growing newfs

[Jeannie]

Since we have Bear I have noticed a difference in how he walks compared to my girls. I am sure this is still the puppy in him because he is all legs at this time. When my girls walk they wiggle their butts side to side and Bear wiggles his butt front to back. Is this just because he is still growing or a sign of possible future hip problems? He was bred from 2 unregistered newfs so I assume they were not health checked although I do not know this for sure. Bear just turned one on Sept 21st. Just wondering.

 

[sarnewfie]

Hi jeanie
in my opinion without seeing him or putting my hands on him, i would venture to say this,
any male just a year, is going thru the awkward gangly ugly teenage years, they get their height first wich you already know, but, it he apears rear high yet, this may have something to do with that, and once he fills out, he will walk same as the more mature ladies.
once the ribs spring, that is usually when they walk like a typical newf.
penny was gangly, resembling a greyhound in a way, until she had the pups, that helped to spring her ribs and now she walks as you describe, she is just 2 years, males take 3 to 4 years.

 

[Lucy & Wilsons mom]

Thanks sarnewf that explains a lot for me too. Wilson's gait is so different to his sisters and so like a colt I was convinced his hips were awful, but after x-rays one is normal and the other is almost normal.

 

[AmyPC]

Who is Bear??? What have I missed? (Another foster Newfie?)

 

[Jeannie]

Yep, Bear is a foster newf I picked up last Saturday. You can read all about him in the rescue section. I can tell you I have my work cut out for me because he knows nothing about obedience or disipline and he is bull headed as any teenage boy. But he is so sweet.... Pray for us

 

[Jeannie]

SAR Newf
His hind quarters is about 2-3 inches high then his shoulder. I figured he was still growing. I just took what I know about growing horses and figured that one out. He is really going to be handsome boy. I will get photos this afternoon. Right now it is off to the vet with Bear

 

[sarnewfie]

one thing i always stress to puppy people, when in a growth spurt such as your guy, here they are rear high, they are overcompensating......think about if we had one leg longer than the other *smile*
yeeeewwww!
if they are running like maniacs they are at risk of doing damage when overcompensating such as they are.
the springing of the ribs is what makes the waddle so to speak or the side to side wiggle wiggle womp womp! LOL

 

[robandrobin]

I'm so glad you were talking about the wiggle wiggle from side to side. Bryce (5 months old) has been doing this. I freaked out thinking something was wrong (our first Newf)I took him to two different vets. LOL! Good Grief. One told me he actually looked very good and we have a good gait down should I ever go into Conformation! LOL! I still swore something was wrong.
Ah...to find out all is well. I sat here feeling a little silly, but then again, at least we were attentive enough to run to the vets!!
Robin

 

[ANNABELLE]

I know that I ask alot of questions, but what is springing of the ribs. I have not heard this before.

 

[brady]

Brady will turn 1 on Sunday. He has quite the wiggle from side to side. Worse than me I might add. But I have also noticed his rear is higher, he almost looks like a horse with a big dip in the middle of his back if you know what I am trying to say..I know nothing about horses mind you. I have never heard of the term about the ribs either.

 

[macgirl13ca]

I too would like to know what springing of the ribs is.
Bubba does the whole wiggle thing too. As do I because of a bad knee. . .

Cost of a Newf $1000
Vet bills for a Newf $1000
Having a dog that walks like his owner PRICELESS.

Joe thought this was funny and told not only my co-workers, but our buddies at the local watering hole as well.

I however am still getting teased about it 3 months later.

 

[sarnewfie]

If you go to the newfoundland club of america website, you will see a dog diagram maybe under the breed standard,
it will describe that newfoundlands have sprung ribs and the purpose for it, wich i believe allows for greater swimming capacity.
when a newf is immature, the ribs are normal like any other dog, it is not until they fully mature that the ribs "spring" out.
this is probably in the final development stages.

 

[bridge2itnf@aol.com]

Tuggs is now 17 months old , at what age will his ribs spring? Is it true that they are through growing at age 2 years ? If not at what age will he be when he is completly mature? and is the skull the last to mature.

 

[Elizabeth]

Can't tell ya about the ribs, but I can tell you that a whole heck of a lotta newfs *G* don't stop growing and maturing until the age of 3 or 4.
Gracie looks sooo much different now (almost 5) than she did even 2 years ago. And yes, I believe the head is the last to mature. Gracie resembled a funny looking greyhound when she was younger She now has a lovely feminine head, muzzle isn't quite as wide as it should be, but that doesn't bother me in the least

There are so many variations on growth patterns, some lines grow faster than others. It's very hard to tell when your pup will stop growing, but knowing about the parents sure can help.

Elizabeth