Saints spook easy!

Saints spook easy!

Our first week with Cassidy had been great!  She has anxiety that is obviously coming from be given up.  Even thought she doesn't completely trust us yet, she likes us. 

We decide to take her to McDonald's in Madeira Beach.  It is right on the water with the large floating dock.  They have a large deck overlooking the water, so we decide it would be a nice place for dinner.  Cassidy had obviously never had human food.  Her first hamburger was a true treat!

I know many of you are thinking, you should not feed your dog human food.  Well, that is fine if that is what you believe, but I find no harm if done in moderation's.  Cassidy enjoyed food so much, that if anything I would go back and feed her more steak or anything else the sweet girl wanted. 

So, after our dinner and a bowl of ice water we wanted to take Cassidy walking on the floating dock.  Saints are known for their nose and how great they are at picking up scents. Barry is the most famous dog, digging out someone buried 25' under snow after an avalanche.  They would search them out, dig them up, carry Brandy to warm them and lay next to them to keep them warm until rescue arrived.  All that being said, what I learned after several experiences that when the ground moves or vibrates, she gets the hell out of there! 

When we walk down the ramp to the floating dock Casssidy froze!  She would not go anywhere and sat down.  After 15 minutes of talking to her, she bravely got up and followed me down the dock with Mike following Cassidy.  The dock is long, about 150'.  As we got to the end, I stop to look at the fish and admire the beautiful colors in the sky.  Not evening thinking, before I could do anything Cassidy walked off the end of the dock into the water! 

Poor Cassidy in one week was given up by her owner, adopted, and now walked off the end of the dock.  We were not sure if she could swim!  All dogs know how to dog paddle right?  Mike was  kicking off his shoes ready to jump in when a few feet under the water we could see her!  Eyes bigger than I have ever seen, feet kicking as fast as they could.  Thanks goodness.  We guess the water to be around 17' at the end of the dock!  Luckily the tides were calm.  We had to lay down and pull her up on the dock!  If she was 125 lbs before she went in the water, how much dose she weight now?  We pulled her front two paws up onto the dock, and had to take a breather.  We got her up on the dock and all of us were completely soaked.  We had not plan to swim so we had no towels.  Thank goodness it was a short drive home! 

I learn through  the years Cassidy was scared of many things.  Some she dealt with, some she did not.  In the end, we would have to pick her up and carry her where ever we needed her to go.  You however, could not let her know you were about to pick her up.  She would drop and roll over with her feet in the air.  She was like, haha, try to lift me now!  I have been late to work on a few times due to her drop and roll trick.  I had to walk her earlier to ensure this did not happen. 

So having a Saint Bernard is truly a cross between a horse and a dog...  I just love the breed.  They are trul unique.  A love of a Saint is like no other love...