Gary A. Donahue (GAD): Pets: Cozy

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Do you really want a Newfie?

So you want a Newfie huh? STOP! Do you have any idea what you are getting into? Every year hundreds of giant breed dogs are put up for adoption or worse, destroyed because someone fell in love with the fluffy little puppy and brought it home, only to be overwhelmed by slobber, food, vet bills, and the sheer size of their full grown dog. If you cannot make a commitment to this (or any) animal to keep it FOREVER, then don't get one. Would you give up a son or daughter because they got too big? Certainly not. Anyone who thinks a Newfoundland is any less than a child doesn't understand the breed.

Have you talked to a Newfie breeder already? Did she ask too many questions? What do you mean I can only get a Newfie if I keep it indoors. It's only a dog! Get lost pal. Breeders ask a lot of questions to see if you are capable of being responsible for a Newfie. They don't want to see their pups end up in shelters two years from now. Some questions you might hear from a breeder are: How big is your yard? Is it fenced? If not, will it be? Will the dog be an inside dog? Do you have air conditioning? Will anyone stay home with the dog? Do you want to breed this dog? Do you want to show this dog? Will you go to obedience school? Would you ever put this dog in a pound? Why do you want a Newfoundland? Do you have any references. Almost as bad as adopting a child huh?

Newfies are beautiful aren't they? All these pictures of Cozy are so pretty, and her hair is so soft. Let me tell you something about Newfoundlands. They love the water. Not like. Not admire. LOVE. They will get into water any way they can. They like to sit in the rain, dig holes in the mud, wade through streams and sit in the water they spilled from their bowls. They don't care where the water is, and having a puddle of water on the kitchen floor can be just as satisfying as swimming in the ocean. Our Daisy wouldn't drink from a bowl unless her feet were in it first. Can you handle this in your house? You better be able to with a Newfie around.

All those pictures of Cozy are taken after grooming and bathing, which by the way is no small task. Ever try to brush a 100 pound animal that just doesn't want to be groomed? Pictures and movies usually show only a well groomed animal. In reality, Cozy is this clean about 40-50% of the time. The other 50-60% of my life is spent cleaning her, cleaning up after her, or listening to my wife mopping the kitchen floor for the 3rd time today.

Do you like drool? You better, because Newfies drool. Dry mouthed Newf you say? Hogwash I say. Sure some Newfies drool less than others, but there are no guarantees. Will you put you dry-mouthed Newf in the pound when he slobbers all over Aunt Edna after a big drink? Get a hamster instead. See the picture of Cozy's dirty nose? Look at the carpet. It used to be a beautiful green. We eventually had to rip it out.

Do you like fur? Do you like fur in your butter? In your ice cream? How about in the sink, on your bed and up your nose at work? Newfies shed constantly. The plus side is that this is only 12 months out of the year! Prepare to vacuum friend, and if you don't have a good vacuum? You will...

Don't get me wrong. Newfies are the most loving creatures I have ever had the pleasure to be with. They are by far the best pets in the world. They have some serious side effects though, and most people don't appreciate them at first.

Please, if you want a Newfie, go VISIT a reputable breeder. You must sit and play and be slobbered by these magnificent creatures before you can begin to get a feeling for what you're in for. How do you know if a breeder is reputable? Call other Newfie breeders and ask around. Newfie breeders generally work together and will generally know a lot about one another's programs. If you go to a breeder that has 9 different breeds all with puppies, run away. This is probably a puppy mill. Puppy mills are the scourge of the earth and should be tortured to death. But that's another story...

If you've gotten this far and haven't been offended or pissed off by what I've said, then perhaps you are the right kind of person for a Newfie. Go buy some books, talk to some breeders and visit some Newfies. If you truly are Newfie-people, your life will change forever. For the better.

If you are considering a Newfie, drop me a line. I will be more than happy to help you out with your decision and point you to some people that know more than I about the breed. I can be E-Mailed at gad@gad.net. If you'd like more information you can also visit my Newfoundland Dogs site Newf.Net.

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Email: gad@gad.net