About to adopt an adult Newfie - need advice

[Ivy]

A local family is moving in a week and need to rehome their 3yo female Newfie. I'm considering to adopt her, but am a little apprehensive. I would never give up a child if I moved homes - could there be any issues with the dog I don't know about? How can I find out if this is a good match? I've never owned a Newfie - had German shepherds growing up, but that's the max size dog I've owned.

What questions should I ask? What should I know before I adopt? I've read all about the mess, and the slobber, and the fur, and the love. I can handle it all. I'm afraid I can't handle what I don't know.

I have two kids (6yo and 2yo), and we have plenty of space at home and a huge park right outside the fenced yard. My biggest concern is safety around the kids - my older one got bit by a neighbor's dog last week and is a bit apprehensive. If the Newfie nips, it may be an issue.... The younger one is a toddler, half the size of the dog - would there be an issue of safety? As a family we've wanted a dog for years, but never took the plunge when the kids were little and I had my hands full. I feel we are ready, but am concerned of making a hasty decision because of the circumstances.

 

[Jeannie]

I have rescued 3 newfs over the years ranging from 1 yr old to 7 yrs old. Never had a problem with any. Newfs tend to adjust well. In your research you most likely read they are known as the gentle giant so typically their temperaments are very good. I have done a lot of pet therapy with my newfs. They tend to have an instinct of how to act around different kids.

I'd talk to the family and ask them about any behavior issues and why they are giving up the dog. One time I picked up an older newf for rescue. The reason for giving up the dog was: We are moving to a new house and don't want the hair. (Some people should never have dogs)

No matter what it is going to take a couple of weeks to adjust. Just set your boundaries/rules for both the kids and newf.

 

[wrknnwf]

I have fostered many Newfs and adopted two rescues myself. I've only had one foster that had serious aggression issues (dog on dog), but it does happen. Thankfully rarely with Newfs. It's more likely that the dog will have health issues. Please consider if you will be able to afford any serious medical problems that the dog currently has or that may arise.

Here are some typical questions that a rescue organization might ask on an intake form: I'm sure I've missed some, but these will get you going.

Has the dog ever bitten anyone?
Has the dog ever bitten another animal?
Has he ever growled at anyone or any other animal?
Does the dog get along with all people?
Does he like all adults?
Does he like children?
How does he react when meeting new people?
Where does the dog sleep?
Does the dog pull on leash?
How does the dog get on with other animals?
Does the dog like to chase other animals?
Does the dog have any bad or odd behaviors?
Is he afraid of anything? Like storms, fireworks? How does he react during those events?
Does it jump on people, chew on inappropriate items, bark a lot, or play too hard?
What health issues, if any, does he have?
Does it have any allergies?
Does it have any joint problems? Has he ever been x-rayed for joint problems?
Does it have any skin issues?
Is it house/potty trained?
Is it crate trained?
Does it drink out of the toilet?
How long is the dog left alone during the day?
Where is the dog left during the day?
Where does he sleep?
Does the dog enjoy being groomed?
Who does the grooming/nail trimming?
Who is the dogs regular vet?How often does the dog go to the vet? When did he go to the vet last?
Is the dog current on his vaccinations?
Do you have his vaccination paperwork? (you need to see and obtain these if you take the dog)
Does he have registration papers? (again, try to obtain these)
What does the dog eat?
How much and how often does he eat?
How often does he get to go outside?
Does he like to take walks? Go swimming, play with people?
Does he like to ride in the car?
Where does he stay when you go on vacation?
Has he ever been boarded? If yes, where?
Does he have any favorite toys?
Does he know any tricks?
What games does he play?
Has he ever been to training classes?
What kind of a collar does he wear? If it's a prong, or choke collar that may indicate a pulling problem.
Does he obey any commands? Which ones? (sit, down, stay, come)
Does he have any other words he responds to?
Does he have any nicknames?
Why are you giving up your dog? Simply "moving" isn't the answer. You want to find out why the dog isn't going to be welcome in the new home. It could be a number of reasons and they may or may not be good reasons.

It may be helpful to have a written list of questions that you can "tick" off as you ask. And just because you get an answer you are leery of, doesn't mean that the dog can't be retrained. It just depends on whether you want to work to fix any problems.

Usually the rescue will try to ask critical questions (like "does the dog bite?" ) two or three different times, phrased in different ways. Sometimes you get different answers that way. And if you can, mix the questions up so you're addressing a different topic fairly often. Most of all, ask a lot of questions and spend some time with the dog and observing it. Look for shy or fearful behaviors, examine the dog's coat and general appearance (does he look healthy), watch how he walks or runs, ask him to sit or down if they say he knows how to. Does he appear to conform (personality, structure and health) to the breed? Not the published breed standard, but in general. You should take your spouse and children along if possible to see how the dog interacts with them. You absolutely need one other adult to help with asking questions and observing the dog. Take turns asking and observing. Ask to see him inside his house and outside. Spend as much time as you can. You're going to have this dog for the rest of it's life.

And I have to tell you that owners don't always give completely candid answers. You have to remember that they are trying to get rid of the dog, so don't necessarily want to address any behavioral or medical issues directly. You may have to read between the lines. Listen carefully and explore anything that you're not sure about. Try to ask as many open ended questions as possible, so re-phrase anything I listed above so the answer isn't always just yes or no.

That being said, most Newf rescues are wonderful and, as Jeannie says, adapt within a few weeks. The dog will be on his best behavior at first and then you will start to see his true personality or little quirks come out. This is true of any rehomed dog. Do remember that the dog is going to be upset at losing his family. Be sure you have enough time to help him adjust and give him any support he may need. Don't just take him home and then leave for hours. Plan to spend time supervising him.

 

[estacey]

I think you have started off in the right direction with support and people that know about this wonderful breed!!

 

[Jeannie]

I don't know where you live but check your state laws. In Ohio it is against the law to give away a dog that is aggressive or has bitten a person or animal without disclosing it to the new owner.

 

[Ivy]

Oh wow, thank you so much for the support and the detailed questions. I never thought I could get so much help in such a short time!

The owners are bringing the dog over to my house and then we'll take her to the nearby park to play with the kids. I hope we can observe this way how she is around the house and people.

What are the average annual costs for a Newf? I was going to buy pet insurance for vet bills, food and supplements are not a problem, what else should I think about?

One of my German shepherds had hip dysplasia (started at around 7yo), so I'm familiar with the condition. The vet said there's not much we can do, but we started giving the dog bone broth and the cartilage and soft tissue from bones (full of glucosamine and collagen) and he lived till 12 perfectly fine. The last 6 months were the only time when he really got sick and couldn't walk. I've healed my own bursitis the same way, so I'm thinking of following this with the Newf too, so he hopefully doesn't develop hip and joint issues.

 

[Jeannie]

Actually dogs do not develop hip issues as they get older. Whatever their hips are when they are 2 is what they will have for life. The reason they start having trouble is arthritis and other complications arise. It sounds to me like you have a handle on the joint thing.

Have fun playing with the newf. Be sure to ask questions.

The cost per year can vary from dog to dog depending on health issues. In about a 5 year period I could have bought a really nice car with the money I had invested in Samantha with her allergies and torn ACLs. None of my other dogs were expensive.

I know many people who have insurance. I started with insurance but the premiums went so high I felt I was better off saving that amount of money each month toward a health fund for the dogs. I feel I came out way ahead.

 

[Darwinsnewfie@1855]

I don't have much experience with rehoming older dogs, but there are some really experienced Newfs owners on this site who gave you great advice. I do however have a good amount of experience with children and giant breed dogs. In my opinion, Newfs are generally the best dogs with kids, especially small toddlers. My son just turned 5 last month and was born with some special needs. He is overly active, grabs and touches everything and not to mention all the screaming and jumping. I was really worried about how a Newf would handle all this energy, but my Newf Ella exceeds my expectations. I got her when she was 3 months, so I'm not sure how an adult Newf would be, but I have never owned a dog before that was so tolerant, patient and unfazed by kids. I think my bigger concern is teaching my son how to safely play with Ella. In the beginning, I spent a lot of time training my son not to jump or pull on her back end. Kids can be really rough with dogs and sometimes Newfs can be too tolerant. I knew Newfs were the right breed for my son when I watched him play with 4 huge adults Newfs at a breeders house. All the dogs were as gentle as could be with him. As long as everything checks out when you ask your questions, I think you and your kids will love this breed.

 

[BLCOLE]

All 4 of my Newfs have been adult rehomes. The youngest was 5 when I got her; the oldest was one week from turning 8. The period of adjustment each dog went through has varied widely in length from almost immediate to months... Seems to depend on the "baggage" they came with.

 

[Finny]

Worth noting that GSD's and Newfs are physically and temperamentally very different. Seems obvious but it's easy to overlook how different their ideal lifestyles can be. If you have a very active lifestyle you may have to slow it down a little for the Newf to keep up (a lot in the summer). Training habits you may have acquired with high drive GSD's will have be unlearned for a Newf.

A Newf will eat less, shed less, and need less exercise. She will need a lot more regular grooming and help staying cool in summer. Seems like people are more likely to approach you when you have a Newf as compared to even a well behaved GSD.

Our GSD's have always been more the stereotype of what would be called "Velcro dogs" but the devotion of a Newf is almost a physical presence.

 

[Ivy]

So I found out that the Newf will handpick gorgeous high heels to chew on, is a "nut" with other dogs, will eat any food lying around on the kitchen counters, and will likely knock my 2yo around until they get used to one another. She never bites, is smart, knows several commands, is very protective of her people, and doesn't like it when people argue in the house. She's never been X-rayed for joint problems. Looks like she's a sweetie that needs some training.

It bothers me that she can be rough with other dogs, because we live on the coast and I was looking forward to taking her to the beach, but there are a lot of other dogs there...could I retrain her to be calmer around other dogs, or not?

 

[Jeannie]

It sounds to me like a typical dog when it comes to eating any food that is lying around. As far as chewing heels: Put them away and the dog cannot get them. DUH!

Everything else sounds like some training and/or reinforcement of her obedience. You may try obedience classes. That way you and the dog will be on the same page when it comes to the rules. Still if you set your rules and follow them the dog will learn.

I have a boarding kennel. We have dogs that come every day for daycare. The owners tell me how the dogs pull them around at home and don't come when called. The do not do that for me. From day 1 I let them know what I expect from them and that is that. Some dogs we get will give my husband fits but when I step in the dog does what I say. Again it is what they know they can get away with.

 

[wrknnwf]

She sounds like a typical Newf in need of some training. I think she might be a great dog with some work.

Obedience classes will help, but the main training must come from home. She is still fairly young (late teenager), so some of this behavior may still be immaturity, but that doesn't mean you should wait to see if it passes. But I'm willing to bet that in a year or so, you will be amazed at how nice she is. That's if you work on her bad habits.

Counter-surfing/food snatching will be difficult to break, since she has been reinforced by succeeding at it for the last 3 years. You may have to gate her out of the kitchen until you have a handle on it. BE SURE, she doesn't snatch food from your kids. Don't let them feed her snacks/treats unless the food is either held on a flat palm or concealed in their fist. Don't let anyone hold treats between their outstretched fingers.

Teach the kids not to squeal, run, or throw their arms in the air if the dog is knocking them around. They need to be "a tree" and stand still with arms crossed over their chests. Until this dog is older and better behaved, never EVER leave her unsupervised with the kids. Newfs, even sweet ones, don't seem to know their own strength sometimes. And too much squealing kid activity may get them all excited to play. They don't mean to hurt anyone, they are just big and silly and clumsy.

And now is a good time to teach everyone in the house to pick up after themselves, so the dog isn't tempted to steal or gnaw on stuff. Keep the kitchen counters cleared off, clothes picked up, etc. Provide the dog with appropriate chew toys or stuffies. Let everyone know that if their stuff gets chewed up, it wasn't the dog's fault. And every time the dog succeeds at chewing up things, she is actually "practicing" how to misbehave. Don't let her practice naughty behaviors. BTW, my Newfs were better at teaching me to keep house than my parents ever were...at the expense of several items of mine. Don't be a slow learner like me and make sure the whole family and your friends are on the same page. Discuss what you expect from everyone. It will help immensely.

Nutty around other dogs? That sounds like she didn't get much socialization when she was young. I bet it's just happy exuberance, but you will need to supervise her. Make sure you have a good recall ("come") on her before you let her off leash, but DO let her socialize with other dogs and don't just keep restraining her. After she has settled in at your house, start inviting dog owner friends over for doggie play time. And get her out to as many places as you can. The more socialization experience she gets, the better. Lots of car rides, shops that allow dogs, friends houses, parks, beaches, etc.

Find a Newf club in your area and go to some of their events. I'm sure they will be willing to help with any training issues. Ask if you can bring your dog to their events. It will depend on what event is being held. That way, they can see how she acts and advise you.

Do be aware that Newfs don't react well to harsh treatment, so be firm, but benevolent.
You do not want to end up with a Newf that doesn't trust people.

 

[R Taft]

As always, awesome Info from wrknnwf.... Jane always puts it so well.

I deal with a lot of rescues, And i do have a little document that is good for the first three weeks just to help you . A few Rescues use it now.

And i have three Rescued newfies at home..

If you are interested pm me your email and i will gladly send it. i do not know how to put a document up here... still have problems with pictures

At least she sound friendly. manners are much easier to deal with than aggression.

I hope it all works out.

 

[DAWNMERIE]

Sounds like it could work and Jane.....you are just lovely & spot on!

 

[Ivy]

Thank you so very much for all the advice. Scarlett came to spend the day yesterday and I fell in love at first sight. She was so sweet around the kids. I tried the "sit" and "shake" commands - she seems very willing to please, very trainable. We took her out to the park, she did pull on the leash when she saw another dog, but it wasn't aggressive behavior - just happy to see another dog and unaware of how strong she can pull. When no dogs in sight, she was very easy to walk with.

The owners said they never took her to obedience school, they haven't spayed her or taken her to the vet in a while. They had just adopted an orphaned child from a developing country and had two kids of their own under 5, so they had their hands full. I think with some attention and consistent work/rules, she will be an absolute delight. None of the dogs I have owned were as sweet or well behaved. She did pee all over the house though when she first came in - I think she was very nervous. I can't wait until she moves in with us in a couple of days. Just thinking of her puts a smile on my face.

My email is elda.pema@gmail.com. I would love to have the files that explain how to handle the transition period. I'm sure Scarlett will be sad from separating with her family and I'd like to be able to make this transition as easy as possible for her and us. I can't tell you how much I appreciate your advice. It's hard to make such an important decision without help and without experience.

I guess I will follow the same principles I follow when raising kids - consistent clear rules, lots of positive attention and help to comply with the rules, no punishment.

 

[wrknnwf]

Well congratulations! I think you will do fine. It will take a bit of work, but no different than having a puppy. Actually better, she she has matured some.

Have her checked for a UTI when you take her to the vet, just to make sure that her peeing isn't due to infection.

I recommend having her spayed so you avoid any pyometra infections, too.

She sounds like a nice girl. Have fun with her!

 

[Darwinsnewfie@1855]

Congrats! It sounds like Scarlett is going to to have a great forever home with you and your family.

 

[wrknnwf]

Also, if her pulling gets to be an issue look into getting her an Easy Walk (by Premier) harness. You can find them online. Pet stores may not carry one big enough for a Newf. Learn how to use it correctly and I believe you will be happy with it.

 

[Ivy]

We've had the Newfie for a few days. Very obvious she has gotten some really bad habits. Absolutely no training from the owners. She's sweet and I was really excited to have her but she's showing signs of aggression. She started growling and barking at my husband yesterday when he came in the door. He was wearing a hat and I thought it was because of that. She kept growling and barking at him all day though, even without the hat. I asked him to feed her so maybe she'd warm up to him, but she kept growling and barking (even though he was holding a bowl of food), and for a moment I thought she was going to lunge at him. This morning when he came downstairs to take her out, she growled and barked at him again. I figured she just needs some time to get to know us (and she behaved with me).

However, about half hour ago she snapped at my 6yo in the face. She was lying down and I was brushing her. The kids were playing in the yard, minding their business really. We already brushed her yesterday without her showing any signs of being bothered. As my boy approached the two of us, she just lunged at him and tried to bite him in the face. There was no barking, growling or any warning signs. Thankfully, I was right there and grabbed her by the collar and was able to prevent her from biting.

I'm really shaken up. My boy is crying because he is worried I will send Scarlett back. But I have another 2yo and have a responsibility to keep my kids safe. Please tell me what you'd do in my shoes. I really want this to work out, but am really scared for my kids.