Pipeline’s Rowdy Dudey at 13 months with Sportscaster Leah Hextall
Dewey was born May 28, 2005
FORWARD
The following information booklet has been compiled for the Newfoundland Dog Breeders of Saskatchewan as listed in the back of the booklet.
Inclusion in this listing is NOT an endorsement by the club, nor does the word Registered behind any kennel name imply any kind of certification or approval of the club. It simply means that they have exclusive rights to the use of that particular kennel name.
When visiting breeders, please do so by appointment. These are homes, not stores. Once there, use your own good judgement to evaluate the breeder. Always remember that a puppy is a major purchase, very different from furniture or appliances, because it is a living, breathing creature, totally dependent on you.
Make your choice wisely, not on impulse.
Revised May 7, 1996 Cindy L. Williams
Introduction
The Newfoundland dog. The gentle giant that will steal your heart as a furry ball of fluff and then unquestionably devote his body and soul to being your best friend until his last breath is drawn.
Although there seems to be some uncertainty as to the origins of the Newf, it is interesting to note that he is one of the few breeds indigenous to the North American continent. Some experts feel that his ancestors were the large black bear dogs of Norway, which were brought over by the Vikings around 1000 AD and left here to propagate in the wilds. Others believe he is descended from the Tibetan Mastiff, which somehow migrated here from Asia. These are but two of several theories, and until more facts are known, it will be up to the individual fancier which theory to adopt.
Regardless of his origins, there is no denying the impressiveness of his credentials. He is a working dog, and as such, he has in the past been required to put in a good days work to earn his keep. Guard dog, draught animal, lifeguard, and retriever are some of the trades which he has mastered. He was bred to do hard work, and even today, it can be seen that he loves it.
He is equally at ease in the modern day home setting. A properly trained and well socialised Newfoundland will patiently bear the pokes and prods of the family toddlers, his only retaliation being the occasional loving slurp to the young one's face. The adult Newf seems to be in complete control of the tremendous power which he possesses, and can gauge his play from passive tolerance with the very young child to gentle rough-housing with the older one. While he does handle the human treasures of the household with great care, he has little regard for fine china and ornaments, and with one swoop of his perpetually wagging tail can clean an entire room of such knick knacks. This is, however, a small price to pay for the unending devotion which the dog will give.
LIFE WITH A NEWF
Being owned by a Newf has its joys and tribulations. Most pups are purchased at about 10 weeks, a loving, willing to learn bundle of puppy fur, with sharp little teeth and a tendency to get lonely and cry at night. Newf pups are easy to train, and if you are consistent, housebreaking can be almost perfected by the time the pup is three months old. Newfs love to play with people, and often show a special liking for children if they have had the opportunity of being around them. However, during the puppy stage, which seems to last about 2 years, they tend to grow very quickly and their size often frightens small children, especially when the child has their face given a bath with one lick, their mittens pulled of "just for fun", or they are knocked over by the excited puppy. Even dogs that have never been exposed to children can be taught very quickly to like them if given a chance.
Regardless of where you live, it is necessary to keep your dog on a leash or in a fenced area (NEVER chained!) for its own protection from traffic. Newfoundlands are not very road wise, always thinking that the next car coming may be filled with friends of theirs! Besides, your neighbours will not appreciate it if your Newfoundland shows up in their yard all the time.
The decision as to whether your dog is to be a house pet or not should be made early in the dog's life, and routines established for sleeping and family fun. They enjoy spending time outdoors, but can adjust and be quite happy in either environment, provided adequate shelter is provided outdoors, and adequate exercise if they live indoors. They require a great deal of human contact – they do not do well living alone in the backyard. As for exercise, contrary to popular belief, "once around the block" is not really adequate exercise for this dog, he needs to run and stretch and enjoy being a dog. By ensuring adequate exercise, you may also avoid many of the "big dog" problems - proper muscular development is needed to keep this dog together. So while nobody would recommend forced exercise for a young puppy, romping and running at will is an excellent idea.
The joys of being owned by a Newf are many, but number one is that they make wonderful pets and are devoted companions, especially for children. They are not given to biting behaviour, but will nudge or grab and pull firmly but gently, and many of them will stay with children and protect them, especially near water. Many adult dogs instinctively go where there is splashing and will pull adults and children to shore. Because of this trait, they have been used in Newfoundland for lifesaving, pulling in life lines, and for hauling fishnets. If, in fact, you are planning to take your dog swimming with you, you would be well advised to start while the dog is young and teach it that you do not ALWAYS need to be rescued, because they can be very insistent about towing swimmers to shore. A dog, however, is never to be considered a substitute for supervision of children.
Every breed has its negative aspects, and the Newfoundland is no exception. He is a more expensive dog to purchase, and to maintain, because he requires more food, more space, and more medication if he gets sick. He will need more exercise than a smaller breed, and, of course, more grooming by virtue of his size and heavy coat. Most Newfoundlands love to paddle in their water pails, and many of them will drool in hot weather. They are happiest with muddy paws, which they frequently offer for a "shake". They shed - a lot. There is no substitute for comprehensive training for a breed of this size. If untrained, a Newfoundland is quite capable of eating anything he finds on the cupboards, and having all of the behaviour problems of any other breed of dog. One must remember that what would be an annoying habit in a small breed of dog is going to be a major problem if that dog is over 100 lbs . A beagle or poodle that insists on dragging its owner down the street every time it is put on leash is a nuisance to take for a walk, but a Newfoundland that is doing the same thing is probably going to be left at home a lot! Fortunately, their natural intelligence and genuine "willing to learn" attitude makes training fairly easy in most cases. Basic temperament aside, a new owner is going to have to ensure that the puppy is properly trained and socialised. Dogs that have been exposed to a variety of different people and situations and lived as a part of a normal family rarely have socialisation difficulties, but it is always a good idea to introduce them to new things, sights and sounds and allow him to gain confidence in their surroundings. The nature of the dog is gentle, but any dog, regardless of the breed, needs guidance to develop into a good citizen and have good manners. If the breed stereotype has given you the idea that they do not need training and are just naturally wonderful - think twice. EVERY dog, whether it is one pound or 140 lbs., needs training. Almost any person who owns a Newfoundland will tell you that they found the training fairly easy, but that they DID train. A well behaved Newfoundland is an absolute joy to possess, an untrained one is as much trouble as any other untrained dog. Your breeder will be able to help you in selecting training methods for your new puppy or dog.
TRAINING THE NEWFOUNDLAND
Most breeders would be in total agreement on one thing - harsh, military obedience methods are not only unnecessary with this breed, they can be almost cruel. Newfoundlands are by nature very responsive - it is far easier to channel their behaviour by rewarding them when they are good than by punishing them for being bad. You must at all times remember that you cannot get on the dogs case for making mistakes until you are certain that the dog understands that he behaved inappropriately.
Ensure before enrolling in any training class that it is reward oriented, rather than punishment oriented. Many breeders will have training information readily available; some will even be able to steer you onto a good training class. A word of warning, however. Despite the popularity of so called "puppy kindergarten classes", you must keep in mind that to take a puppy out before its immune status is established (usually 20 or 21 weeks) is to take a calculated risk on contracting contagious diseases. You would be wise to consult your breeder for their opinion, and consult your veterinarian on immune status before embarking on classes.
ON BUYING A NEWF
It is important to realise that buying a Newf is not going to be like taking a trip to the supermarket one day and selecting something. Breeders are often very selective with respect to where and with whom they place their pups - as well they should be. Do not be at all surprised if you are asked a battery of questions about your accommodations, lifestyle, etc. Do not take it personally, everyone gets the same treatment. Furthermore, good breeders often have waiting lists of interested buyers. It is, however, not a bad thing to have to wait a few weeks or months to get the right puppy. The waiting period will give you time to think about the responsibility you are taking on, and whether or not a Newfoundland is really right for you.
When you are asked to consider the responsibility of owning a giant breed, it should not be taken lightly. Despite the care and caution of reputable breeders in choosing homes for their pups, there is always an abundance of older dogs that are unwanted at a later date. Therefore, there are rescue programs underway all over the country to try to help place such animals in loving homes. As a buyer, you must be cautious where you buy: pet shops and puppy mills do not concern themselves with the responsible care and placement of dogs.
Select your breeder with care. Talk to as many as you can, and find one that you truly feel comfortable with. Ask a LOT of questions, and if possible, visit the kennel!! Key things that you might ask are where the pups are actually raised..giving preference to pups that are raised in the house as members of the family. A pup that has seen a vacuum cleaner, heard a telephone, a loud sports game, the family cat etc., has a good start in life. Also daily handling by the whole family is an asset – if pups are used to being handled a lot as pups, they will not be shy of that as adults.
Remember that your breeder should be a learning resource for you, and in that respect, look for a genuine knowledge of the breed. They should be able to quote the breed standard verbatim, have knowledge of both dog showing and working activities of the breed, and they should readily share this information with you. Beware of breeders that are not willing or able to educate you on the breed, even more so of the breeders that tell you just how wonderful Newfoundlands are and do not give you any of the downside of having a dog this size in your life!! Another pitfall..the “dry mouth” Newf! Many of them do not drool much...but there is no way anyone can tell you with any certainty the day you pick up that pup whether or not it is going to drool as an adult! Beware of breeders that breed “off standard” colors! The breed standard in Canada states that Newfoundlands are black or white and black (Landseer). Breeders that are breeding for off standard colors are NOT interested in striving for quality dogs, or they would be abiding by the standard for the breed.
TRANSPORTING YOUR NEWFOUNDLAND
When purchasing your Newfoundland, one of the things that often gets overlooked is transportation. Yes, it is true that that cuddly puppy fits very nicely on the front seat beside you, but you must remember that it is only going to be a cuddly puppy for a few months.
A Newfoundland will ride quite comfortably in the back of even a small car, provided that YOU find it acceptable. If you have a family and a small car, however, some thought is going to have to be required before purchasing a dog that is going to need the whole back seat.
One of the most distressing things for breeders and animal health care personnel to see is a dog riding in the back of a truck. This highly dangerous practice should be outlawed.
If your dog is riding in the back of your truck and you happen to slam on the brakes or have an accident, it is obvious that the dog is going to be badly hurt. There is always a risk of the dog seeing something intriguing and jumping out - regardless of whether or not the vehicle is moving. A lot of people say "Not MY dog - he's too well trained...” but unfortunately, even the best trained dogs are subject to memory lapses when they see something they really "must" investigate! A leap out of a moving truck, or even a parked truck, is going to mean serious injury if the dog lands wrong.
Some people feel that they have gotten around it by tying the dog in. All one has to do is to take a look at the chips in the paintjob and windshield of the vehicle to realise that there is a great deal of danger even in riding unprotected. Serious eye and ear injury can result, and there is still the danger of a sudden stop - and a broken neck. Please consider transportation very carefully before purchasing a Newfoundland.
TO BREED OR NOT TO BREED
No one who is purchasing their first Newf should do so with the intention of breeding. Successful breeding is a complex and demanding task. In addition to the obvious demands of time, space and finances, the rearing of a litter of giant breed puppies, which grow very quickly, will take special care and knowledge. This does not come overnight, but takes years, involving a diligent search of information by researching available literature, attending speciality shows, and associating with people who have experience in the care of these dogs. You will also need the personal experience gained from caring for a Newf of your own for a number of years. As a breeder you must remember that you will also have the responsibility of being a learning resource for your puppy buyers. This alone can take vast knowledge.
Successful breeding requires not only knowledge of the basic principles of genetics, but also of the different families and individual dogs in a pedigree. A prospective breeder must learn as much as possible about the strengths and weaknesses of the proposed dam and sire, as well as their ancestors. This takes time and effort on the part of the breeder, but is absolutely essential to producing healthy dogs: dogs with the required conformation and disposition.
Furthermore, it is often very difficult to determine if a pup will grow up to be suitable for breeding in terms of conformation, health and temperament. The most carefully bred and cared for litter can easily come up predominantly pet quality. Pet quality animals should not be bred. It must be remembered that pet quality means that the animal deviates from the breed standard in one or more significant area. These deviations will not interfere with the ability of the dog to function as a loving pet, and will usually not be noticed by the average person. Things that can destine a dog to be "pet quality" can be something as simple as crooked teeth, high set ears, or poor markings. It is also very important to know that the pet quality pups in a litter are treated exactly the same as their "show" littermates - ie. they are all fed the same, etc. The breeder wants good homes for ALL of the puppies.
Faults can also develop at a later age - and if you really feel that you will be unhappy with a pet quality dog, you would be well advised to buy a full-grown dog. The old saying is that if you want a guaranteed Best In Show dog, you had best buy one that already has at least one Best In Show. But be prepared to pay a handsome price for it too. A great deal of time and money has already been invested in such a dog. It has, however, been the experience of many people that the dog that "didn't work out" from a show perspective became a very favoured companion anyway.