Newfies - Breed Information

 

To be loved by a Newfoundland dog is a love like no other, a Newfie will never break your heart nor damage your spirit. Newfies live for their people and should be cared for in the same way they care for their people. The feelings of a Newfoundland should be handled with much care from the time they are a Newfie puppy. Newfies are delicate, emotional, and can be fragile and sometimes unforgiving if not treated with love. They are very, very sensitive creatures and deserve to receive the same love they so freely disperse. Newfies know when you are suffering and can feel when your heart or spirit is broken.

My Newfoundlands have mourned with me on multiple occasions, they have helped me heal. Newfoundlands give you as much time as you need, they do not offer any unwanted or unhelpful attempts for condolences. They just love you. Newfoundlands are a breed like no other, attentive & devoted, strong & steady, affectionate & watchful. How did I ever live without them? The passing of a Newfie is a devastating loss, there is nothing easy about losing your best friend. Countless people who have lost their Newfie have contacted me requesting the first available Newfoundland puppy, others want to be added to a distant future litter allowing them time to mourn their loss.

To a Newfie you are their life, not an option or a lesser priority, they live for you. I have Newfie puppy parents who need to have more than one Newfoundland at a time, one Newfie at a time is not enough for many Newfie lovers. Once you go Newfie, you don’t go back. However, Newfoundlands are not for everyone…. they shed, most drool(some excessively), not everyone can get over that. An experienced Newfie puppy parent knows the value of investing their time into such a large puppy, and they wouldn’t have it any other way, it became the only breed they would even consider. Most of our puppies are placed in homes with Newfoundland experience, therefore this page might not be of particular interest to you. But for those of you not yet acquainted with the breed this information may help you make a more informed decision. Keep in mind that I am not a veterinarian or a professional dog trainer, I am however an experienced newfie parent. Below you will find some brief information that is based upon my experienced personal opinion.

Health and Genetics of the Newfie Breed

Newfoundland dog health is very important when deciding on a breeder and/or bloodline. There are many health testing resources available for breeders: OFA, PennHip, and DDC are the most common. These tests were developed to assist breeders, giving them the ability to make informed decisions improving the health quality of the puppies that are produced. If health testing is taken seriously by enough breeders we could see a substantial positive impact on the health of the breed as a whole, not just individual bloodlines. There are many things concerning Newfoundland health that can be taken into consideration. Every breed has common health issues, for the Newfoundlands there are heart issues, hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, and patella(knee) luxation. Other diseases that are common to the breed are cystinuria and degenerative myelopathy, these are passed genetically from parent to puppy. Surprisingly, cystinuria is 100% preventable which makes it very important for Newfoundland breeders to be testing their breeding stock for the disease so they aren’t producing Newfoundland puppies for sale that will be affected. Here at Moore Newfies we are very confident in the health of our bloodlines, this is why we are able to offer an Extended 3 Year Health & Genetic Guarantee. We strive to produce above average healthy Newfoundland puppies, giving every puppy that leaves our home their very best start. Having health tested parents makes for healthier puppies, and this makes us happy. Health testing is one of the many things that separate a responsible and reputable Newfoundland breeder from the backyard breeders. There is much more information on Newfoundland health available on our Health Guarantee page.

Newfie Temperament Expectations and Development

Newfoundland dogs are the most devoted of any of the dog breeds I have encountered, and it seems to be the main attraction to the Newfoundland breed. A newfie is a very social creature and does not simply ‘want’ to be near you, they ‘live’ to be near you. Like any breed, if they are left alone too often they can get into trouble. Think of your newfy puppy as a small child, the more love and affection they are given, the better they develop into emotionally secure and devoted beings. If you can not provide adequate support in the emotional development of a newfoundland puppy, you should not attempt to acquire one. But with the proper upbringing there is nothing like a newfie, it truly is the most endearing of creatures and will captivate the heart of many. Ultimately any dog will mature into what is put into it; training, love, affection, time and the general disposition of the breed. There are many people that come to me with the idea that newfs ‘walk on water’ so to speak, they will live up to the breed reputation but they must first be given the proper tools to build their foundation. Newfies that are properly loved and trained grow into the classic gentle giant, docile, old soul, even tempered, tolerant, pleasant, loving and devoted companions that they are known to be.

Socialization Suggestions for Your Newfoundland Puppy

First and foremost, keep the health of your pup as the highest priority. Get the ‘go ahead’ from your vet prior to exposing your Newfoundland puppy to a social environment, as puppies are especially susceptible to illness. Their immune systems aren’t yet fully developed and they are always trying to get strange things in their mouths. After obtaining the go ahead from the vet you will want to expose your puppy to many strange sights and sounds, this will encourage them to mature into a confident and brave companion while eliminating any timid or suspicious tendencies. You want your puppy to be well rounded at home as well as away from home. If not properly socialized, your newfie probably won’t want to get in the car, as an adult this will create a problem, attempting to force a 100-180lb dog into a vehicle is no easy feat!

Newfie Puppy Training Tips

Training is not optional! Never, Never, Never allow a newfie pup do anything that you wouldn’t be alright with them doing as an adult. They grow very fast, the puppy you brought home and was jumping on your leg, suddenly turns into a 120 lb adolescent that you probably don’t want jumping on you. Teach your Newfoundland when they are small that they should never pull on the leash, it is for their own safety, it won’t be long before they are strong enough to pull you in whichever direction they want to go. Originally a working breed used for pulling, newfs are very strong! Newfoundlands have an extremely strong desire to please and are therefore especially receptive to training. A little bit of training goes a long long way in the world of Newfs. Newfoundlands do not require a strong arm and can really get their feelings hurt, positive affirmation can be a very effective method of training. Attend puppy training classes ‘with’ your newfie puppy, this will ensure you are both speaking the same language as far as expectations and commands are concerned. They are amazingly intelligent and will learn very fast with proper training and positive reinforcement, they want to please you! If you have been consistent in one training method with your Newfoundland puppy and it doesn’t seem to be working, try another method but stay consistent with whatever you do so that you can be sure of it’s effectiveness. No training method can be fully effective without consistency.

Newfie Feeding Tips

When growing, Newfoundlands need a substantial but controlled amount of food that is of high quality… As an adult the feeding amount is less than you might expect(around 5-6 cups a day) but again, quality of food is vital. Think of poor quality(cheap, filler filled) dog food like fast-food, it will fill you up as it drags your health down. When dog food is nutritionally dense it makes for less waste(poo) to clean up in the back yard later on, which is another plus to feeding high quality food. I give small amounts of beef liver for treats because it is very nutritionally dense, and my dogs think it is wonderful. I add wild caught salmon oil & Nova Animal Probiotics to all of my dogs food daily for added immune protection as well as digestive support and bloat prevention. You never want to allow your newfie to get overweight, as it is detrimental to their health. You always want to be able to feel a bit of backbone and some ribs, this is something your vet can help you with so you can determine with confidence what a good weight any individual dog should be. We recommend feeding Victor Performance as it is formulated for all life stages and has adequate nutritional value to properly support a growing puppy and maintain a healthy large breed dog for life with the added joint supplements glucosamine and chondroitin. It is very important that Newfoundlands get two meals a day and are not free fed, free feeding is hard on their joints and also increases the risk of bloat. Click here for information on the Raw Diet.

Feel free to contact us, we look forward to talking with you about our Newfie puppies for sale!

Sarah Gray
(970) 560-0683
email: ​moorenewfies@yahoo.com

Palisade, Colorado

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Breed Info Highlights

  • Newfoundland Dog Experience
  • Health and Genetics of the Newfoundland Breed
  • Newfie Temperament Expectations and Development
  • Socialization Suggestions for Your Newfoundland Puppy
  • Newfoundland Puppy Training Tips
  • Newfie Feeding Tips