...are newfies smart...?

[hemingway]

...are newfies smart...

I met a man walking a Newfie in Vail, Colorado a few years ago. I didn't have Hemingway yet, but my husband and I were crazy about the breed, so of course we stalked this man until he let us meet his dog. He proceeded to say, "Newfies are just ok. I'll never own another one. He's not very smart. Good with kids...but not smart. Slow and dumb"

hmm....while his less than enthusiastic review of the breed left us more than a little bummed out, it didn't change our minds in the least. ("who needs a smart dog?")

As Hemingway has matured, it has only become more and more evident how blatantly WRONG this guy was about Newfs. Not only have we found that Hemingway is incredibly clever...but he is also highly intelligent, as I'm sure many of you will agree about your dogs. He knows more than 30 words/phrases. Sitting outside with him just now, he was looking around for something to do. I said "why don't you go in your pool?" and he immediately turned, walked to his pool and got in for a play session. Shortly after that, he was sitting beside me and I asked him "where is your football?" Yep, he is now scouring our backyard for his beloved blue football. He is going from toy to toy...other balls similar to his football he is overlooking because they are not THE football. He picks words and phrases up after us repeating them and showing him what they mean maybe 3-4 times. It blows me away. I know he is probably even smarter and has not yet reached his full potential.

Slow, maybe...but dumb? :slap:

 

[ElvisTheNewf]

Elvis is smart, but his stubbornness counteracts that sometimes.

He knows all his toys by name - and by that I mean the stupid names I give them (Pink Piggie, Notta Possum - I refuse to acknowledge his possum toy and swear its NOT A POSSUM!!).

Perhaps his best trick is that he's learned certain phrases like "Oh my God" "Look at that dog" "Handsome" "Beautiful" and "HOLY CRAP!!" and when he hears them out in public he just sits down and waits for whoever said that to come pet him. He'll literally park himself at the end of driveways and wait for whatever new admirer he's about to meet to come see him.

I also am 100% certain he can hear the lid of a peanut butter jar being unscrewed.

However, he's not that perceptive when it comes to realizing how big he is. He's always getting himself into tight spots where his only option is to carefully back up. He also doesn't think we can see his giant cow head when he's in the kitchen checking the counters, or that we can see him "hiding" behind kitchen chairs/arm chairs when he might be in trouble or gets spooked by loud noises.

 

[lmfoltyn]

Well, I don't know about that guy but Newfies are VERY smart! I am amazed at how intelligent Jake is and how incredibly sensitive he is. I absolutely LOVE the breed and cannot think of another breed I would rather have!

 

[jane]

I think newfs are VERY smart!!!!!! Some people have told me their newfs are dumb. I think those newfs are just super laid back. Since my first newf 20 years ago, this breed has showed me nothing but high intelligence!

 

[NewfieMama]

Elvis is smart, but his stubbornness counteracts that sometimes.

He knows all his toys by name - and by that I mean the stupid names I give them (Pink Piggie, Notta Possum - I refuse to acknowledge his possum toy and swear its NOT A POSSUM!!).

Perhaps his best trick is that he's learned certain phrases like "Oh my God" "Look at that dog" "Handsome" "Beautiful" and "HOLY CRAP!!" and when he hears them out in public he just sits down and waits for whoever said that to come pet him. He'll literally park himself at the end of driveways and wait for whatever new admirer he's about to meet to come see him.

I also am 100% certain he can hear the lid of a peanut butter jar being unscrewed.

However, he's not that perceptive when it comes to realizing how big he is. He's always getting himself into tight spots where his only option is to carefully back up. He also doesn't think we can see his giant cow head when he's in the kitchen checking the counters, or that we can see him "hiding" behind kitchen chairs/arm chairs when he might be in trouble or gets spooked by loud noises.

I think of dogs like Elvis and my Cooper and I can see why people may think they're not smart, simply because they are soooo laid back. However, spend some time with them and you'll discover they are quite clever, if not completely driven or determined (most of the time).

Cooper figured out how to open the SimpleHuman step-on garbage can (lean head away from can, step on pedal, to ensure that you don't get whomped in the chin by the lid coming up) and he is positively STEALTH when it comes to thievery of things like donuts; however, if he happens to step on his leash, he sits down and waits, convinced that he is tethered to something (Zuzu does this too).

Zuzu is much more in-your-face and demanding as far as personality, she's always interested in a challenge or a trick, but I'd be hard pressed to say which one is smarter; they just have very different ways of relating to the world.

 

[Krissys]

It may be him that was the dumb one you get what you give.......

 

[ElvisTheNewf]

Nevermind. I take it all back.

Elvis just swiped my credit card off the table and destroyed it. He's never done anything like that before. I was sitting out on our deck, ordering a new comfy lounge chair, and he came out. He peed, and while I was watering down his spot, he made his move. He was in a hurry to get back in, but I didn't realize it was due to the contraband in his mouth!

 

[Sound Bay Newfs]

Nevermind. I take it all back.

Elvis just swiped my credit card off the table and destroyed it. He's never done anything like that before. I was sitting out on our deck, ordering a new comfy lounge chair, and he came out. He peed, and while I was watering down his spot, he made his move. He was in a hurry to get back in, but I didn't realize it was due to the contraband in his mouth!

That makes him very smart! He was trying to save the family money by destroying the card!

As for the first guy thinking newfs were not smart, if he could not see how smart they are, then I don't think the dog was the dumb one. They are working dogs and do think things through. I love to watch them and sometimes you can see the wheels turning. I find myself sometimes trying to keep one step ahead!

 

[Newfs Forever]

Had he had some big time training, wouldn't the guy have realized, I have a smart dog? Certainly, from my own experience, that the more these guys are trained, whether it be CGC, drafting, water rescue or whatever, the smarter I realize they are, and the stupider I am!

 

[cmorgan.1505]

Thor is SUPER smart! He is a bit hardheaded, but that comes with a smart dog.

 

[ajcooksey]

I think they are very smart sometimes too smart for their own good also I think Ronnie mentioned that the timing of training can also effect this. I think she said if you start training immediately they appear to be more clever and inquisitive. I am ridiculously paraphrasing but I do think the more you put into them the more you get.

 

[Milliejb]

Elvis is smart, but his stubbornness counteracts that sometimes.

You must live in my house!!!!!:lol:

 

[heather pluciennik]

Morgan is smarter than she lets people know. She only acts like a puppy so they get closer to her.
Then she over loads them with LOVE! Not stupid in my book?

 

[skoorka]

I like to *think* Elwood is dumb... and I even call him my 'big dummy', but I *know* better!

 

[R Taft]

After having dealt with a few rescue newfies that have been mistreated i think it does depend on how they lived.......Our newfies from puppy have always been incredibly clever and easy to train. Also have a way of solving problems, like no other breed I have dealt with. Katy is awesome at those Nin puzzles and she is also a word smith....LOL

But Lukey Has a hard time with getting new concepts, he tries and he is not lazy, but I think no-one initially allowed him to learn and so he is finding learning difficult and sadly he does come across as being not so clever.....We are slowly developing his learning.......But to teach him simple things takes forever, we got him at 4.5 years old. Mind you he is a very happy dog........Annabelle was the same, she could not do puzzles and still has some problems, but she can now be taught to do puzzles and sort of know how to do new things, if you repeat often enough with lots of encouragement and treats.

I think a lot of dogs (any breed) has to do with how much interaction they get from their owners. Like the word thing....Dogs that have owners who use the same words for them all the time are able to learn those words, lucky dogs.

I do find that newfies are very good at solving problems.

And to finish...... what I think, shoot me down :lol:....If people have dogs from puppies and they are dumb, they have not been given enough time and teaching.

Not that different as kids really if they are healthy

 

[hemingway]

And to finish...... what I think, shoot me down :lol:....If people have dogs from puppies and they are dumb, they have not been given enough time and teaching.

Not that different as kids really if they are healthy

great point, Ronnie!

 

[CMDRTED]

I have created monsters! The kitchen has French Doors that lead to the back deck. Well over the winter, Ethel (the Smartypants), learned to open the level handle to the French Doors, I would wonder why it felt cool in the house, and apparently Ehtel thought is was too warm, so she adjusted the temperature for Newfs! She has taught Oreo, Tigger, and Ricky to do this now. Needless to say they haven't figured out how to turn the deadbolt latch yet..................

Fast forward to two weeks ago..................Oreo want to get a drink. We moved the water bowl onto the deck, as Tigger Dribbles all over the Tile in the kitchen. Daddy didn't get to the sliding screen door fast enought...................Oreo takes her muzzle and pushes open the door, give me a look, like "Well, that's how YOU open the door," and sashshays out to get a drink. Next thing I know Tigger is opening the screen door. As of today, everyone opens the screen door. Good thing I have a (so far) Newf proof gate at the top of the deck, to keep them from running like nuts in the yard.

Who says Newfies are stupid.....................

 

[takemebacktotulsa]

Perhaps his best trick is that he's learned certain phrases like "Oh my God" "Look at that dog" "Handsome" "Beautiful" and "HOLY CRAP!!" and when he hears them out in public he just sits down and waits for whoever said that to come pet him. He'll literally park himself at the end of driveways and wait for whatever new admirer he's about to meet to come see him.

Willis knows EXACTLY what those words mean, too. He also knows when I respond with "Newfoundland" he's getting ready to get a people fix. And he sits when he hears cars slowing down on our walks, because 9 times out of 10, they are stopping to meet him.

I personally think he's one smart cookie, but I'm a little biased.

 

[victoria1140]

Beau is smart,what can you say when you find your newf has figured out the microwave and food is kept in clamped bins. He also knows how to twist you around his big paws so he can get what he wants.

 

[mulenag]

I agree with Ronnie! Phoebe is very similiar to Lukey. I know she has it in her, but she is slow to learn and accept new cues.
Ebony, otoh, definitely was intelligent, but I would say she was more intuitive than anything. Doing obedience, rally and draft with her was a breeze because she knew what I wanted before I even knew! It was quite incredible and something I don't have with my current two dogs.
Glad Hemi is showing you how wrong that guys was!