Hi everyone, it's me again, firstly, just to say 'thank you' for advising me on my bossy 4 month Newf boy, the puppy classes are going well - well slowly but i'm sure i'll get there, he's still very greedy but we're crating him now when we have are meals but he's still not interested in treats when we take him out for a walk, he's still on food alert mode but im taking all advice and again, im sure we'll crack it in time!!

He also steals things off the table - and I mean anything then runs mad around the table with it in his mouth, he has destroyed my glasses which were expensive, when he has them, he'll look at us then when we get up to get them off him, he starts his chase around the table, BUT I suppose it's a puppy thing!!!

You must think I am a moaning minnie, but honestly, I'm not - I am at the min tho trying to train myself to train my Newfy, anyway, this is a new one which me and my OH can't stand now and it's been going on for 5 nights!!

Can anyone advise me what to do!!.  My boy is starting to bark every night when we are in bed.  This is the last straw and I am 'dog' tired (sorry about that!).  I have been up 5 times last night just to let him out of his crate, every few hours he is barking to go out,  there is nothing wrong with him I have had him to the vets, but this is something he has now picked up.  MY OH is really no help, he tells me to leave him barking and don't get up BUT I have 2 children (7 & 9) in bed and I can't leave him barking!!

He has (I think!) started to rule!!! when he's in the house, he barks to go out (great!) then barks to come in but this goes on all evening so we are up and down all evening! now I don't know if this is good BUT we are so tired of it.  I love him so much (my boy that is!) and it is no joy.  He goes out for about 3 short walks each day and we play with him.  I am wondering if it's the food!! he is on a high protene diet but it may not be (i'm thinking out loud now) but this barking lark is crippling me getting up 4/5 times a night!!.  I've even put an empty marrow bone in with a smigen of cheese rubbed in it so it'll take him mind of barking. 

This has only started the last week, he used to sleep all through.  I just don't want my boy to cause problems in my family which is starting to now, I understand that we have to teach him things at an early age but I honestly don't know WHERE I am going wrong!!! to be honest, I am worn out! and like the rest or most of us, having to work and look after family ect.....He is barking llike mad now in the garden and he has only just been put out after his morning meal, and most times I have to bring him in cos of the neighbours!!

so sorry to go on but I have  had so much help here, I am wondering now if someone can throw me a light as to what I am doing wrong here!!! or can someone help me to help my boy before my OH  throws a wobbler!! and my 2 young ones are complaining about him, I am really upset and feel stupid that I can't stop this barking or teach him to be (one day) to become a lovely Newfy boy that we will all cherish - it just seems so far off - my last Newf wasn't anything like my new boy so as I say, do you think it's ME being the weak and stupid one here??

Any advice would be greatly appreciated - he is barking like mad again now - i'll go and let him in then he'll run mad - I am lost!!!!!!!

kindest regards

Debi
xxxxxx

Hi Debi

Firstly...stop comparing your puppy to your previous adult dog.  Not only are puppies very differnt to adults, dogs are individuals and no two will ever be the same in character.  My Newf is like no other I have ever met....even people who have been in the breed for many years agree that she is a bit unique (and then tell me it's my own fault for having a brown :-D ).  She is certainly not what I expected from a Newf but that doesn't make her any less of one...or any less loved and valued.

Ok, so the nighttime barking...I will say first off that I do not use crates and have never crate trained so hopefully others with more experience may come along and offer the value of their experience.  That said, I will make a couple of suggestions...is his crate covered with a blanket or similar?  If not that is maybe something you could try (blanket draped over 3 sides, leaving the front open). The 'den' environment may help him to feel more secure.  Also, you could trying crating him in your bedroom at night...Newfs do generally prefer to be with their people and the closer proximity to you may be enough to settle him....doesn't have to be a permanent arrangement; just until he is broken out of his current pattern and then you can work on moving him further away once you know he can settle all night.

With the general barking in the daytime, really the best thing to do is ignore him while he is barking and then pay attention to him when he is quiet.  Obviously, barking to go out is ok but when he barks at other times, ignore him.  Leave the room if needs be.  Come back and lavish him with attention when he is quiet.  He will soon get the idea that barking does not get him what he wants...your children will just have to be a bit patient through this stage and you also need to make sure that thay are not telling him to be quiet etc when he barks...he needs to be completely ignored as any attention at all, even negative attention, will perpetuate the problem.

Stealing things of the table is just him instigating play and when you chase him, you are giving him what he wants.  Keep a toy on hand and offer him a swap for whatever he has stolen.  Then engage him in a game with the toy...he will get the idea of what is appropriate to play with and what is not.  It would also help if he cannot easily get hold of items that he shouldn't.  Easier said than done with a rapidly growing giant breed but it will save you a fortune in replacing damaged glasses and the like.  Always have a few accessible toys lying around the floor for him to play with but keep a few special ones back to pique his interest when you need to distract him for those occasions when he has got hold of something he shouldn't.  Engage him in frequent short games during the day on your terms using his toys (alternate them as much as possible) and he'll soon learn to identify what is appropriate to play with.

Please stop being so hard on yourself.  You are doing a good job...honest! :-)  Puppies are not easy!  The good news is that puppyhood doesn't last forever..before you know it, he'll be a 'teenager' and you'll have a whole new set of issues ;-) :-D :-P

Going out soon so just a quick suggestion for walking outside. What kind of treats are you using? My two will take 'ordinary' treats but if we really want them to do something the treats need to be 'high value' we usually take chopped up hotdog sausages but cheese is also good(one of ours is allergic to dairy so we need to avoid it). I made the mistake of relying on pet shop bought treats at first and they just don't cut it when compared with all the lovely 'treats' lying in the street :-D

ShaynLola

Are Brown newfies more naughty or ''specia''l in some ways then black or the other kind of Newfie .......oh what are they called.....the black and white ones.........arrgh lol!!?

I always prefer the brown Newfies and still do now 200%, they look like big huggable snuggable bears and their eye colour is simply gorgeous :)

> oh what are they called.....the black and white ones.........arrgh lol!!?
>

Landseer :)

((((Hug)))) Thank you Teri!!!!!! :) :)

They are gorgeous arent they :)

They are beautiful - one is exercised regularly near me and everyone just rushes to cuddle him LOL.

Hi Debi

ShaneLola has already given you some excellent advice :)  I would add that I don't respond to pups (or adults) that bark for something - it's making a rod for your own back LOL.  IME however the best way to avoid the barking re asking out is ensure the pup's evacuated and then if the barking starts you know you can safely ignore it.  When barking to ask back in from the garen, IME  it's best not to shut them outside anyway - if my pups/dogs, regardless of age, have access to the garden then it's because the doors are open for them to go play and explore at their leisure, but equally they can come back in without waiting to be allowed to do so :)

Please don't be too hard on yourself or him ;)  He's not "started to rule" nor are you somehow failing in raising and training him well - things just need a bit of tweaking to suit him and your own expectations from him.  Dogs are as different in personality as humans - I've had 6 of my current breed and no two have been alike in their characters, response to training etc.

HTH you feel a little more positive,
best wishes Teri :)

>Are Brown newfies more naughty

Not more naughty as such, but they are widely held to be more 'challenging' (for want of a better word).  Of the many Newfie owners and breeders I have met,  I know of only one person who continues to have only browns.  The rest claim to have learned their lesson after one!

No-one though to mention any of this to me until AFTER I had got a brown as my first!  Although, it hasn't put me off and I'm leaning towards another brown for my next one.

>their eye colour is simply gorgeous 

The correct eye colour for a brown according to the UK breed standard is the same as for a black or landseer, i.e. dark brown although many do have a lighter eye colour.  I believe, however, that the FCI standard allows for a lighter eye commensurate with coat colour. 

Ahh I see!
Im always up for a challenge so would be brownies for me all the way :)
To me they are the best colour and just look like big bears!

In a pub in Newquay (Red Lion) a couple came in with 2 Newfies one black and one brown, they took up the whole pub nearly lol but they had their drinks in peace cause we were all fussing over them for about an hour! lol
If I see a newfie or st bernard I just have to have a good looooong cuddle ;)