My Roommate Wants to Get a Dog, I Have Concerns

[Subverto]

First, a bit of back story. When I first got my Newfoundland, Nala, I was living in an apartment. She was raised an only dog, but there was a large park across the street from my apartment, so she made a lot of great doggie friends to play with in the park. Last year I ended up buying a house with a big fenced in yard, and since then have been entertaining the idea of getting another Newf, because I love the breed so much and would love for Nala to have a brother. The only issue is that I'm a single male in my mid 20s, and feel that taking care of two Newfs on my own would be difficult both physically and financially. As such, I decided to postpone adding another Newf to my house, despite having the accommodations for one.

Recently, a friend of mine landed a job in my city and has since moved into my house. I explained my doggie dilemma to him, and he informed me that he has wanted to get a Labrador Retriever for quite some time, but has never been in a living situation where it made sense (he has mostly lived in small apartments in major cities). He suggested he adopt a Lab, and we could kill two birds with one stone by giving Nala (who is now 2.5 years old) a friend while he finally gets a dog that he's wanted for a while. On the surface it sounds like a win/win, but I have some concerns. At the risk of turning this post into a novel, I'll list them as bullet points.

1. Nala has never lived with another dog. She gets along great with other dogs outside the house, but another dog has never even visited her at her home. Is it possible she might get territorial?

2. Being a 2.5 year old Newf, Nala has brief spurts of high energy, but spends most of her day lounging around napping. My roommate is looking into adopting an 8 - 14 month old Lab, and from what I understand Labs are just a big ball of non-stop energy for the first 3 years of their lives. Could this cause problems, particularly if the Lab wants to play all the time while Nala just wants left alone?

3. My roommate has no idea how long he plans on living at my house, let alone staying in the same city. He has a tendency to move around a lot (historically only staying in one city for a year or two). If Nala and his Lab were to develop a strong bond, how hard would it be on her when my roommate eventually moves out?

4. Any other issues or concerns you can imagine might arise from this situation?

Any and all input is greatly appreciated! Thanks!

 

[Jeannie]

Point #3 would be a reason not to get the lab. It is not good for someone to get a dog because it is a convenient time in his/her life. A dog is a life time commitment. If your friend moves you could have another dog and all the expenses or the dog will not have a stable home if he continues to move every year or two. Dogs can grieve for the loss of a friend be is another dog or person.

Point #2 A young puppy could cause some problems with a laid back newf. It could rejuvenate the newf but only for a short time. Are you ready to 2-3 years of your house being in a uproar with a rambunctious lab puppy? You may have to separate them to give your newf a break

Point #1 Newfs adapt fairly well. Depending on her personality she may or may not be territorial. I'd say most likely not. She may defend her area, toys or even you but for the most part they do well.

 

[snowdog]

It might be just fine - but I think you have valid concerns.

One other idea that we have had to deal with when we added a golden retriever who was the same age as our newf at the time (both 3 yrs) is that they can't be let out in the yard together - they play so rough and with the newfs joints it would be just a matter of time before she gets a leg injury possibly needing surgery.

 

[Finny]

I'd also think about how similar (or different) your training philosophies and doggy behavior expectations might be. A lot of friction can happen when one friend thinks a scuffle is "just normal dog play" and the other friend thinks it has gotten out of hand. Does one of you think dogs are allowed on furniture and the other doesn't agree? Inconsistent treatment can cause a variety of issues.

We "dog shared" for a long time with a former neighbor. Worked out great. Our dogs (us=2, him=1) got along great and there were three adults to walk them. We all liked going for walks with our dogs, so the dogs ended up with lots of exercise. Also rarely needed to make kennel arrangements for vacations. I keep trying to get him to move to our new neighborhood! I could see a roommate working out in a similar fashion.

 

[wrknnwf]

I'd also think about how similar (or different) your training philosophies and doggy behavior expectations might be. A lot of friction can happen when one friend thinks a scuffle is "just normal dog play" and the other friend thinks it has gotten out of hand. Does one of you think dogs are allowed on furniture and the other doesn't agree? Inconsistent treatment can cause a variety of issues.

Spot on advice!

 

[gmc248]

Sorry to resurrect an old thread with my first post but I'm interested in the back story. How was it raising a Newfie puppy in your situation? I'm also a single guy that really wants a Newfie puppy. I have a big enough house and yard for the dog, but I recognize that getting through the puppy stage would be tough, but also rewarding! I feel like that is part of the experience though, I wouldn't want to skip it.

 

[wrknnwf]

Sorry to resurrect an old thread with my first post but I'm interested in the back story. How was it raising a Newfie puppy in your situation? I'm also a single guy that really wants a Newfie puppy. I have a big enough house and yard for the dog, but I recognize that getting through the puppy stage would be tough, but also rewarding! I feel like that is part of the experience though, I wouldn't want to skip it.

The right training will make all the difference and the puppy stage is soon forgotten. Just make sure you get a healthy pup from a reputable breeder and have a good, positive reinforcement puppy class lined up as soon as you get the pup. Now is the time for finding one, so you will be ready. Go watch a class or two to find a trainer you feel you can communicate with. Also find the nearest regional Newf club and get acquainted with some of the members. Join if you can. They will have invaluable advice on finding and raising a Newf.

Plus, there are lots of threads here on finding the right breeder and many more on getting through the puppy stage. We all go through it...biting, jumping, pulling, etc. But when it's over, you will have the most devoted companion you will ever want.

I'm single, an old woman now, and have raised, owned, and fostered numerous Newfs for 15 years. If I can manage, you certainly can. There is nothing equal to the experience. And, we are here to help when you need it.

 

[Leonard and his bud Snuffles]

#3 scares me. Even before I got to your points, that was what first came to my mind. You may end up with a extra dog.

 

[gmc248]

The right training will make all the difference and the puppy stage is soon forgotten. Just make sure you get a healthy pup from a reputable breeder and have a good, positive reinforcement puppy class lined up as soon as you get the pup. Now is the time for finding one, so you will be ready. Go watch a class or two to find a trainer you feel you can communicate with. Also find the nearest regional Newf club and get acquainted with some of the members. Join if you can. They will have invaluable advice on finding and raising a Newf.

Plus, there are lots of threads here on finding the right breeder and many more on getting through the puppy stage. We all go through it...biting, jumping, pulling, etc. But when it's over, you will have the most devoted companion you will ever want.

I'm single, an old woman now, and have raised, owned, and fostered numerous Newfs for 15 years. If I can manage, you certainly can. There is nothing equal to the experience. And, we are here to help when you need it.

Thank you for the reply, I have been browsing on here for a while and read the articles about breeders and life with a Newfie. I've perused the list of local breeders and contacted a couple, a fall puppy would be great timing.

 

[NinaA]

My dogs have all lived with other dogs coming and going and have never, ever had a problem. My one son's dog (greyhound mix) visit once a year and they greet each other happily. Only problem, and I have this, too, is that Labs are very active and Newfs try to be, too. It's a good way to blow a knee. A Newf is never as agile as a Lab. I currently have a Newf and two Labs, but they are all old. When they were young, my Newfs (one blew both knees and one blew one) had this happen. It's something to consider. Might urge him to get an older Lab if he's dead set on one, or you could do what we do - just not let your Newf get involved, but that is really hard. As far as the getting along - they'll be fine. As far as multiple Newfs, if you can afford it, the rest is a blessing.