Yard and Eye Questions

[Juli]

Couple of newbie questions
1. Are there any new and improved methods of waste disposal? Or, do most people stick with the tried and true scoop it and dump it in a trash can. Our last dog was not very big..not much waste or odor. I have been getting "comments" from the neighbors when they find out we are getting such a big dog. I think they are certain it's going to impact their quality of life

2. I was reading in my latest newsletter that judges were quite concerned with the "looseness of the eyes" they have been seeing. What is the best method when I choose the pup in determining the most healthy eyes. Or is this something I should just leave up to the breeder to help with?

Thanks,
Juli

 

[Jeannie]

Julie,
I cannot help with the question about the eye, but I can offer some advise on the poop situation. We use a pooper scooper and put the waste in a plastic bucket with a lid. (it has a trash bag in it also) Every week we put it in the trash for the trash pickup. It seems to work very well. When you take the lid off--well in the winter--no problem, but in the summer it tends to get a little "smell" to it.

I have talked to customers that have those in the ground poop disposal units and no one has been happy with it. In the cold they are very hard if not impossible to maintain. They also say the chemicals get to be very expensive.

We have 2 newfies and the old poop in the trash bag has worked well for us. By the way, our Newfies potty in the area around our inground pool and as long as you keep it picked up there is no smell.
Jeannie

 

[Theresa]

I also can't answer the eye question but can tell you what we do with the dog's poop. Everymorning, I place a plastic bag (the one's from the grocery store) in a bucket and grab my pooper scoooper. After picking up the poop, I tie the bag with a secure knot. Then I toss it into the garbage can. The garbage gets picked up twice a week here. When we had just Malia, we used one of the doggie dooley's but found it to be a hassel in that it got expensive and treating the waste was just a hassel in itself. On my days off, I check the yard again in the evening time.

 

[AmyPC]

We just pick the poop up with a plastic bag and throw it in the bin. In our old house though, when we had our Golden Retriever, my parents bought and installed this 'doggie toilet' thing.

It was a kind of bin with a hole in the bottom and a flip top lid that you could open by stepping on a pedal. You put the poop in there and from memory, there was some kind of additive you put in every now and then to make it break down and go into the garden. It was ok, but not great. We stopped using it after a while - it was in an inconspicuous corner of the garden and weeds ended up growing over it. That corner of the garden sure did grow though! Don't know if it had anything to do with that or what. From what I understand doggie doo is not useful as a fertiliser.

Can't help you on the eyes question.

 

[Lynne]

Hi, Juli,
I think the others dealt with the poop question. I've had as many as 12 Newfs and followed the same procedure. As long as you clean up daily, there shouldn't be a problem.
With regard to the eyes, I'd mention your concern to your breeder. If he/she is knowledgeable, you should be all right. But the eyes MAY well change as the pup's head matures. Take a look at the parents and pictures, if you can, of the grandparents. That should give you an idea of what to expect.

 

[Juli]

Thank you all for your input.
I had been seeing all the new-fangled equipment and it seemed to be alot of hype. So a trash can, some plastic liners and a scooper it is!
I will definately discuss my eye questions with the breeder.
Lynne, I pull up pictures on the internet of our pups parents everyday...and make anyone that comes into the house look

I went to the breeders house last month and saw them. They looked fine to me but I am such a novice. I even got to hang out there for 4 hours and watch her goom the dogs, plus I got to interact with the pups father. It was love I tell you,love love. My family thinks I'm nuts.
Ah, well. Now I know I can come here where others understand..........
Whelping countdown...7 days

Juli

 

[GAD]

Juli - you sound like Newfie material to me!

GAD