for Fanciers of the Newfoundland Dog
Newf Fans
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A Newfoundland is not right for you if you like your house to be clean. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not that I don’t like a clean house, but with a Newfoundland, even just one, you can count on always having little hair bunnies floating on the floor. And more dramatic for some, you can always count on wiping big slobber marks off of everything from furniture, walls and artwork to the lampshades not to mention the ceiling from time to time. Along with this, newfs have an oily type coat and the walls need a regular cleaning to get the grime off.
A Newfoundland is not right for you if you want a protection dog. If this is the case, you really need to get a protection breed and it is not the Newfoundland. Not even a teeny tiny bit. Now, my girl was somewhat protective of family members (if I can call it that, she was never really put to the test, thank goodness), but the day our house was broken into and our Newfs were enjoying themselves outside in the yard when we got home to the mess, I knew for sure that they just don’t have the capacity for protecting property in any way. Of course you need to also understand that they were in the house when we left; it was the robbers who let them out. To expand on this, my male and I out on a walk once ran into a nasty dog. As he charged at us, it was I who put Bubba behind me and protected him. It was not the other way around. Though, I must admit he looked at me in a whole new light after that.
Now probably more importantly, knowing if you are right for a Newfoundland.
You are not right for the Newfoundland if you do not like to groom or are not willing/able to have your Newf groomed. The Newfoundland has a very thick double coat that requires regular grooming. If you do this on a regular basis it is not bad, but if you let it go, it can soon become overwhelming. It’s okay not to like grooming, but please consider a non-coated breed like perhaps a boxer. A wonderful dog, many times compared to the Newfoundland in temperament, but it does not have the same grooming requirements.
You are not right for the Newfoundland if you are just looking for an outside dog. The Newfoundland may be big and he may take up a good amount of space, but that does not mean they want to live their lives outside in a pen or heaven forbid, tied to a dog house. They need the interaction that comes from being inside around the family. And not just that, but really being considered a member of the family. They want to interact, go on trips, or wherever their humans go. They provide an amazing unconditional love that is an inspiration to experience.
You are not right for the Newfoundland (or most likely any dog) if you cannot or will not provide the basic necessary care and consideration for the life of your pet. This includes vet checks and shots etc. It is also very important to feed a good quality food. It doesn’t have to be the most expensive products on the market, but at least a good quality premium brand.
Please also keep in mind, with a Newfoundland everything is more expensive. Yes medication, food, grooming, all cost more because of the size. And as they grow older, you can count on spending even more. And don’t forget training. Just because they are known as gentle giants, doesn’t mean that they do not require lessons in good behavior.
And remember...
If you are unsure of any of these primary areas, you should probably consider another breed. However, if after reading this far you think that you and the Newfoundland were made for each other, great! Please read on. We first suggest that you consider a rescue. It is unfortunate that not everyone who buys a Newfoundland looks for or takes these kinds of warnings seriously and inevitably, many Newfoundlands find themselves homeless. Beautiful loving dogs, just waiting for a home like yours. For more information about a rescue, please contact your local Newfoundland Club. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact Newf Fans for assistance.
Additional links:
Newf Friends, Newfoundland Dog Rescue
Finding a good breeder
However, if you not only have your heart set on a puppy, but have the time and energy to train your new family member, please do your breeder research. It is very important for you to go to a responsible breeder. There are many good sites that will tell you what a good breeder is and why not to buy from a pet store, so I will only briefly tell you here what I would look for in a breeder. Not entirely comprehensive, but a very good start when looking at websites and talking to breeders.
A good breeder will only use sound healthy dogs in their breeding programs. This should be your primary consideration. Getting a dog from someone who doesn't do health checks may be cheaper to purchase, but in the long run it will most likely cost much more in health bills, not to mention heartbreak. Ensure you ask to see or receive copies of the sire and dams health clearances. Some unscrupulous breeders may claim to do health clearances, but you won't know unless you see them.
A good breeder probably belongs to at least one if not many dog organizations such as their Newfoundland club or in Canada the Canadian Kennel Club or a local dog club.
A good breeder is involved in activities such as conformation, obedience or water rescue with their Newf. Perhaps all of these and more. However, conformation alone is not a good indicator; if you find a breeder site that has dozens of conformation pictures and no family pictures, dogs having fun doing dog stuff pictures, or other activities such as water work this is not a good sign.
A good breeder will in some way be involved in rescue. No good breeder wants to see a Newfoundland homeless with no where to go, especially their own. This is one of the reasons they will ask you to return your Newf to them in the event you cannot keep it. It is important for them to know that the puppies they are producing are taken care of.
A good breeder will want, some insist, on you visiting their kennel. It is a good idea to find a breeder close to you where you can go and visit before any puppy becomes available. Meet the person you will be dealing with, meet the dogs including any prospective parents of new puppies (usually the female, the male will not always be on site) is the best scenario.
A good breeder will want to know that their puppies are going to a good home, but will not harass you (there is a difference between just knowing the lingo and living it). Note: You should expect some questions. If all they want to know is cash or charge, move on.
A good breeder will not send puppies to their new homes until they are at leat 8 weeks of age, for many 10 weeks. If your breeder wants to let you take your puppy home before this age this is a bad sign, go somewhere else.
A good breeder will have a good guarantee and help you with your newf throughout his entire life. You will find them friendly, patient and open; willing to answer your questions. Note: A good breeder does NOT include a clause in their guarantee that if the puppy is to be returned due to health reasons, it will/must be euthanized. This is essentially a non-guarantee as most people will not do this and a good breeder cares about more than the cost of veterinary care. A good breeder is more concerned about the health and life of a dog than their pocket book.
A good breeder follows the laws of their country and the registering club. For example in Canada you cannot represent an animal as purebred that is not. They cannot sell you a purebred dog without papers. They cannot charge you extra for those papers or in other words they cannot offer their pups 'with or without papers'. They MUST be tatooed or microchipped before leaving the breeders facility. Ensure you know which it is and check for it.
A good breeder breeds their dogs according to the standards recognized by your countries registry. If your prospective breeder advises you that they have 'special' dogs of different size, colour, temperment. This is a bad sign, go somewhere else.
It is unlikely that all good breeders will match this entire list, but they will meet a lot of these qualities especially those that involve the welfare of the dogs and follow the laws and rules of their country and it's registering body. Use your best judgment and trust your instinct. If something doesn’t quite seem right, Keep looking. Don’t sacrifice quality for lack of patience. The right dog is worth it!
There are many great qualities about the Newfoundland; so much so that people like myself, take the time to build a special place for them just like this. Can’t wait to bring your new treasure home with you? Great! I don’t blame you, but take just a few moments to read the information contained in this page.
First, you may believe that a Newf is right for you, but have you asked yourself if you are right for a Newfoundland? This may sound like an odd question, but it’s not. Wait, let’s start at the beginning. Is the Newfoundland right for you? Please read some primary reasons they are not for everyone.
