New to this forum; thinking of buying a Newf

[turbodsk]

Hello everyone:

I have, for many years, wanted to purchase a Newfoundland, but we have had other dogs until now and it wasn't a good time to add to our existing family. I have read a lot of information about the breed, including our regional club page and the AKC's information on the breed. For our family, a good disposition is the most important quality we are looking for in a breed. Much of this will depend on good obedience training, and our commitment to the dog, of course...but given the size of Newfs, and reading that 1 percent of any breed can be aggressive, is this a common issue with the breed? I wouldn't think so, given they are "gentle giants" and super sweet in disposition. Yet the risks are high if I am walking a dog of significant weight and he or she wants to go after another dog, and outpowers me. Or, an unleashed dog runs up to us (I really get annoyed by this, but it happens) when walking. I am a little concerned that IF this breed would ever be aggressive, the effect would be more significant than usual. Trying to figure out if this is the right breed. Thanks for any input you can provide.

 

[wrknnwf]

Good for you for doing your homework before you dive in! Here are some of my thoughts on your post.

With aggression, I think you take just about the same risks with any breed, regardless of size. Much depends on proper socializing and proper training methods (dedicated positive reinforcement obedience training) from a very young age. That means working on those things often...several times daily. If you work hard, you will have done everything you can to prevent any environmentally triggered aggression and will have a well adjusted, well trained companion who you can trust in nearly any situation.

Fortunately, Newfs are one of the gentlest breeds of all and tend to be very tolerant of other dogs. Even to the point of completely ignoring snappy little dogs. But if full blown attack happens, your dog may have no choice but to defend himself. And who could blame him?

There is nothing you can do about inherited tendencies except to learn as much about his parentage as you can before you get him. Plan on really getting to know the breeder and his/her dogs before you commit. Go to shows, visit the kennel, see the parents, observe the puppies, etc. Trust the breeder to know each pup's personality and ask them to suggest the best suited puppy for your family. But please realize that all pups of every breed need to learn how to play appropriately.

If a Pomeranian pup is rambunctious, it's cute. If a Newf pup is a wild child, well...it's a whole other story. You have to understand that it's part of your dog's development stage and not a sign of aggressiveness. You simply have to train him to behave properly. Dogs that are taken from the litter before 9-10 weeks and pups that are singletons (no litter mates) have the greatest tendency to be under-socialized when they go to their new homes. There are definite stages of social development in dogs that are observable and documented. Google to find out at what ages the dog goes through which stages. Interesting reading.

If you have young children, you also have to train them to not encourage a puppy's naughty behavior. Not allowing jumping, nipping, possessiveness, etc. are all things your children must learn to prevent as well.

I will be honest and say that I have known a few Newfs with aggressive tendencies. Maybe 3 out of hundreds. I think it was more of a fault of the owner than of the dog. Circumstances such as little socialization at a critical age, incompetence of the owner to establish and maintain a wholesome and benevolent leadership role, lack of training, and allowing the dog to follow through on his own poor decisions, etc all contributed.

Remember too, that aggression begets aggression, so if you are a harsh, bullying owner/trainer, you are in jeopardy of teaching your dog to be the same way. Not a good thing when the dog grows to 100+ lbs. The converse being an ineffectual owner who lets his dog get away with everything. There is a healthy middle ground where you decide what the rules are and learn to enforce them in the right way. And everyone in the family and your circle of friends has to be on the same page. You can't expect your dog to know right and wrong if he gets to act one way with one person and another way with someone else.

As for being pulled off your feet, it is unlikely that it will be due to your Newf wanting to fight another. It has happened to most of us and is usually because our overly happy, friendly dogs just have to go say "hi" to someone or some animal. This is a very strong breed that has been developed to pull and can do it easily even when they are little.

I've had a 5 month old pup take me lawn surfing. In my case, it was a failure on my part for not paying attention to my dog and being taken off guard. So I would warn you that it is very likely to happen to you too, especially if you aren't prepared.

Training will help here, and you must start while the pup is young. Learn techniques that help you prevent this sort of thing and then use them. A good training instructor can help. Have one in the wings before you get your dog and sign him up as soon as he comes home. DO NOT WAIT to enroll! Some instructors will take dogs as young as 13 weeks into their classes, but it's worth it to have them get you started at home if he's too young for classes. And plan on taking more than just a puppy class. You will learn a thousand times more useful information if you take your pup to several classes.

Most of this is totally in your control and has nothing to do with the breed of dog. Irresponsible leadership, makes an irresponsible dog.

 

[turbodsk]

Thanks so much for your thoughtful response. I really appreciate this input. You sound as though you have done this a few times! I will DEFINITELY visit the breeders, ask a lot of questions, meet the sire and dam, etc. and focus on finding a good trainer and a separate obedience class. I have taken my dogs through obedience class before, but reinstating those good habits and practices is good for ME and and the dog!

We have owned an English Cocker Spaniel, a Golden Retriever, and a Labrador Retriever. Most recently, we adopted a shelter dog, thinking we were doing the right thing. He was timid, affectionate, almost cautious. Very affectionate, loving with everyone in our family. Long story, but his first 1.3 years was undocumented, meaning the shelter just said "he was a stray, that's all we know." He had a slightly different sized eye with a possible old injury, according to the vet, but his vision was fine. He was a Border Collie/Great Pyrenees mix, and the point is, despite over 2 years of professional training, reinforcement at home, and lots o love, he never turned things around after he started to slowly become aggressive toward our other dog. One severe attack was the last straw, especially when my 8 year old child got caught, briefly, in the middle of it all. I had taught her that if the dogs get into a fight, immediately leave the area and get away from the dogs. Our labrador was injured, with several puncture wounds, and had to be taken to the vet. He also growled and snarled at most, but not all, visitors, whether they be male, female, old, young, with facial hair, without. Our vet said some dogs, no matter how vigilant you might be, just never get better. I could not fully trust the dog.

This is why I am going in with eyes wide open. Our lab only has a few weeks left, we expect, as he has terminal cancer now at 13.5 years old. We have always had a good feel for the right type of dog for our family, and it was tough to say goodbye to the aggressive dog. We never thought we would have a problem we couldn't solve, but needless to say, we did.

Thank you again for your great insights!

D

 

[Newfs Forever]

As usual, Jane has very wise and sage advice. I suggest you read her post over and over!

Good luck!

 

[Jeannie]

Training is the very important. Years ago I got a 1 yr old dog through rescue. The dog was not trained or socialized very much. She had bitten 2 people. She was not even house trained. The first 3 weeks I had this dog was a terror. As far as she knew the world revolved around her. If she had something she wasn't to have or wanted something and I said no she came at me with bare teeth. Not fun when a 100 lb dog does this. I set boundaries and stuck to them. It was like one day a light bulb came on and she was a different dog. She became one of my best therapy dogs. One time while at a therapy session a toddler grabbed her tongue and she just set there looking at me. I will say she never lost that 'street wise' or that 'what's in it for me' attitude but those qualities made her special.

I would like to add be sure you get a dog from a reputable breeder. Join your local newf club and get to know the breeders. They are more likely to sell you a pup if they know you.

 

[shellyk]

Welcome to the Forum! I just wanted to share my experience after raising 2 Labs and a rescue mutt. I assumed that this prepared me for a Newf. Newfs are very similar to Labs but Labs very much want to please and in my opinion are easier to train. I have had to learn more with our Newfs. IMO Newfs are smarter, more independent and require more from their owner. Don't get me wrong I am enjoying the challenge and I hope you can experience the love of a Newf!

 

[turbodsk]

Thank you! Yes, Newfs do seem to require a little more devotion to training than other dogs. All dogs require training to be the best dogs they can be, but if you give an inch, it seems like Newfs might take a mile. Awareness is key. I am not scared off yet . Luckily I am at a point in my life where I have the time and patience to devote to this breed. I am sure the rewards far outweigh the challenges!

 

[BlackLightning]

Welcome! Welcome! Welcome! It's SO nice and refreshing when someone is willing to do their homework before jumping into this breed.

Do aggressive Newfs exist? Absolutely. And while I do agree that some of this can be environmental, I think genetics plays a larger role in the temperament of these dogs. Temperament is SO important in this breed that it's even written into the breed standard. That soft, sweet temperament is what draws us all in. Unfortunately, there are Newfs out there being bred that do NOT exhibit the correct temperament. It is key to spend as much time as you can with the breeder's dogs to see if their temperament aligns with your expectations. A lot of the time people automatically assume a bad temperament means aggression, but to me a bad temperament is also a nervous, timid dog that lacks confidence and is fearful or skittish. This kind of dog may end up with fear aggression issues. So I would advise to not just look for outward signs of aggression, but also take into account how outgoing the dogs are. Are they hiding in the corner cowering? Are the puppies uncomfortable when separated from their littermates?

So, while I do believe in the power of training, your best bet is to start off with a solid temperament that has been inherited from generations of dogs with solid temperaments. Luckily, there are TONS of breeders out there breeding Newfs with that lovely, sweet temperament.

 

[turbodsk]

You know, I can't seem to find many local breeders near Boise, Idaho. I looked on the Newfoundland Club web site, clicked on regional clubs, and couldn't find any that covered Idaho. I called the number and left a message, but no one called me back yet. My question was to get connected with a local newf club. I looked at the High Country club, and the Pacific Northwest club, but none seemed to cover my area. Very good information about looking for signs of nervousness, being timid, etc. as a sign of bad temperament, not just the outward signs of overt aggression. Thank you everyone! Such amazing, knowledgable people!