Newfie Tips and Tricks

[alene]

I tried searching, and it doesn't look like we have a thread just for tips and tricks for the newfie owner. It might be fun to have one.

My new puppy, Æstrid, comes home this Friday. We think we are prepared, but I am sure that we are in for a real surprise.

We have filled the dirt under the hose with rocks so that it won't turn into mud.
We have purchased a super industrial vacuum.
We have a large bowl with tapered sides to avoid tipping and soggy ears.
We have all manner of brushes, leashes and collars - adjustable.
We have our puppy classes paid for.
We have our Nutro adult formula, 23% protein.
We have wire crates - adjustable.

Any other tips and tricks?

Any tips and tricks for teaching the pup to carry a backpack for hiking?

Any tips for the 8 hour drive home?

 

[Ivoryudx]

Judi Adler's, "The Newfoundland Puppy" would be a good way to get started, but more importantly, I can put you in touch with another Newfie person in Salt Lake who is going to be doing water training this summer, if your interested and are near that area?

Congratulations on the new puppy's pending arrival!

Susan

 

[N2N Mags Dad]

Keep a towel under the water bowl.

Buy many sticky-type hair removal rollers and keep em in cars, desk drawers, near your front door.

Check newf-net three times per day, min, and pay close attention to everybody's experiences.

The caution / lesson is to agressively and defensively restrict their running and load-carrying to very, very limited basis until their growth plates are closed. This is somewhat counter-intuitive, but is crucial for these giants.

 

[alene]

Sticky rollers! I knew I was forgetting something.

Ivoryudx, I am extremely interested in water rescue. I sort of figured that we would have to learn all about it from a book. I would love to get in touch with other newf-lovers. I will PM you.

 

[tonkatruck]

To teach him to backpack you can start as soon as he is big enough to wear the backpack. Empty of course, just so he get's used to it. He can wear it on his regular walks. Our newf gets really excited when he sees me bringing out his backpack. He loves to wear it

 

[alene]

Anyone know how to get a hold of Judi Adler's, "The Newfoundland Puppy?" Amazon tells me it is out of print.

 

[Largo]

Welcome to NN

Congratulations on your new puppy!

You could groom him a little everyday so he gets use to it.

 

[NewfMom]

Originally posted by Ketty:
Anyone know how to get a hold of Judi Adler's, "The Newfoundland Puppy?"

You can get it from Judi Adler directly on her website Judi Adler's website

 

[NinaA]

First of all, welcome and good luck. One thing I noticed, the water dish. You do not need tapered sides. Their ears seldom get in the water, it's their whole bodies that get in the water dish. Also, I elevate my water dish. It seems to cut down some on the splashing. Also, July Adler's book was on eBay a week or so ago.

Nina
et al

 

[DBaker]

So true about the water bowl...your puppy will live in it!! Thank goodness for tile floors..The towel is always wet..keep a stock pile of towels!!

Enjoy evey minute..they grow sooo fast!!

 

[blstarke]

teach him how to give newfie kisses

 

[Annie Milliron]

Well.... I don't see one of the most important things on the list.... which is.

FILM and lots of it!!!! Pictures are not an option.. they are essential!!!!

As for tips:

1. Get lots of sleep
2. Hang a small bell to the door you will want the puppy to go in and out of to potty!

 

[Nasus]

Buy a holster, pack paper towels in one.. windex in the other, and get ready to clean the walls, ceiling, as well as everything else in your house that is within slobber distence.. which can go up to 25 feet LOL... and remember.. never run out of paper towels... btw Love the Æ in her name.

Susan

 

[BoundlessNewfs]

Buy stacks of dish towels, shop cloths, or cloth diapers, and keep them in handy places. Newfs drip water EVERYWHERE when they get a drink...and right after you wipe their face and the floor, they decide to go drink some more.

Also, you'll need these for wiping wet/muddy paws, on rainy days...keep a stack by the door.

Teach them "SLOW" when going down stairs. As I've stated before, there is nothing worse than finding yourself caught in a newfie avalanche, and heading for the wall at the bottom of the stairs.

 

[Terrasage]

Someone else said to groom a little everyday, and I second that. Also look over and handle his ears, eyes, paws and tail everyday so he is used to that. As soon as William had all of his shots, I started taking him anywhere public that I could, and encourage people to pet him so that he can practice good manners now, and not when he's 150# and could hurt someone by jumping up, etc.

Praise everything that he does right and ignore bad behavior when it's safe to do so. For instance, if Will is eating my shoe, I have him bring me the shoe, praise him (it's retrieve behavior, handy for water rescue!), and then give him a chewie, which I praise him for taking. Everything is a training opportunity!

Get him used to loud noises and expose him to as much as you can now while he's young. The first 16 weeks in a pup's life are truly formative.

Good luck!

 

[AngusMcDubhsMom]

and on the ride home, stop every couple of hours for potty breaks, drinks, walk and cuddles!

(if he's not in your lap the whole time!

 

[KS Newf]

Keep lots of paper towels by the water bowls and watch the free running water bowls called the toilets! Give lots of smooshy face Newfie kisses!!!

 

[afreas]

OK, just a few

1) If you repaint, scrubbable paint (this includes the ceilings...really )
2) Remember that a Newf Puppy can be as tall as an adult human as they get larger and older, put things up real high.
3) Take all breakables off your coffee tables, they like to lay under the tables and then forget and stand up, as they get bigger they can flip a whole table.
4) Good trash can lids.

Enjoy
ART

 

[alene]

"3) Take all breakables off your coffee tables, they like to lay under the tables and then forget and stand up, as they get bigger they can flip a whole table."

Ohmygosh! I hadn't even thought of that! I am sure newfie ownership is going to be full of learning experiences.

I am not sure if I am ready for the slobber. I know it's coming, and it is definitely worth it to have such a great pup, but I am not sure how I am going to react to the first time I find slobber on the ceiling.

Thanks for all the tips and keep them coming, please! Are there any newfie specific training tisp I should know? I've heard they take to potty training fairly well. Should I be prepared to have a dead lawn?

 

[Annie Milliron]

Heck, I don't even have a coffee table anymore!!!! Thanks to Cora, and my BIL's Lab, Tucker. It was a Queen Anne reproduction from The Bombay Company, and was no match for two big dogs.