not sure if this is where to post this

[minnesota]

I am doing research on newfies thinking about adding one to my crew but not sure if i should..i had a st benard who died so not new at massive breeds i have spoke to several breeders who say that a newfi is much more mellow and better behaved than a st benard. My st was the only surviving pup in the litter and did not do well with adult dogs he didn't know he LOVED people however was a big block head if he didn't want to do somethin he would throw himself down on the ground roll over on his back and kick his legs, i need a laid back dog that will get along with people and other animals since i like to take my dogs out in public..brushing grooming etc doesn't bother me hair doesn't bother me neither does drool. Just personality and health are my main concerns i live in mn and have found some good breeders but if anyone else out there knows of any please let me know, this is still a maybe so not in any hurry...and is there a difference in the st benard personality vs nefies?

 

[ElvisTheNewf]

Elvis is my first newf and I've never had a saint bernard, but remember that they are two completely different breeds.

That being said though, every Newf is different. There seems to be just as many really crazy, hyper, stubborn newfs on here as there are calm, quiet, lazy ones. I'd question the people who are claiming that newfs are always better behaved than a saint bernard. I'm sure there are dogs who make that statement true but several more who prove it completely wrong.

Good luck on your research!

 

[Shel]

...i have spoke to several breeders who say that a newfi is much more mellow and better behaved than a st benard. ...and is there a difference in the st benard personality vs nefies?

Newfs, just as every other breed, vary in their energy levels and personalities. I've had six Newfs, a Dane, a Wolfhound and a Saint. The Saint (Norm) has been the calmest, most mellow dog we've ever had. He came to us at seven weeks of age, and he was as easy-going then, as he is today. His siblings and half-siblings share this trait. My Newfs have all been much more active (than Norm) happy puppies who matured into calm gentle giants, but for some of them, it took four years to get there... and my girl (Sue) is 5½ years old and is still a spitfire. Some puppies are easy, other's are challenging... but that's just how puppies (and dogs) are.

I think Newfs are more geared to please, and Saints consider requests and oblige if there's something in it for them. Norm is comical, affectionate and incredibly needy. He isn't interested in pleasing me, but he is so well-mannered and compliant; it's never really been an issue.

Without offending anyone, and keeping in mind, I love both breeds...

There is something so sweet and soft about my Newfs that I've never found in another breed (with the possible exception of Wolfhounds - Rupert is new to our family). On the other hand, I'd say that no creature could be funnier (or cuter) than my Saint. Norm makes me laugh every single day. He has a sense of humour that defies explanation. Norm is sweet and gentle, but he doesn't have the same "softness" that my Newfs (and Ru) have.

I do not want to imply that Newfs lack the same sense of humour that Norm has. These are just generalizations, nothing more.

 

[Bucephalus]

If you go the Newf route, consider getting a 2 or 3 year old from rescue. Newf puppies can be a handful. Some are angels from birth; others I've read about on here (and my own boy) can be little terrors. Consensus seems to be that many of the wild ones mellow out as they mature, so if you're looking for an immediately polite companion, you might consider looking into an older dog. That way you can gauge if its personality matches what you're looking for. This is what my husband and I would probably do if we got a 2nd Newf!

 

[Brandie&Maggie]

Welcome!

You'll find a lot of good info here, so its a good place to do research. You could also look into local newf clubs where you may be able to go to some events and meet a variety of newts. Good luck with your research!

 

[R Taft]

And I think it also has a lot to do with training from day one.....Being quite strict with them and setting the standard form day one.
I grant it there are some different lines, but I have also seen how sometimes puppies are allowed to do a lot of things, which people would never want a mature dog to do. So you need to set the limits from day one. Not just the "it's only a puppy".
Some dogs are more mellow in every breed and some are more over the top.
Also a puppy from a single pup litter need heavy-duty socialization ASAP......They did not have their own littermates to teach them certain things
We socialize our dogs a lot from the day we bring them home. And that is at eight-ten weeks, often well before all the vaccinations and all that stuff is finished. I feel it is more important to have good socialization then anything else. I believe puppies should meet as many breeds, size and age dogs as possible. And also as many people of different ages, size and ethnicity. This makes for good all-rounders of whatever Breed.
The other important thing is to never let them get a fright at this young an age. Because that also can have an everlasting effect.
I was blasted for brining my puppies out and about very early.now I get asked why they are so confident and happy. I also socialize a lot of other people's puppies from all different breeds and I compare litter-mates who were not socialized and taken out and about.
The best example is some of the newfie litters i have been involved with and whom I do follow ups with. Katy has on sister and brother who went to a loving home, but did not get socialzed until much later as per their vet (16 weeks) Even though they are quite nice happy newf's they are not as social and do not behave as well in other dog/people company. They are over exited and quite rude in some ways....Whilst her other brother went to a home, where he was out and about very early and is also very social and calm.

Even Breeders have some effect as to how the puppies end up...Look at how much effort some of the Breeders on NN put in on socializing and giving their puppies lots of experiences. That will make for great dogs, even if the owners are not as good at following through.

So a lot of it is from the genetic make-up, but a very large amount is from how dogs are raised and trained...The environmental factor

So think a lot of the behavior (not all) comes from how dogs are raised......
I will get off my soapbox now

 

[ardeagold]

Genetics are the key. You need a breeder who knows his/her lines thoroughly. They need to know the parents, grandparents and great grandparents temperaments and activity levels.

It's going to take time and a lot of research. Be patient and you can find the right dog for you.

Just make sure you contact reputable breeders who do all health testing, have working dogs in their lines, conform to the standard and will stick with you through thick and thin.

The way to meet these breeders is to go to Newf functions, through your regional Newfoundland Club.

I gather you're from MN, so you'd want to touch base with this club (Northstar Newfoundland Club): http://www.northstarnewfclub.org/

 

[Murphy]

My Murphy and Patti's Ozzy (Ozzysma) are littermates. Their personalities and energy levels could not be more different. Murphy since a pup was quiet, laid back and very easy to train. Ozzy on the other hand never stops as long as there are other dogs or people willing to play and can keep up with him. I once challenged Patti to get Ozzy to lie down so I could get a picture.. Never happened. LOL . He has the Newf sweetness and excellent temperament but his energy level is very high and in my mind he will remain a puppy forever. Having said that they are both flippin adorable in their own way but very different. So if you are looking for a more laid back dog the suggestion of Rescue may be the route to go. Good luck in your search.

 

[hemingway]

I second what everyone else said! I'm on my first Newf...and I chose this breed for the same reasons you are, only to be surprised by what I've learned is a very common trait in adolescent Newfies: stubborness, defiance, pushiness, and sometimes flat out rudeness! My boy is over a year old and every day he improves his manners...but not without lots of blood sweat and tears (literally) on my part. A giant dog is still, well...a GIANT DOG! Expect all of the same puppy crazies as you would with any breed....but expect them to last longer with a newf....puppy crazies with a 130+ "puppy" are not very fun sometimes! Heck, expect the worst and if you do go with a Newf, maybe you'll be pleasantly surprised by owning one who is mellow from the start and you can come brag to the rest of us who have our hands full.

 

[NewfieMama]

If you really want a mellow dog, I second the poster above who suggested a 2-4 year old dog from rescue or breeder rehome (sometimes breeders show dogs but then don't plan to use them in their breeding program so they find a home for them). You'll get a better sense of personality that way.

Our first Newf Cooper is a breeder rehome and we got him at 2.5. Zuzu we got the following year as a puppy and as she approaches 2.5 she's still not as mellow as he is, though she's much calmer than she was as a true puppy.

You might get a mellow puppy too but I think it's easier to tell once they're a bit older.

 

[NinaA]

IMHO if you've had a Saint, you'll love a Newf. See all the reasons above.

 

[dumainedogs]

We socialize our dogs a lot from the day we bring them home. And that is at eight-ten weeks, often well before all the vaccinations and all that stuff is finished. I feel it is more important to have good socialization then anything else. I believe puppies should meet as many breeds, size and age dogs as possible. And also as many people of different ages, size and ethnicity. This makes for good all-rounders of whatever Breed.
The other important thing is to never let them get a fright at this young an age. Because that also can have an everlasting effect.

This is spot on! Obie is living proof of some of this. I followed my vet's advice and didn't get him out as much or into puppy classes until his vaccinations were complete. I think that is part of his insecurity now around new people and objects. I would love a do-over on that one!

While breed standards and generalizations about temperament can give you a feel for the breed, clearly not all newfs are created equal. Dogs clearly have personalities Obie is a soft, loving, gentle beast in situations where he's comfortable, but he's quite skittish about a lot of things. We're working to address that now as it has become more pronounced as he reached maturity.

 

[victoria1140]

Some are angels from birth; others I've read about on here (and my own boy) can be little terrors.

we have one of the holy terrors as a newf, very hyper,stubborn and stillat 4 a real wild child. Also dont forget to factor in the double coat, time spent talking to people about your newf if you get one.

As a suggestion can you attend some water sessions or meets where newfs will be as it will give you more of an idea of what you like.
A more mature newf is generally easier though training and hard work are prevelant with this breed.

Dont always be suckered in by the description of a laid back mellow newf as they arent all like it and our one is not like any other rescue that we have had but we loved him to bits from the very first minute he came to us and we still adore him to bits .

 

[NewfieMama]

I noticed in your welcome post to the soon to be newf owner (welcome board) that you mentioned your Saint died when he was only about 1 1/2, just wanted to be sure you know that at 1 1/2 a LOT of Newfs are also blockheads...not all, but I'd wager a lot...

 

[minnesota]

well according to our vet there were several possible problems the first being he was the only surviving pup in his litter so while he was awesome with people he wasn't so much with other adult full size dogs unless he new them he also had some pretty bad hips due to him growing to fast (he ate SO much he ate 13 cups a day, or would if i let him) also vet said that he got to much mothers milk at an early age since he was the only pup i didn't think that was possible but im not a vet so i don't know he was the BIGGEST baby and his favo thing in the whole world was to climb in bed with me and hubby and lay across us he was so big we couldn't move when he did that LOL he had his own fan and everything this dog was SPOILED!

 

[minnesota]

I noticed in your welcome post to the soon to be newf owner (welcome board) that you mentioned your Saint died when he was only about 1 1/2, just wanted to be sure you know that at 1 1/2 a LOT of Newfs are also blockheads...not all, but I'd wager a lot...

he was a great puppy never chewed or anything BUT when he hit like 10 months old he was jumping out my sons window to run the neighborhood:grrr:and he never did like other dogs i mean he had one friend that wasn't our dog he would go play with him but if i took him somewhere no one could say come up to him with a adult lab a puppy wasn't a problem or even a chihuahua but a full size adult dog NOOOOO and nothing i did worked...maybe it was just his personality but i have had a newfie breeder tell me it was a st benard thing and that a newfie would never do that they are to mellow where as st were more guard dog. I tried puppy classes and didn't work he went everywhere with me when possible like i said i am doing research

 

[Shel]

...i have had a newfie breeder tell me it was a st benard thing and that a newfie would never do that they are to mellow where as st were more guard dog.

I would question a breeder that makes generalized statements about another breed. It is true that Saints are more protective, but aggression of any kind is not acceptable within the breed. Newfs can be dog aggressive. I have one.

 

[minnesota]

OMG Shel are those your dogs? and gasp is that an irish wolfhound? LOOOVE it

 

[minnesota]

I would question a breeder that makes generalized statements about another breed. It is true that Saints are more protective, but aggression of any kind is not acceptable within the breed. Newfs can be dog aggressive. I have one.

i have talked to a breeder that i think is someone worth talking to, she has given me some good info i just still don't know if i want to get a newfie..and even if its no now perhaps later

 

[Shel]

OMG Shel are those your dogs? and gasp is that an irish wolfhound? LOOOVE it

Yes, that's my pack-o-love. Rupert is our first Wolfhound, he joined our family in December. He is as sweet and soft as any Newf.