Me and my husband would like as much info as possible on newfoundlands please :).  We have thought about it seriously and early part of next year we want to add a new addition to the family.  Any advice help appreciated.

Michelle x

Hi

Well here goes....copious ammounts of slob flicked up walls etc, hair everywhere (even in the fridge), rather then walk around an object they would rather thug right through it, matts if not brushed daily, loves water, needs a forest of foliage picked out of them after every walk, loves the rain and the wind & colder the better & needs patience when training as they are rather thick (oops, sorry, that's just mine)
But.... they are sooo loving and attentive and wonderful to cuddle. They have beautiful faces and eyes to die for.
I could not imagine my life without my boy :)

You can have mine!! *ponders how much postage will cost to mail Lola to Jazzywoo* Just joking aboutthe postage...DHL will be quicker :D

Seriously though, they are all of the things Tippytoes has said and more besides :D Mine is far from thick but still needs the patience of a saint to train because she has a stubborn streak a mile wide :rolleyes: on the whole, the temperament of the breed id to die for...the sweetest creatures ever and they need their human company so don't go for this breed if you like your dogs on the independent side as you have to prepare to gain an extra shadow...albeit a big, hairy one that drools a lot and leans on your leg every time you stop moving for more than a fraction of a second.

Unfortunately, the breed has more than it's fair share of health problems so health tested parents are a must . Hips, elbows, heart & preferably cystinuria tested as well.  Check out the breed clubs for more info.

Oh, and you might want to bag a lottery win in the near future...everything about them is expensive!! You have to buy everything inthe largest size, not to mention bigger food bills, vet bills, dry cleaning bills (absolutley NOTHING short of sandblasting shifts Newfie drool and you will always fall victim to it just as you are about to leave the house in your best clothes.....)

One thing is certain though, they're addicitive :D

I can't advise about the breed but I'll tell you a story about a Newfie breeder that was relayed to me. When someone called to ask about puppies she said fine, let's meet and we'll talk. She'd take her big hairy dog out for a normal romp - then bring them over to the prospective buyers house. Wet, hairy muddy - exactly how they might come home from an outing. If they said ooh, big wet dog can you leave it outside she left. If they said no bother, bring it in and we'll have a cuddle they passed the first test.

I love that story and think about it often when people laugh, gasp and comment on the state of my golden after a walk. There always seems to be comments about mud and baths. :-D

That's a good idea - haven't had any puppies but I do usually try to get mine looking their best before visitors. Perhaps I'll just leave them filthy if that scenario occurs! Even Cavaliers get pretty filthy after a walk, I'm sure I couldn't cope with a big hairy dog! Small hairy ones are just right for me. :-D

Michelle, if you really want a Newfie, nothing else will do! HOWEVER!!! There are a lot of unscrupulous ermm 'breeders' who will breed from dogs that HAVE NOT been health tested! As well as the info proffered, I would also like you to think about the execise requirments...whilst it's true that they shoud not be over exercised when pups, to protect their joints, I strongly feel that they NEED to be exercised properly, with road conditionng etc As a working breed they should be capable of pulling a heavy cart or working every day...what upsets me the most is seeing FAT newfies in the show ring that would collapse if asked to do anything strenuous! This also has other reprocussions with the health issues they already have. Do your research, ask to see all the health certificates, any decent breeder wont mind showing you, and if you need help or guidance get in touch and I will willing help...I'm not breeding myself at the moment and probably won't next year either...but I do know who gets upto what and where! You can see a pic of my Storm on the Our Dogs site, under Newife breeders, but as I say I'm not breeding, that's just to show you what a decent Newfie looks like...there's far too much c**p bred I'm afraid! Especially those without paperwork and those bred from that have endorsments on, the endorsments are there to 'protect' the dogs and make sure they're not bred from until their health checks are done...unfortunatley this still happens a far bit as people see money signs in front of their eyes! It costs a far amount as you can imagine, for the echo dopplers, X rays and Cystinuria testing. All the best, Dawn

We totaly agree with Newfie Dreams.

We know of many good breeders of Newfies and the best people to go to are the breed clubs, unfortunately though this is no guarantee as even some of the biggest and most renowed kennels have had dogs with serious problems, but this seems to be "brushed under the carpet" and the clubs dont appear to have the power or will to do anything about it.

The next option therefore is to go for a breeder which displays the best possible care for the dogs and for that you need to visit a number of breeders and go with your GUT reaction, because this is generally right

We have 2 Newfies at present, but they wont be our last, because they are he finest animals.

Anybody who has had them will know what we mean, they are undescribable in their behaviour temperment and overall attitude to life.

Every Newfie owner I have met has said, "You wont stop with one", and it is so, so true. Put it this way, how many dogs do you know that will come into the bedroom and gently mouth your hand as you sleep, and then to slowly start to tug you out of bed, saying "Mummy, I want a wee". Well Newfies do!!.

How many will come to your side as you read the paper and put their head on your lap, and nuzzle you with so much love that it can bring tears to your eyes. well Newfies do!!

All dogs make you angry at times, you may have had a bad day at work, or you have had little sleep, or you may just be having a bad day altogether and a slobbering dog with mud on his feet might not be the best thing to approach you. But we have never got angry with our Newfies, we just cant, they smile at us, they laugh and love us, they want to play, they are so...."human", but without the bad bits!!!

Again we say, "you just can't describe what they are like, they are truely unbelievable animals and you have to own one to understand".

The only downside to owning a Newfie is that you cant plan a 30 minute walk, because you will have to double the time for every occasion that you will be stopped by other walkers or passers by who cannot help but be all consumed by this wonderful animal which is your Newfie. These animals are truely "BEAUTIFUL"

We know many Newfie breeders, some have there dogs in kennels, some have them in the house, but the key is the ones that allow you to see both parents, walk round the house and have as much time with the Newfies as you can spare.

Our breeder did and when they were born she lived, slept, ate and did everything with her puppies. She and her family never left those puppies alone for a minute and that meant a lot to me and our family and it has meant a lot to all the other owners who have returned time and again for one off her dogs.

She is so good and 18 months later she is still in touch checking on "HER" boys.

I will not embarrass her by naming her here. But we couldnt have had a better breeder. She is and will always be number 1 in our eyes, as she always put her dogs as number 1!!

By all means visit our website at www.tempestnewfoundlands.co.uk and you can make up your own mind

All our love

Julie and Warren

I've never owned one, you have expert advice already from those who do, but I meet two gorgeous Newfies on my walks, extremely laid back dogs, just like two big cuddly bears and I just have to cuddle them everytime I see them. :-P  they are truly gorgeous dogs, not sure what they are like to groom but temperament wise I think they are wonderful.