Bubbas

Follow @buena.park.bubbas for new photos of Eleanor and Herbert (AKA “The Bubbas”).

The Story

I have always loved dogs. As a child, I claimed I wanted to be a dog when I grew up. (I still do.)

Shortly after I moved to Chicago in 2019, Dustin and I decided we wanted to rescue a dog. After much searching, we discovered Illinois Saint Bernard Rescue and began the adoption process. On November 2, 2019, Dustin and I picked up Eleanor, a 10-month old, short-coat Saint Bernard.

In February 2021, I learned that one of Eleanor’s littermates was available for adoption. We couldn’t refuse the opportunity to reunite siblings, so picked up Herbert on March 6th.

Now, I know you probably have some questions: How much do they weigh? How much do they eat? Do you let them on the couch or in the bed? Are they really gentle giants? Did they recognize each other?

So here are the answers to all those frequently asked questions:

• Eleanor is 140 pounds. Herbert is 185 pounds.
• They eat about 80 pounds of dog food per month.
• Their favorite snacks include chicken, sweet potato, bacon, peanut butter, cheese, and rawhides. They despise bananas and pickles.
• Eleanor sleeps in the bed with us. Herbert doesn’t, but will try to once in a while. We have a king-sized bed and somehow we all find a way to fit.
• Saint Bernards have an inborn habit of cuddling up next to their humans in hopes of keeping them warm. Herbert and Eleanor both exhibit this behavior.
• Herbert has longer hair than Eleanor and sheds constantly. Eleanor blows out her coat twice a year. I sweep the floors every day.
• They absolutely love other dogs. In fact, the smaller the dog, the more excited they are.
• Nicknamed ‘The Babysitter,’ the Saint Bernard is known to be very protective over babies and young children. Herbert embodies this nickname. Whenever a baby is nearby, Herbert lays near them and reacts to any sound or movement they make.
• Herbert prefers to be pet on his head or under his chin. Eleanor prefers a good butt scratch.
• They sleep about 16 hours a day.
• They rarely bark.
• They are very shy at first encounter. They warm up quickly once they’ve met someone multiple times.
• It didn’t seem that Eleanor or Herbert recognized each other as siblings at first; however, that changed about a month or so into having Herbert. Today they’re inseparable and often found using each other as pillows.
• We drive a Subaru Forrester. Both dogs fit in the back as long as seats are down. Herbert loves the car. Eleanor tolerates it.
• They love snow. They melt in heat.

Having two giant dogs brings challenges, but I wouldn’t trade them for anything. Saint Bernards are a silly, gentle, low-energy, and extremely loving breed. Simply looking at them brings a smile to my face.

I hope these photos brings some joy to your day.