Newfoundland Dog

The Case Against a Newfoundland

The Newfoundland is no doubt a popular breed amongst dog enthusiasts. Many people perceive them to be a dog of beauty, grace and overall excellence. But despite this popularity, there is a large case that goes against choosing this breed of dog as pet for kids at home and let it into your house as it may in the long run prove to be a misguided choice and a major mistake.

The main reason people often choose a Newfoundland as their breed of choice is down to their graceful nature and show dog appearance. With any show dog however, it is important not to assume this is the overall way the dog looks as these looks come from hours upon hours of grooming and special treatment, in much the same way a model is prepped before a catwalk show. A Newfoundland is actually by nature a scrappy dog, often bringing in lots of dirt and grime along the way. It’s character should be driven by it’s inner self and not of it’s outer beauty.

Another reason to reconsider the ‘Newfie’ as a breed of dog is down to it’s personality. A Newfie by nature is a dog that likes constant companionship as they are bred to be a working dog around numerous other animals and humans, so if you feel as though your dog would be spending more time in the backyard and relegated most of the time to a kennel, then definitely do not go out of your way to make your choice for a Newfie as the best pet for kids. This is also the case if you do not intend to train your dog in anyway.

A Newfie is a dog where training should be seen as compulsorily, even with basic commands of ‘sit’, ‘stay’ and ‘lay down’ as it is nearly an impossible task to control a dog the size of a Newfie without any form of formal training. Extensive dog training courses are recommended in order to control your pooch. This comes down then also the self leadership amongst the owner and the ability to give your dog space at times too.

A Newfie responds dramatically to its owner if they feel the owner is in complete control, as Newfie’s are by nature pack bred and will seek to take control if the owner can’t bring their own control to the relationship. Newfie’s too can go from being overtly affectionate to almost completely independent, so you must be prepared to expect both sides of the equation with the dog if you do make the choice to own one.

Another aspect against the ownership of a Newfie comes down to the mess they created. With their thick shaggy coat and tendency to drool significantly, it can be quite a task to constantly clean up after them if you aren’t used to a messy dog. This also is the case with constant grooming as their coat requires a constant grooming schedule to maintain a happy pet.

As with all dogs, exercise is also key in keeping their spirits up, and Newfie’s are renowned as a highly physical breed with constant exercise a must in keeping their spirits high.

Finally, Newfie’s aren’t the best dog if your sole reason on getting one is for protection, and they are also not the cheapest dog to maintain.

As with any household pet they can be significantly expensive, but without a doubt the Newfie is one of the more expensive breeds of dogs to keep. After all the obvious initial costs of training, food, veterinarian care and other costs, they also have the potential to have health problems later in life such as in their hips which can bring a further substantial cost to the family.

So with all of these cases against getting a Newfoundland, it should be an extensive thought process amongst your family members in order to thoroughly discuss your choice as an ideal animal for pet adoption in order to prevent any disappointment that may come if you haven’t already thought about the potential issues involved in getting a Newfie.