This is my first post and I hope I'm doing this right lol, but I've been looking into getting a service dog/emotional support animal for my severe anxiety and other mental health related issues. I have my eyes set on a St Bernard, as I feel that their size and temperament would fit well with what I'm searching for in a service dog. I've been researching them and I know what all St Bernards come with if I were to get one. I've never had one personally but my father used to have one when he was younger. I'm well aware of their size, the house I live in is of moderate size, I don't think there would be much of an issue with the size of a St Bernard. We have a rat terrier and some birds (a cockatiel and a few budgies). We also have a huge backyard and a pool. I was wondering if anyone could point me in the right direction involving St Bernards, or give any advice or what to expect? Thanks!
I have heard/read St. Bernards can be stubborn but I think any breed of dog can have a stubborn streak. I found this website and it seems to have really good info. https://www.dogbreedinfo.com/saintbernard.htm
I think a St. Bernard could be a good companion depending on what you're actually looking for, but I’d separate the service dog question from the emotional support question first. If your main reason for wanting a dog is that being around one helps with anxiety, an ESA may be worth discussing with a mental-health professional. A service dog, on the other hand, generally needs to be trained to perform specific tasks related to a person's disability, so simply being a calm or comforting breed doesn't automatically make a dog a service dog. With a St. Bernard, I’d also think beyond just having enough space. Their size, grooming, drooling, exercise needs, heat tolerance, and general care are all things I’d seriously consider, especially since you already have a smaller dog and birds at home. I’d also make sure you choose an individual dog with a temperament that fits your household rather than choosing solely based on breed. I was looking into the ESA side of this recently and came across My ESA Therapist. What I liked about the approach is that the focus is on figuring out whether an ESA actually makes sense for your individual situation rather than assuming that having anxiety automatically means you need one. So if emotional support is your primary goal, I’d first talk with a qualified mental-health professional about your situation and then make the decision about the breed separately. That way you're choosing the dog because it's genuinely a good fit for your life, rather than because you feel you need a particular breed to qualify. Good luck! St. Bernards are beautiful dogs, but definitely a breed I’d research very carefully before making the commitment.
