-putting to others that I need to deal with for my saint:
*Shedding ALL the time.
*Frequent Drool
*Having a big ol dog laying around that you need to step over and work around if they are sleeping or standing in the way
*Having the air conditioning on in the summer even if I am not home so that she can stay cool. Also not keeping her out long in the summer because she doesn't do well in the heat
*Getting briuses on my foot because she will accidentally step on it occasionally and man is she heavy
*Hip dysplacia, which requires education, special supplements, vet bills, and literally lifting for 135 butt off of the floor if she is having trouble getting up, not to mention the heartbreak of seeing her in pain
*Other health problems - Zoey doesn't have it, but saints are also pronte to eye problems
*Tail wag - she can literally knock a drink off a short table with her tail when she is excited and wagging it hard
*Excersize - people think that its ok to just have saints lie around all day, but even though they like to sleep alot and just be mellow in the house you still need to give them walks for excersize
*Expense - saints, like all other well cared for dogs, are expensive to take care of
*Training - you have to take training seriously. For instance, I'm a petite woman, so zoey has to be very well trained to walk with me, since she could technically pull me into the roud if she was really trying to pull me
*Grooming - a bigger dog means more to deal with come bath and brushing time
*Having the dog with the family - saints are not dogs that can be left alone all of the time. They love their owners and want to be with them, so they should be included in your family.
But, if you can put up with these issues, what you get is a sweet, loving, caring, cuddly, beautiful, awesome dog who is good with people and animals alike.
Oh, and by the way, no saints aren't huge barkers to my knowledge. There are only two things that make zoey bark: Strangers coming to the door (but once she sees we are ok with them, she is suddenly their best friend) and sketchy people walking by when we are in the yard at night. In both cases it's her way of warning people off because she wants to protect her momma (meanwhile she is also a scardey cat most of the time and will hide behind me when things freak her out).
I'm attaching a few pics to give you an idea of what comes along with big dog ownership, like the dirty pippin pic (which by the way, zoey has never been that dirty, saints aren't diggers like pyrs). The pics I'm attaching are the fur from a brushing session, a picture of a long drool, and a picture of zoey laying in the way at the base of the couch. But all of it is worth it - just look at the sweet face
