WHY A NEWFOUNDLAND MIGHT NOT BE RIGHT FOR YOU

Let's face it. Newfoundlands are some of the most beautiful dogs out there. They're also giant breed dogs and extremely loving and gentle which makes them ideal family dogs. These are probably most of the qualities you like about them that make you say "they're the perfect breed for me!" and you may very well be right, but it is important you can deal with the whole package.

1. Newfoundlands drool various amounts. Some hardly drool at all, while some always have a string dangling from their jowls, and it's not a predictable trait in puppies, even if both parents drool little. Males also tend to drool more than females. Don't be surprised if you have to clean drool off the ceilings and walls, and you can kiss your 'pristine attire' goodbye. That big, lovable head will often rest on your knee, and when it leaves you'll have a beautiful token of their 'love' left behind. If this grosses you out, newfoundlands are not for you, no matter how much you love their other qualities.

If someone is claiming they breed "dry mouth newfoundlands" run the other way. As much as this may appeal to you, they are breeding a different jowl structure than what is set out in the Breed Standard, which is what ALL reputable breeders should be following and aiming for in their country. Breed Standards exist to preserve our beloved breeds.

2. Giant breed dogs cost more. Vet bills are larger because of their size - they require more anesthetic for any surgical procedure and larger doses of medication. If they tear their cruciate you’re looking at ~$5,000 to repair it and there’s approximately a 70% chance the other side will tear, too. PET INSURANCE IS STRONGLY RECOMMENDED. Larger collars/kennels/dog beds are more expensive and they go through more food than some smaller dogs. If you don't do your own grooming you could be looking at $100-200 for a groomer to do it every time! If you do the grooming yourself, the startup cost of all the equipment you need is costly too.

3. They shed a lot, and you will find hair EVERYWHERE. That's right. Even with regular brushing, you will find hair all over the floors, on your clothes and even in your food. Regular vacuum cleaning is a must, and even then you won't get it all.

4. When they drink water, you may very well have a trail of it from one end of the house to the other. Their jowls are large, and with it means lots of water dribbling right after drinking. For this reason, socks often don't stay dry in our house. If they rest their head on your lap right after a drink, you can bet your lap will have quite the mark.

5. Their coats hold a lot of water, dirt, etc, all of which can end up on your floors, walls, couches and in your vehicle. In Winnipeg, when the snow is melting or after a good rainfall, you can kiss a decently clean house goodbye. The mud/leaves and other things their coats carry into the house is impressive! Unless you clean their feet and feathering every time they come into the house, there will be foot prints EVERYWHERE. If you have dogs that were play-fighting and one gets knocked onto their back in the muddy backyard puddles, you can expect if they shake in your house everything will be wearing the dirt - walls, couches, tables, chairs.... and even if they don't shake - if they brush up against it those pristine white walls or door frames you will have a nice smear of dirt to clean up.

6. Your yard will likely become patchy. Urine often scalds the grass, and with a giant breed dog, they have lots of it! Furthermore, if they're running around outside, don't be surprised if you see tufts of grass go flying. Your yard will get patchy and won't look as nice.

7. Although genetics play a huge role in temperament, they aren't born trained. Like any other dog (and even more so because they are a giant breed) they will need training! That 20lb puppy grows up fast, and bad behaviors that may look cute as a young puppy quickly loses their cuteness when it's over 100lbs - don't let them do things you wouldn't want them to do as an adult. You must be able to control them on walks. A 140lb dog can easily drag you across the street because they want to say hi to another dog, or chase after a cat or squirrel. They can easily reach anything on counter tops, so you must teach them not to jump up. They can easily knock over an unsuspecting human if they jump up on those, too, especially children. Their love of food may mean they'll chase after a screaming toddler with a snack in hand. Good training is not an option - it's REQUIRED.