Is this Newfie instinct?

[Mjwalters17]

Hello All!

Bear is now 7 months and 2 weeks old. We had a question that myself and the family had been wondering. When he is playing with his toys (and he has a lot of toys!) it doesn't seem to matter whether it is a rubber toy or stuffed toy but when he carries them all around he carries the object by just the very corner or edge letting it dangle out of his mouth. We have had lots of golden retrievers over the years and have never seen this with them. Bear is our first (and def not last) newfie. We were wondering is he just a silly newfie or is this instinct kicking in based on how they use their mouths softly during rescues? I am including a few recent pics of him although I don't have any of him carrying anything, will try to work on that!

 

[Acadia]

Adorable picture #3! I have no idea, but Cadie does that a lot, too. She looks so silly when holding sticks or similar things as if they were a cigar. I never thought much about it though, interesting question!

 

[TerriW]

Not with toys, but my Ben will take a single potato chip and carry it gingerly by the corner between two massive teeth without crushing it. LOL

 

[pecanpiepatti]

He's probably soft-mouthed, like our Magnum; carries bumpers by the rope, needs canvas, not plastic. His brother, Thor, however, will carry anything, anywhere, any time no matter material or how far.

 

[jeffe]

He is so cute. I must admit I've never taken a lot of notice how mine carry things except to say Ted will show us any thing he has got in his mouth weather he is aloud it or not !! and Daisy mostly can't be bother to carry any thing !!

 

[cmorgan.1505]

What a handsome boy! My Thor will do this sometimes.

 

[skoorka]

Mine aren't that delicate. All gets chomped! He is absolutely gorgeous!

 

[takemebacktotulsa]

Cute pics! Mine does this too. He tends to hold sticks like cigars and carry stuffies and bumpers very gingerly by the edges. We work on "hold" a lot and getting a good grip on his bumper especially, but I love how gentle he is.

 

[blaue_augen]

Suki doesn't really carry things, unless she's trying to get us to play with her. But when we are playing tug, if I am pulling gently, so will she. If I pull stronger, so will she. She can match my level of play so well, which is great when she plays with the kids and they aren't as strong as the grownups.

 

[Joan Fisher]

Bear looks so much like my Thor!

Thor at 18 months and Steve at 6 months

Thor at 3years and Steve at 2 years. Note the slicker brush in Steve's hand. He's brushing his Thor!

 

[R Taft]

Our golden cross carries like that.always looks like her bumper is a pipe and I often wonder how she brings the boat in, but she does...My newfies past and present carry in their mouth, but will also carry something delicatly. Katy will walk around with leaves in her mouth and just by the stem..I think it is more of a dog to dog thing, some do some don't

 

[lacey9875]

Maggie does that often, since her mouth is always open with her tongue hanging out, I think it's easier to have it dangling out of the side of your mouth. I think some things stick to her lips and she doesn't realize it though.

 

[NinaA]

Now that I think about it, mine have done that too. Must be the soft mouth or the big tongue hanging out the other side, but sticks have always had that "cigar" look.