Everything You Wanted To Know But Were Afraid To Ask
Before you purchase a Newf, please consider the following..
Newfs drool a lot! Some more than others, but they all drool. There is no such thing as a “dry mouth”. Longest drool contests are a staple at Newf club social events. Newfoundlands are champion droolers flingers. Make no mistake.. it will end up on your walls, ceilings, floors, clothes and hands. Wall washing is a regular chore for Newf owners. Plan on it.
The Newfoundland is a working dog designed to work alongside it's master. He is extremely affectionate and social, showing a great affinity for children. This breed is not suited to living outside or spending long periods of time outside away from the family.
While a Newf enjoy snoozing outside on a cold/wet day, the place he ultimately longs to be is with his family. A Newf housed outdoors is a lonely Newf. A lonely Newf is a bored Newf. Boredom and loneliness can lead to excessive vocalization and destruction. So if the thought of extra housework has you considering housing your new puppy outdoors, please reconsider purchasing a Newf.
Newfs shed a lot! It's not uncommon to find stray hairs in your food, butter dish, etc. A common topic for Newf owners is to compare the odd places they’ve found Newf hair.
They are a double coated breed and require regular grooming. A weekly brushing will keep the coat in good shape. During heavy shedding periods, increased brushing and a thorough comb out will be required to remove loose undercoat. This will prevent matting and skin issues.
Newfs grow very quickly! By a year of age, a young Newfoundland will have a good portion of it's adult height & weight. How big might a puppy become? For adult females the average height is 26" at the shoulder and weighing between 100-130 lbs. Adult males on average grow to about 28" tall and weigh approximately 130 -150 lbs.
Because they grow so quickly, Newfs require obedience training from a very young age. Start with a puppy kindergarten for socialization and follow up with a basic obedience course from a training facility that utilizes positive training methods.
While Newfs are considered "gentle giants", due to their size, they can be quite a handful as puppies. A puppy is a puppy is a puppy whether it’s the size of a Chihuahua or a Newf. Both have “puppy” brains.
The difference is the Newf has MUCH more size and power to go with his puppy brain and thus the need to be under control. A 10 month old puppy might easily weigh in at a 100 lbs. Can you imagine what kind of havoc a 100 lb exuberant, untrained puppy might wreak?
With that in mind, is it any wonder the most common age for a Newf to be surrendered to a shelter or rescue is between 10 -12 months old?
An out of control giant breed puppy or adolescent is not only a danger to itself but to others as well.
We believe obedience training is so important that it is a requirement of our sales contract.
Newfs are expensive to own. The purchase price is just the tip of the expense ice berg. Everything is “super-sized” with Newfs from collars to dog beds to crates for example. It's not uncommon for a new Newf owner to trade in a smaller vehicle for a larger one to accommodate a Newf or two!
Veterinary care is very costly as many procedures, medications, heartworm preventatives, etc. are billed according to a dog’s weight.
The expense of feeding a Newf also hits the wallet hard. An average sized Newf will eat approximately one 40 lb. bag of high quality dog food per month. Quality food will run on average anywhere from $50 or more per 40 lb. bag.
There are several health issues that affect the breed. All of them are expensive to treat or repair. Some issues cannot be repaired but merely managed with medication/supportive care for the life of the Newf. Thus, pet insurance is highly recommended.
Some of the more prevalent issues include orthopedic problems like hip/elbow dysplasia and cruciate ligament tears, Cystinuria, cancer, eye problems such as Entropian and cherry eye, and various forms of heart disease with Sub Aortic Stenosis (SAS) being the most prevalent.
This is not an exhaustive list of the diseases/conditions the breed is susceptible to, but they are the
most common. This is why it is extremely important to purchase your Newfoundland from a reputable breeder.
Reputable breeders are dedicated to improving the overall health of the breed in general and to that
end health screen/test their dogs in an effort to prevent or minimize these issues. Reputable
breeders will have a written health guarantee within their sales contract.
While purchasing from a reputable breeder is not a guarantee your Newf will be problem free, it greatly minimizes the risk. Should your Newfoundland encounter a health problem, a responsible breeder will help you every step of the way as you face those health challenges. A responsible breeder will lend you not only moral support, but will freely share their knowledge, dedication, experience and resources within the Newfoundland community to ensure the best outcome for your Newf.
While a Newf enjoy snoozing outside on a cold/wet day, the place he ultimately longs to be is with his family. A Newf housed outdoors is a lonely Newf. A lonely Newf is a bored Newf. Boredom and loneliness can lead to excessive vocalization and destruction. So if the thought of extra housework has you considering housing your new puppy outdoors, please reconsider purchasing a Newf.
Newfs shed a lot! It's not uncommon to find stray hairs in your food, butter dish, etc. A common topic for Newf owners is to compare the odd places they’ve found Newf hair.
They are a double coated breed and require regular grooming. A weekly brushing will keep the coat in good shape. During heavy shedding periods, increased brushing and a thorough comb out will be required to remove loose undercoat. This will prevent matting and skin issues.
Newfs grow very quickly! By a year of age, a young Newfoundland will have a good portion of it's adult height & weight. How big might a puppy become? For adult females the average height is 26" at the shoulder and weighing between 100-130 lbs. Adult males on average grow to about 28" tall and weigh approximately 130 -150 lbs.
Because they grow so quickly, Newfs require obedience training from a very young age. Start with a puppy kindergarten for socialization and follow up with a basic obedience course from a training facility that utilizes positive training methods.
While Newfs are considered "gentle giants", due to their size, they can be quite a handful as puppies. A puppy is a puppy is a puppy whether it’s the size of a Chihuahua or a Newf. Both have “puppy” brains.
The difference is the Newf has MUCH more size and power to go with his puppy brain and thus the need to be under control. A 10 month old puppy might easily weigh in at a 100 lbs. Can you imagine what kind of havoc a 100 lb exuberant, untrained puppy might wreak?
With that in mind, is it any wonder the most common age for a Newf to be surrendered to a shelter or rescue is between 10 -12 months old?
An out of control giant breed puppy or adolescent is not only a danger to itself but to others as well.
We believe obedience training is so important that it is a requirement of our sales contract.
Newfs are expensive to own. The purchase price is just the tip of the expense ice berg. Everything is “super-sized” with Newfs from collars to dog beds to crates for example. It's not uncommon for a new Newf owner to trade in a smaller vehicle for a larger one to accommodate a Newf or two!
Veterinary care is very costly as many procedures, medications, heartworm preventatives, etc. are billed according to a dog’s weight.
The expense of feeding a Newf also hits the wallet hard. An average sized Newf will eat approximately one 40 lb. bag of high quality dog food per month. Quality food will run on average anywhere from $50 or more per 40 lb. bag.
There are several health issues that affect the breed. All of them are expensive to treat or repair. Some issues cannot be repaired but merely managed with medication/supportive care for the life of the Newf. Thus, pet insurance is highly recommended.
Some of the more prevalent issues include orthopedic problems like hip/elbow dysplasia and cruciate ligament tears, Cystinuria, cancer, eye problems such as Entropian and cherry eye, and various forms of heart disease with Sub Aortic Stenosis (SAS) being the most prevalent.
This is not an exhaustive list of the diseases/conditions the breed is susceptible to, but they are the
most common. This is why it is extremely important to purchase your Newfoundland from a reputable breeder.
Reputable breeders are dedicated to improving the overall health of the breed in general and to that
end health screen/test their dogs in an effort to prevent or minimize these issues. Reputable
breeders will have a written health guarantee within their sales contract.
While purchasing from a reputable breeder is not a guarantee your Newf will be problem free, it greatly minimizes the risk. Should your Newfoundland encounter a health problem, a responsible breeder will help you every step of the way as you face those health challenges. A responsible breeder will lend you not only moral support, but will freely share their knowledge, dedication, experience and resources within the Newfoundland community to ensure the best outcome for your Newf.
For more information on Newfs please visit the NCA website or Puppy Info Center by clicking the button below.
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