Sue, Newfies can be completely awesome...and they can be a whole lotta dog with as many issues a Time Magazine.
Since you have probably done a lot of research (or will do), I won't bore you with a lot of repetition, or spend time on the obviously great stuff about them. I'll just offer a couple of things to be mindful of that don't always get mentioned in the standard breed descriptions.
The Newfies I've worked with are notorious for not coping well with dog park antics. They are either so laid back as to be annoyed by puppy climbing and the general helter skelter of park play, or they are actively aggressive and respond badly when dust=ups occur near them.
One of my park buddies is recovering from a bite to her thigh which occurred when one Newfie's notoriously cavalier person did not restrain him when a fight broke out between two other dogs. (Sadly, this same dog has a history of bad park behavior and has been reported to the police after his person did not follow through with an 'always on leash' promise.)
A Newfie bite is a baaaaad bite, even when they aren't trying.
And...Newfies tend to be emotional, which can be sweet when they are small and fluffy, but difficult when they are 100+ lbs and neeeeed your lap. Separation anxiety is a huge issue for them.
On the other hand, space is not a problem. As long as you have a comfy space big enough for them to lie down, they are golden. In fact, a smaller place, with less room to collect hair and drool, might be better!
My favorite Newfie, Harley, just died recently. We miss his lovable self, because really, you haven't been dog hugged until you've been hugged by a Newfie.
The wind cancelled school again today. We were second guessing our decision to turn back on the highway. When we got home, they said they`d closed the interstate, literally minutes from when we`d turned around. 60mph winds and overturned semis. Yeah, that was the right call.
Seabiscuit and I have made and are executing a new plan. Nap, play, cuddle, nap, eat, cuddle, go out super fast, play, watch hockey, nap. We are currently at step three.
Oooof. I have spent all morning trolling amazon for comp titles to give to my agent since we've got Breathe with my editor right now.
'Tis not an easy task at ALL- you kind of run the risk of coming off like a smug, "I'm so FABULOUS, these are the only books I can be compared to" git. Especially when the books whose storylines are somewhat comparable tend to veer toward the literary when my writing is decidedly... not.
The Newfies I've worked with are notorious for not coping well with dog park antics. They are either so laid back as to be annoyed by puppy climbing and the general helter skelter of park play, or they are actively aggressive and respond badly when dust=ups occur near them.
It seems I am a Newfoundland. Well, arf.
the breeder held me responsible and made me feel absolutely miserable for having failed Boomer.
...put Boomer in the "tried my best, but even then, it doesn't always work" category.
Still feel a little guilty though.
xpost with Barb!
Boy, I wish you didn't feel guilty. As evidenced by my posting about Hagrid in Bitches this week, I think there is no braver or more necessary decision than doing right by a dog that is not right for you.
I get that breeder's livelihoods depend on never having to make a refund...or to say they're sorry--and I'm not even trying to be funny--when they are asked to reclaim an obviously problematic dog...but it's ridiculous when they berate demonstrably goodhearted people who have done their best.
Good friends had a Staffordshire Terrier with rage syndrome. Rare, but in this case, totally documented...as were the many thousands of dollars they spent on every kind of help for the dog they clearly loved. The breeder chose to invoke the women's sexuality as the reason they couldn't 'handle the breed.' Fucker. Tell that to the sweetest, BEST behaved Staffie they have now.
Anyway, all this to say, I applaud your choice Barb. You did the right thing!
My sister's in-laws had a pair of Newfies named Bigfoot & Blossom. So freakin' adorable. But they had a 10 acre farm and the dogs had plenty of space and a whole barn to sleep in. I don't remember them being very active at all. Big hair loaves, really. But fairly sweet natured.
Any dog of size can get a bad rap because their bites can be bad.
Big hair loaves
This should be a band name!
Patricia McConnell, one of my favorite behaviorists has a chapter on rehoming in The Other End of the Leash.
eta: link opens on the actual chapter. Gotta love sample pages!
t lays quilt over Dana, tucks teddy under her arm
