Newfoundlands are the gentle giants of the dog world. They are sweet and loving, and make the best babysitters due to their gentle and caring nature. However! They are also very, very silly and LOVE to play, especially when they are young. If you have ever heard the phrase "goofy newfie" it suits them very well.

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When thinking about getting a Newfoundland there are a few things you should be considering before dedicating yourself to one. This breed is extremely loving. They love everything, from people, other dogs, cats, basically any animal they come across. But they are still a mastiff breed, so there is a stubbornness that accompanies this. They can be a bit difficult to train because of this. Newfies will typically want to be told they are good boys and girls though, so nothing will be done with malicious intent, just from the same perspective of a kid trying to see if they can get away with something naughty.

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Another thing you should consider are the grooming requirements. Their hair is a very thick double coat and needs to be kept up with regular brushing. If you can get omegas into their system, typically with a high-quality fish oil or even a dry food (ask us for brand suggestions!) then you can GREATLY reduce the amount of work for yourself. Omega oils soften the hair and build a good foundation for hair follicles, resulting in less shedding and a better shed period. There are two times of the year, Spring and Winter, where they will "blow coat" and their hair will fall out in clumps. Just brush this out a couple times when this happens and you will be good for the season. We recommend a monthly brushout, NO SHAVING! It is a very bad idea to shave a double coated breed as it ruins the quality of their hair and actually causes them to overheat more in the summer, and makes them more prone to hot spots when the hair grows back in. Our newfies are very easy-going so as long as it is done regularly, brushing and nail-trimming and even doing dental maintenance should be a breeze.

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Now, having said all that, Newfies are such a joy to have. They are a constant companion and love spending time with people. They find happiness in everything they do and they make the best playmates, especially if you have kids as their favourite thing in the world is wrestling with children. No one makes me laugh more than my Newfoundland dogs. Even though they would much rather kiss an intruder than to ward them off, their size also make them intimidating enough to offer protection. Because Newfies were bred to be water-rescue dogs they don't have a mean bone in their body. They may try and save you from the water, even if you aren't drowning!