Any tips on choosing a Newfoundland?
Any tips on finding and choosing a Newfoundland from any Newfoundland owners here? I'm planning to get a puppy in the next 6-12 months and I'm strongly considering a Newfie but am wary of bad breeders because I've heard so much about health problems. What should I watch out for? I do not mind traveling for my puppy.
Posted Apr 13, 2012, 11:53 PM UTC
111
First off. Make sure the breeder is legit. I.e., you shouldn't ever even consider buying a newf from a dog store (that's because no respectable breeder would ever sell a newf to a dog store.)
Two, http://www.ncanewfs.org/ That website has more info than you will know what to do with! Seriously, incredible how much I gleaned from their website. They also will have a list of all the approved breeders, what to look for...etc.
Three, consider rescuing a newf, the rescue community is a great one and there are so many newfs that could use rescuing. http://www.ncarescue.org/ That website will hook you up with all the info you need for finding a newf if rescuing is something you would truthfully consider.
Fourth, be patient. Finding a newf is not like finding a lab, a golden retriever, a peke...it's an entirely different ball game, the community is much smaller. Find a breeder you like and can trust.
I hope that helps. My story was interesting, I always wanted newfs and planned on rescuing one and buying a newf puppy. Well then one day I went on a 14 mile run and a stray dog followed me the entire fourteen miles, needless to say I took him home and had to scratch off rescuing the newf because I know had like a border collie/pitbull thingy. He's the greatest dog ever. So then I was talking to a few breeders when I saw an ad in the Wright Patterson AFB newspaper about a breeder 2 hours away who had 2 puppies left in the litter. I wasn't really fond of the whole using the newspaper but I figured I'd give it a shot because his price was ridiculously low (750 when usually the average around here is 1400-2000.) So I called him and talked to him and essentially the story went that all other 8 puppies had gone immediately for 1200, AKC registered, 5 generations of family heritage shown and proved, all testing done to ensure they were perfectly healthy...etc. But no one bought the last two and the market was down, so he lowered to 1000, then to 750. That's where I came in. I wanted a male but he only had females, and I was convinced I wanted a landseer but I ended up getting the all black one with a little white spot on her chest. I named her Poseidon (god of water) and she's the love of my life. 34 weeks as of today and 90 pounds. Beautiful, funny, silly, and loves to eat all my belongings. :) She has all her shots, medicine, and has been spayed. No health problems whatsoever. If you check the postings in this subreddit, I'm the one with the newfie timeline, she's beautiful. :)
I hope that helped, sorry about my personal anecdote, had to share. :)
Take care.