Bear has been adopted!
Sponsored in memory of Grace, mother-in-law of Roz
Introducing Bear, a loveable gentleman and the definition of a gentle giant. Bear is a happy St. Bernard mix, approximately 4 years old and 95lbs. He’s not always aware of his size, seeing himself more of a lapdog at times. He’s a charmer who steals the hearts of everyone he meets, always happy to make new friends. He’s loving and respectful, with impressive obedience skills. He arrived in Canada with great manners in tow. He knows sit, lay down, and has not once had an accident in the house. He likes lounging on the sofa, but he waits to be invited up. One thing he doesn’t always wait for permission for, is giving hugs and kisses. Bear gives Bear hugs. If you let him get away with it, he’ll creep up to you on the sofa and try to put his arms over both of your shoulders. While admittedly adorable, he needs reminders to keep all four paws on the ground. He’ll occasionally attempt to give the same hug to standing humans too, although training on this issue is going very well. Bear definitely needs a family who has experience managing a large breed dog.
Another big dog trait that needs work is Bear’s leash manners. Bear’s excitement for the world will have him pulling and trying to lead the walk, so he needs an owner who can handle his strength in that regard. Off leash in the backyard, he loves to explore, occasionally doing a couple sprints around the perimeter and chasing any stray cats who’ve stopped by for a visit. For a big dog, he’s medium energy at best. His thick coat keeps him warm and he’s usually ready to return to the air conditioning fairly quickly. He will require a home with a high, secure fence so he can run around without risk of escaping. He does have great recall and hasn’t shown himself to be an escape artist; he loves his people too much to wander far from them.
Bear’s coat sheds quite a bit of fur, so he’ll need regular brushings. Allergy sufferers may not be the right match for Bear. Fortunately, he is cooperative when he’s groomed, occasionally getting a bit silly by trying to mouth the brush or rolling on the ground. He really seems to enjoy the process though, as does his foster dad. Bear went to the groomer his first week in Canada, and unprompted the groomer gushed about how he was their best client of the day. He didn’t love his nails being cut, but he let them do it without showing any aggression. For his bath, brushing and blow drying, they said he was cool, calm and collected, and enjoyed being pampered.
In the house, Bear’s manners are fantastic. Though his size would allow him to surf the counters, Bear knows he’s not allowed to do that. When it’s mealtime, Bear sits next to his bowl, patiently waiting. And drooling, though that’s the only time this big guy gets slobbery. When his humans are eating, he’ll lay down on his bed or the sofa and let you eat in peace. Bear is ok being left home alone, as he has no signs of separation anxiety, and he doesn’t chew or destroy things. Even his stuffed animals still have their squeakers intact. When home alone, the countertops remain untouched, and he’ll wait for your return to do his business outside. He doesn’t require crating; he’s shown he can be trusted with the run of the house. Prepare for warm greetings and requests for couch cuddles and belly rubs upon your return though. At night, Bear sleeps in his own bed, or on the sofa, so you won’t have to worry about him hogging your mattress.
Bear is a pretty quiet dog. He isn’t much of a barker, aside from an occasional low woof when hearing the mailbox rattle or a knock at the door. The neighbour’s dogs barking at him through the fence barely registers a reaction in him. When guests are coming over, you can make him sit and settle before opening the door. The excitement will prevail, so he needs his experienced owners to remind him he’s a big dog and he needs to take it slow. He does great on car rides, napping on the (entire) back seat and never bothering the driver.
He prefers the company of his humans, but he’s also shown to be very adaptable to living with other dogs. He lives with an excited Bichon who wants to be Bear’s best friend, but Bear would rather play with his stuffed toys. We get the sense he hasn’t had much experience playing with other dogs and seems confused with how he’s supposed to act. He’ll return the play awkwardly, sometimes unenthusiastically, yet always gently. He’s currently sharing his space with a third smaller dog who he was initially very eager to meet. She sprints around the house, which seems to catch his interest. Bear will attempt to follow her around at times, but he adapted to her energy level quickly. A dog meet and greet will be helpful if potential adopters have pooches of their own.
Having Bear has been an absolute joy for his foster dad, but it’s time to find Bear his forever family. Do you have a spot in your heart, and your sofa, for a big loveable cuddle bug like Bear?
