Newfoundlands info please General Chat

Is that a typo? 11 stone is about 70kg? Yes? That's way over the standard for a female (50-54kg/8-8.5 stones) and at the very top end of what a fully adult male should weigh. The biggesst male I've ever known - and I man truly huge - was only about 75kg and he was several inches taller than the upper end of the standard.

I hope it's a typo as she's either massively over sized or massively overweight which is a death sentence for a Newf :-(

They're gorgeous and we don't get enough pictures of them (hint hint ;o) but definitely go onto my 'breeds I love but could never own'' - for the reasons listed above.Am I right in assuming they're not practical for the average home? Please correct me if I'm wrong.

And how well do they work with other breeds?

Not practical in a normal home???

I live in a standard 3 bed house with 3 kids, 2 Newf and a CollieX. They fit perfectly into a standard sized house. They're not huge bumbling monsters, rather more gentle giants who love nothing more to be laid at their owners feet.

My breeder has 3 Newfs, plus 2 other dogs and 3 kids in a 3 bed home - some of her puppies have been homed with St Bernards
A Newf is a big dog that doesnt take up alot of space.

Then they obviously fall into my ''misconceived breeds'' category then. I had always imagined they need special care and attention due to size and coat etc and that because they are a working breed they need lots of stimulation and 24/7 attention.

There are some areas that require care, eg they arent allowed upstairs, incase their shoulder joints get damaged on the descent, not walking them too far as this can also damage their joints in later life. The grooming, to me doesnt take long at all, 5 or 10 mins every other day keeps their coats looking top notch and tangle free.
The only thing you have to bear in mind is that your house will never be completely clean and shiny again. If you are house proud (which I am not) they are not the breed for you.

For me living with my girl is treat! Shes always there when you need her demanding her kisses and cuddles. However im not sure about other Newfs but mines is very VERY stingy with her kisses so when u do get one your very lucky : ) I read once that Newfs can be known as a hand holding breed and for mines that definatly true she always has to wack you with her paw either to get your attention or to play with you. I definatly agree with BigBearsRule as to when you turn around to get something and there they are! They are like Ninjas with they move around in the house, especially mines as I never hear her coming and quite often as she will startle me and walk off calmly as ive screamed and dropped something! Lol Mines also has a foot fettish she will only like to play with my feet ive never understood that quirk! She also like to follow me into the toilet and just sit there as if to say....... "dont worry were both girls you can do it in front of me.... I do!" Lol for me personally since being around dogs all my life I find that Newfs personalities are just amazing.

They are always there when you need them and always will be as long as they can help it!

They don't require masses of room as long as they are appropriately excercised. As well as my Newfie girl, I have a male Chow X Rottie who is only an inch or so smaller in height but weighs about the same as my Newfie (50kg or thereabouts). I live in an average 3 bed semi with an average sized garden. The dogs are walked twice a day in areas where they can free run (and swim). Once they're fully grown, they'll generally take as much or as little exercise as you give them. A fit, healthy Newf can go for hours...but not at the pace of a Springer ;-)

The coat does require a bit of work and regular maintenance as well as a teeny bit if trimming (ears, feet and feathering mainly) but nothing major. Except at coat blowing time (twice a year generally) - then, I can spend a good 30 minutes every day for a week or more stripping out dead undercoat.

They are a working breed and are bred for strength and stamina. Trainable and biddable but will also make their own entertainment if left to their own devices too much - a dog that size can do a fair bit of damage to furniture in a very shortspace of time should the notion take them. They like human company and are not really suited to being left completely alone for hours on end.

Although they are generally declared as 'good with children', like any breed, they need to be properly socialised with them and the normal caution needs to be exercised. My girl doesn't have that much contact with children but is very tolerant of them on the occasion that we are in their company. That said, she could easily knock one over or hurt them with a swipe of the paw so I wouldn't ever take a chance.

With other dogs, they are generally fairly tolerant but, again, a lot is down to the individual and socialisation. Mine is utterly indifferent to other dogs...she loves people and rarely gives another dog a second glance. Males can be a little dominant towards other males but no more so than you'd find in many breeds. As well as my own situation, I know several people who keep Newfies along with other breeds (from other giant breeds right down to Yorkies!) and they tend to co-exist well although obviously a bit of care has to be taken with the very small breeds to avoid accidental injury.

They're certainly not the breed for everyone, especially if you like your dogs to be independent, agile or low maintenance...but they really don't require a mansion to keep them. They'll always be where you are anyway and just need enough space for a bed to stretch out on (and in our case that would be the bed OH and I also refer to as 'ours' )

Hiya ShaynLola, nope thats not a typo she is about 70 kg, her older sister is roughly the same weight maybe slightly bigger, her mum was alot smaller but her dad was a big lad, she was the biggest in her littler. I also have a great vet who knows Gia so well and monitors her weight every month as I was concerned that she was getting very big! But everything is in order she is very healthy and not overweight! : ) I think the most important thing to remember about any dog is that as long as you can see the defining curves and can roughly feel the ribs then you are in a pretty safe zone.

Pictures not coming up : (

Do you mind me asking what lines she is from? I am really intrigued now as I've never come across a bitch that big before. She must be huge to be correct weight at 70kg.

It's really amazing, in this country (Czechland) Newfies are not all that well known, and I have had people waiting for a bus come across a busy road to say hello and whenever I'm waiting outside the supermarket I just know it will only be a minute or two before someone comes up and wants to stroke them. They are like a magnet, people just can't stop wanting to hug them and kids really do love them.

Its so strange normally with different breeds there personality seems to differ quite aot but with newfs seems to be just the same, Perfect in every way lol. I live in a normal semi with saints and newfs the only real differece being that the Newf needs alot more grooming thatn alot of other breeds. As for exercise mine gets 45mins - 1hr twice per day and loves walking and swimming but once at home totally loves cuddling and sleeping in doorways and infront of your feet lol. He is v tolerant of other dogs and totally ignores other dogs that snap at him. With kids he is extremly tolerant (have a 5yr old son) and will go and sit next to children and likes babies in as much so he will go and look at babies and toddlers in prams, if my son goes around the corner in the park he gets very stressed and will walk behind with my son if he is behind and gives me a look as if to say why arnt you waiting for him.

They are truly a one of a kind breed. The Best lol

Yep they really are crowd stoppers arnt they lol

Hiya ShaynLola,

No i dont mind at all her Sire was Newtonwood and Dame was Palmalia - Newtonwood was one of the biggest they has seen at alot of shows, and her mums previous litters tended to go on the males size rather than the bitches. For me having her that big is just natural, you just automatically move out the way when you see her coming, although she likes to lean alot and the weight can push you back : )

I'm so glad to read that because we have two and Baruska is exactly like that, the most you'll get from her is two licks I reckon it's because she is royalty and you never see the Queen handing out kisses do you

Rianna on the other hand is completely the opposite and will lick you to death (Or until you tell her to stop )

This is just one of the many ways they show their different personalites and I never realised how two dogs of the same breed, same sex, and almost the same age can be so different, it shows in so many ways.

Yes they definatly have there different personalities! Lol the royalty thing definatly makes alot of sense to me!! It all fits together now! lol

no matter what their little things are they win every dog lovers heart! My family is crazy about her! No one is even allowed to raise their voice at her incase they hurt her feeling (lol) and if she steps on your toes (which happens ALOT) then of course its your fault for having your feet in the space that she wanted to put her paw!! : )

Generally I agree but we've found that very often the smaller breeds will bark and provoke Baruska, this might be nerves or a form of defence but whatever the reason Baruska will react to it, and try to give the little dog a lesson in manners, and that often causes the little dog to be more nervous and to act agressively.

We've found that with the bigger dogs there is never any problems unless it is one of those which have been trained to be aggressive as unfortunately many around here are.

Oh yes, know all about that The really nice thing with Baruska is that after being a bit of a problem dog at first (She had been rejected by her first owners) she has now settled into the 'pack' and she really feels this is her home and sometimes she has us running around like a couple of servants opening doors for her and quickly rushing to change her bowl of water when she gives you the "I'm not drinking that it's old" look.