Hello from New Hampshire!

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RamonaAnne

New member
Hello everyone!

I'm new here, and may not post too much, as I'm not yet owned by one of these gentle giants...But I am "Auntie" to three Newfies (plus two other dogs that their people have!) and every chance I get to meet and talk to Newfie owners, I do...

I decided to join here so that I could learn as much as possible about the breed...So I could "do my homework" if you well, so I could go into being owned by a Newfie with as much knowledge as possible...

And of course, I'm probably going to stir the waters up a bit by saying the following...I wholeheartedly agree with -- and want to -- rescue at least one of the Newfs I will eventually be owned by...

I also would like the experience of raising one from puppyhood, one that I know will have a good life from day one...(I want that one to be a Landseer...Probably a male...and I want to name him Tugger..I ws gonna name him Tugboat, but Tugger just sounded better...)

So...uhm...does the fact that I want to raise one from a puppy as well as rescue make me contradictory?...or does it simply mean that I have a big heart?... *grin*

(I was actually told by a friend of mine yesterday that I've got one of the biggest hearts they've ever seen....So we'll go with that over the fact that I'm contradictory...)

...

I do have two pets of my own...A cat, Nina, who I adopted from a shelter...She was abused before she went to the shelter I got her from and after living with me for a year and a half, she has finally gotten comfortable enough with me to "clean" my face....I think she's settling in very nicely....

And I also have a rabbit, Judah...He's a Lionhead...But he really doesn't have much of a mane...Just a little shock of hair between his ears that when I style it "up" (with my fingers and a bit of water!!) reminds me of some of the hair I've seen on Newfies...


A bit more about me...I'm 31 but hardly act (or look??) it....I work as a substitute teacher mostly in Special Education....And I love it...

I eventually want to open a doggy day care/kennel in my area and also perhaps become certified to teach dog obedience classes...I also want to learn how to groom the bigger breeds (Newfs, Great Pyr., Leonbergers, Saints, and Bernese Mtn...) and offer that as a service as well...

I like to knit, draw, paint, write, bake, cook, and I want to learn to quilt...I love photography and bird watching and Newfie kisses....And working with children with Special Needs...

I think my ideal job would be to work with animals...Or maybe animals and children with Special Needs -- somehow combine the two....

So, that's a bit more about me...

Anything else, just ask...

(and eventually, I'll ask questions...like...what is OFA?....)

Happy tails,
-Ramona Anne
 
mudji

mudji

New member
Welcome from the Maine side of the Newf Hampshire border!

Where are you actually located? We have several members from the area, so I know someone will ask...

Nice to have you here...
hannah
in Mt Washington Valley
 
R

RamonaAnne

New member
Hi Hannah,

I'm near Berlin...I heard about the forums from a friend (the one whose dogs I'm "Auntie" to...it even said so on the travel coffee mug the doggies gave me last year for Christmas!!...ha ha ha!!...) ...I don't know her name on here, though...

I am fortunate enough to be able to house & dog sit for these folks when they need me....And I visit them fairly often...Sometimes I think one of their dogs, Solomon, thinks I go there JUST to see him from the way he acts when I walk in!!...He's not a Newfie, but I love him anyways... ;-)

Ahh!! Nefies!!....I have absolutely fallen in love with the breed and I can't think of a better dog to have around people -- and especially chidlren....

My cousin in NJ has two, Moose & Marley, that I got to meet (finally!!) last month when she was up in New England on vacation...I found out she was at my Aunt's house in Enfield, NH (that's about two & 1/2 hours south of me...) and I was at another one of my Aunt's houses in Enfield...So I heard someone at my Aunt Elaine's say "Anne is at Alice's with her big dogs..." I said "Anne's here?!...With her *dogs*?...They're Newfies!!!...What's Aunt Alice's phone number?..."

I dial and Aunt Alice picks up and I said "Hi, Aunt Alive...It's Ramona...Can I come see the dogs?..."

She laughed and said "if you come right away..." ....Good thing my family knows me well!!...

While I didn't spend A LOT of time with them, I very quickly figured out that Marley is a very mild mannered, solid black, sweet as honey, 4 year old female, weighing in at about 110....Moose is two years old, black with a white chest, weighs 110 (but he's still growing!!) and he gets into whatever he can....

That's a big part of their charm and attraction, I think...That they like to get into things if they can!!... :)

...

Thanks for the welcome!!...

-Ramona Anne
 
kastle

kastle

New member
Welcome, from Massachsetts! I have a cabin up in Pittsburg, NH and I spend most of my free time backpacking in the White Mountains. I just love New Hampshire. Some day I'll live there full time.
 
KCoppenrath

KCoppenrath

New member
Hi Ramona!

Welcome to Newf Net! This is certainly a great place to learn a lot about the breed.

I am one of the Newfoundland Club of New England Rescue Co-chairs and I can tell you that there is no contradiction between wanting a rescue and wanting to raise a puppy. The experiences are very different and bring their own joys and challenges.

With puppies you have the opportunity to start with a dog that has no baggage from their previous life, they are clean slates... They learn what you teach them. On the other hand that is the challenge as well... The have to be taught how to be good citizens in this crazy world. They don't know NO!. They don't understand that digging to China might not make you happy. They think that jumping up and biting at your clothes is a good idea. And then there is housebreaking....

Rescue Newfs are generally grateful for everything they get. All they want is your love and attention. They already understand No! and are generally housebroken... While most rescued Newfs were never abused, they often lived with being ignored or what is best characterized as "benign neglect" meaning their physical needs were met, but were never "really" part of the family. This is surely not always the case, but it is the majority. The challenge with having a Rescue is that you are left with cleaning up someone else's mess. No one surrenders a perfectly trained, well behaved dog... unless the dog is 8. They all have foibles, usually not major, but often annoying and fixing them can be a challenge. I have to say that they are generally a lot less work than raising a puppy.

I have raised 3 Newfs from puppies and have had 3 rescues (not all Newfie) and I wouldn't trade one of those experiences. They have all been the lights of my life. I will get another puppy one day soon and I will adopt again. It seems like the right dog just finds me when I least expect it.

When you are ready to adopt, please be in touch and we can start you thru the process. If you are patient with us an the process, I can promise you that in the end you will have a great rescue Newfie that you will treasure.

If you have any questions or want to learn more about rescue, feel free to call or email.

Kim Coppenrath
NCNE Rescue Co-chair
Toll-free 888-831-4873
Email coppenrathk@yahoo.com
rescue@newfclubne.org
 
Danielle and Merlin

Danielle and Merlin

New member
Greetings, Ramona - and welcome!

For learning, discussing and socializing, this is a great place for any Newf lover! It doesn't matter if you choose to rescue all or get all from a (conscientious) breeder - Newfs are wonderful no matter how you like 'em!

I have two Newfs - both are from breeders. But, I am active in rescue. I will have room and time for a rescue (hopefully will be able to foster) when I move from my current domicile.

As to your question, "What is OFA?" I'm not sure if someone has already responded, but if not, here's my take on it:

OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals) is found on the web at http://offa.org/. Among other things, OFA is a repository for orthopedic/health data for a number of purebred dogs and cats. It is a clearinghouse for those seeking health data about particular breeds, and in many cases, certain health data for specific individuals. They also compile data for use by institutions for studies, etc. I hope that's an explanation that helps - and is what other people might agree with.

Feel free to ask questions - we encourage it. Although none of us know everything, many of us have lots of information on specific things. :)
 
victoria1140

victoria1140

Active member
hello from the uk, we have rescues and also have raised pups from scratch, different set of challenges but fun at times
 
NewfDad

NewfDad

Member
Welcome to NN, there is no contradiction with puppies and rescue. I have had three rescues and two of them hit rescue as puppies. Katala and Kilrain are rescues and we got both of them as pups. So rescue and puppies aren't absolutely exclusive.

Funny that you are from NH, we were just there setting up my son's apartment. He is doing a second year as a Firefighter EMT with Americorps stationed in Farmington NH.
 
R

RamonaAnne

New member
Thanks!!

Pittsburg, eh?...That's not all that far from me...I'm north of Berlin and South of Erroll...And, I love it here...

-Ramona Anne

kastle said:
Welcome, from Massachsetts! I have a cabin up in Pittsburg, NH and I spend most of my free time backpacking in the White Mountains. I just love New Hampshire. Some day I'll live there full time.
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