My name is Bernie!

St. Bernard-a-doodle | 6 years | Male | 120 lbs | Owner surrender
*We cannot guarantee breed nor age.

*Due to the number of applications we have been receiving lately the team will not be able to respond to every inquiry as we are a FULLY volunteer run organization.*

Temperament: Calm, Affectionate, and Cuddly.
Activity level: Low to moderate.
Vetting: Core vaccines (dh2pp, rabies), neutered, microchipped, dewormed, on tick/heartworm and flea prevention, 4dx blood test (negative for tick related diseases and Heartworm disease). Fecal test - negative. Full blood panel - normal. Still has some dry flaky skin. Skin cytology done and it was a skin infection but after antibiotics, medicated shampoo and a single protein (lamb) his skin has cleared up immensely and all his hair has grown back. Must still be bathed using a medicated shampoo twice per week currently and taking essential fatty acids. Bernie also takes an allergy medication daily.
Housebroken: Yes.
Good with Dogs: Absolutely!
Good with Cats: Bernie seems to be completely fine when meeting the several feral cats on our farm sanctuary property.
Good with Children: Older children only-16 plus. Has been incredible with female children under the age of 16 however he was surrendered because he barked and lunged at 13 year old boys. He has not done this since coming into our care however we need to disclose this.
Any noted prey drive: None.
How do they respond to the outdoors: Bernie behaves fantastically outdoors. Although, he does prefer a quiet, rural setting as he is nervous of busy street and cars. Bernie also thoroughly enjoys hiking!
Crate-Trained: No but he doesn't need one.
Any resource guarding around food, toys or treats: None.
Response to commands: has incredible recall. Bernie knows sit, stay, down, heel and shake a paw.
Are they vocal? If so, in what way: Bernie will sometimes bark when a new person enters the premises.
Leash etiquette: Excellent, but may pull a bit initially.
Transit: Doing very well in cars but not tested on public transit.
*Bernie’s bio may change as we get to know him better.
*Comes with 6 weeks of pet insurance totalling $500.
*Due to the number of applications we have been receiving lately the team will not be able to respond to every inquiry as we are a FULLY volunteer run organization.

Calling all big dog lovers! Bernie is a gentle giant with a laidback, best-bud attitude. It may take time for this loveable giant to get to know new people (especially men), as he may exhibit some stranger danger initially; it should be noted that the best way to get to know Bernie is to let him come to you, not going in for head-pats right away is key. Although Bernie is a big cuddle buddy, he is also quite the gourmet meaning he only likes certain foods like Nutros lamb and rice. Being the fussy eater that he is, Bernie only takes his allergy pills straight off the spoon of wet lamb food.

Although he has only been tested in very small increments, Bernie seems to be a little anxious when his foster family leaves however Bernie enjoys the company of other dogs and has never been destructive; he also does not bark and mainly sleeps when you are gone.

This goofball is such a model pup that he shows consistently balanced behaviour when meeting other dogs and is used like an anchor for somewhat reactive dogs to be able to bridge meeting the pack easily. Even though Bernie is growled at and occasionally snapped at by a resident at the sanctuary that has issues with large dogs, this doesn't seem to dampen his spirits at all as he continues being his fun-loving self. This gentle giant is known near and far for his great companionship, love of belly rubs, and ability to brighten the moods of everyone around him.

Bernie thoroughly enjoys having picnics on the lawn with his foster mum, watching the birds fly in and out of the pond. Bernie LOVES spending time with his people, he even lets his foster mum use his body as a support pillow and enjoys their naps in the sunshine - it’s honestly out of a movie. Bernie would most definitely need a family who can financially support his expensive allergy medication, along with his essential fatty acids, shampoo and spray. He needs to be bathed twice per week - no exceptions. When he was found Bernie had missing hair, a massive skin infection, was bleeding, and had a flea infestation so bad he was eating his tail. Sadly, he was also incredibly skinny.

Bernie was used for breeding at a puppy-mill-like breeder and spent most of his life in a crate; so much of his rehabilitation was just exposure to life and he LOVES LIFE SO MUCH. Bernie is a great success story but it took an army of beautiful, loving and caring people to get him to this place. He deserves the very best home and the most incredible family that can gently guide him in a loving and sweet manor as he is a very sensitive man and responds very well to gentle voices and slower movements using ONLY positive reinforcement training techniques. He is also super smart and learns things quickly. Being the GIGANTIC pup that he is, Bernie eats a lot of food but that also means that he takes lots of poops, lots of enormous poops. So, an adopter understanding that they may have to use 2-3 bags to pick up one poop is a must. The combination of his love for walks/ hikes (yes, he is fantastic off leash) and his massive size means Bernie often finds himself in all the mud puddles and gets consistently filthy on hikes but is the perfect gentleman in the shower and when being groomed.

Coming from a very unfortunate puppy mill situation, Bernie would fit best in a quieter, more routine and consistent household. We are looking for someone that lives in a quiet neighbourhood or rural property (no condos). To live his best life Bernie would need space to grow and exist comfortably as a large dog, as he is very unhappy/anxious in small areas. Also, Bernie is a gigantic pup so potential adopters with large dog experience are mandatory. Bernie gets so excited during treat time, is a bit accident prone as he sometimes can’t navigate his excitement with his gigantic body. This quirky man often drools, sleeps with his legs splayed like a Shih Tzu, loves hugs and belly rubs. As much as Bernie loves his people he has never tried to sleep on the bed, but does enjoy sleeping next to the bed. He is also not a sofa crasher.

This dog is truly a companion like no other! Bernie has a spirit and energy so gentle it often makes people cry when they think of what he has been through. But Bernie is greatly enjoying his emancipation from hell. He exhibits extreme joie de vivre that is truly intoxicating. He is an absolute, overwhelming and complete JOY to have around.

Does this sound like the right fit for you? If so, fill out an application at: covetedcanines.org/application.