Our new puppy's home!

[mochaspa]

Hi, All!

I just wanted you all to know that we got our new 4 month old black newfie puppy this past Saturday! Her name is Suki(my wife Karen says it means "beloved" in Japanese), and she's 30 lbs...probably more by now! In her I can already see some differences from our old newfie, Mocha, who passed away last October at the age of 13. Some say that Mocha wasn't the sharpest newfie around, but her gentleness, sweetness, and always agreeable nature made her special in everyone's eye. Suki, on the other hand, is smart, really smart(you know, that Labrador kind of analyzing smart), stubborn, and assertive. Whenever she sees me petting or hugging one of our other dogs, she immediately rushes over, and body-bumps them out of my reach. She isn't mean or anything like that; she just lets them know that she's supposed to be the center of my universe! And the other dogs are bigger than her(at least for now)! To be honest, I was a little surprised at her "assertiveness"...have any of you experienced this with your newfies? Otherwise, she's incredibly sweet and affectionate with our 2 daughters and us...and I've really fallen in love with her! Thanks for listening!



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Geoff

 

[HPond]

Congratulations Geoff! Suki sounds like a dear and again, it's extra special that she is Mocha's niece. Post pictures soon!

 

[newf4u]

We too have a Newfie who is center of the universe...or so it would seem.

He quite often bumps our Shepherd out of the way when he is getting snuggles from Mom. Ben is also jealous of my Hubby and I. I am his Mom, and his Mom only. Strange though he isn't jealous of my relationship with the kids. I think he just knows to leave that one alone.

 

[Kanela]

My 13 week old, Nani, also does the bump/bark/paw thing when she realizes attention's been mistakenly diverted from her.

If we make the grave error of ignoring her, she'll simply plant her butt down in front of us, look us square in the eye, and bark her Newfy head off until we've made it up to her.

My 11 year old Chow, Bear, is pretty easygoing (cares more for his naps than excitement) so he lets her bully him out of his share of cuddles. She'll even go so far as to strut right up to him and snatch a bone right out of his mouth.

That poor boy. Sometimes I have to place Nani in her crate for a time-out and give Bear extra treats out of her sight just so he doesn't feel left out.

Her breeder warned me she was THE most spoiled attention-getter of the litter and well...looks like I got exactly that!

She's smart as a whip, though. So very smart. You can see it in her eyes when she stares at you. It's clear she's figuring things out and plotting the most effective course to take for treats, rides in the car, hugs - whatever she wants. It's startling to see how...HUMAN...her eyes appear to be at times. I swear one day she'll walk right up to me and say something in English!

Kanela

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"To err is human.
To forgive, canine."
Newfieland.org

 

[Kanela]

...and it'll probably be something along the lines of, "I see you give Bear treats when you think I'm not looking. I expect to see one entire box of treats, just for ME, in my crate by tomorrow or you'll find a poopie like you won't believe in your shoes."

Kanela

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"To err is human.
To forgive, canine."
Newfieland.org

 

[AmyPC]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by mochaspa:
To be honest, I was a little surprised at her "assertiveness"...have any of you experienced this with your newfies?

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I know a Ridgeback called Suki, she's Rory's best 'dog friend'.

As for assertiveness - an emphatic YES! Rory was the most assertive, dominant pup I'd ever come across - not with other dogs but with us at home.

I wouldn't say it's a Newf-like trait really (although this is my first Newf so I don't have first hand experience on that one) but one that may come up in them from time to time (like in any breed I guess).

Rory was the first born and you could tell! She was used to getting everything her own way, and straight away. And if you ignored her or didn't give her what she wanted - WATCH OUT! She was a barelling tornado, making it absolutely impossible to do the ignoring trick.

Actually it was quite a serious problem (although we laugh about it now) and we had to be very, very strong with her in training and behaviour. We went to training school and that helped a great deal except now that we have stopped she sometimes slips back into her old, dominant ways. Training school is good because it teaches them you are supposed to be in charge and that carries over into their general life, not just when they are doing commands.

Anyway, I'm getting way ahead of myself, you just brought your baby home! Enjoy her. We wouldn't trade Rory for the world, as much as a handfull she was. She has a personality all of her own.

 

[bridge2itnf@aol.com]

Yes Tuggs is also very asertive , he will stalk my yellow lab Hobbes and then run and but him . he is only playing though , he does us the same way.

Bridget
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Until We Newf Again

 

[kzdz]

Morgan was not really assertive, but when she was a puppy and my husband was working at home, she would sit on the couch and bark at him when he "forgot" to pay attention to her. When other dogs are getting attention she'll sometimes try to wedge herself in on it, but more often will just lay down and give you that "how could you" look. She was willing to accept that Frank (our lab/spaniel) was older and knows better so she didn't mess with Frank much.

Quark, on the other hand, gives Frank nothing but trouble. Poor Frank truly seems to believe that not only is she a people, but she's a people that doesn't like dogs!

And Quark always pushes her just far enough. He'll lay down near her and then stick out his paw so it barely touches Frank. Frank then gets mad, growls, snaps, or moves depending on her mood. Quark follows her and does it again. If she continues trying to ignore him, he starts barking at her. But that's usually a last resort because then he gets in trouble. The whole point is to force Frank into doing something violent so she gets yelled at.

Quark is a sneaky, mischievous "little?" guy. Give us nothing but trouble for hours on end to the point I want to rip my hair out. Then he climbs up on the couch next to me and puts his head and front paws in my lap. How can you stay angry at that?

Oh yeah, to avoid confusion, Frank is a female. I had absolutely nothing to do with naming her. That was all my husband's doing.

 

[Miyax]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>...and it'll probably be something along the lines of, "I see you give Bear treats when you think I'm not looking. I expect to see one entire box of treats, just for ME, in my crate by tomorrow or you'll find a poopie like you won't believe in your shoes." <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHA!

------------------
A tribute to his Newfoundland:
"... beauty without vanity
strength without insolence
courage without ferocity
and all the virtues of man without his vices"
- Lord Byron, 1808

 

[Miyax]

Congratulations on your new pup GEOFF!!

(Kanela, I'm STILL laughing out loud at that one!!)

------------------
A tribute to his Newfoundland:
"... beauty without vanity
strength without insolence
courage without ferocity
and all the virtues of man without his vices"
- Lord Byron, 1808

 

[shawn]

Yes, Newmie is assertive! When my cocker spaniel was here (he was put to sleep Jan 30), Newmie would sit between my legs and hang his head over the side of one leg and glare at 'Kota. Dakota would snarl, curl his lip up and lick Newman's nose. It was really funny. Dakota was 13 and very frail and Newmie was really gentle with him, but wanted 'Kota to know that I was not to be shared. But of course, since Dakota was my old man for 13 years, I shared my love with him ALOT, and still had plenty left over for Newmie.

shawn

 

[Nicole]

Congrats on the new member of your family.
Tayla was also really assertive around us and other dogs from day one. Even now if we are not paying her attention she will run up to you bark and run off (she runs away because she knows that she isn't allowed to bark at us). She will repeat this process until we give in and give her big hugs and pats. If you are in bed or sitting on the floor she will literally lie on top of you. That sure gets your attention. Anyway good luck it sounds as if she is personality plus.