|
Newfoundland Dog Breed
The Newfoundland was developed on its namesake island to haul fishing nets and pull carts. They were also used to save people who were shipwrecked. He is an intelligent, loyal and sweet tempered dog who loves children. Besides his above mentioned occupations, he is an effective guard dog and watchdog. Newfoundlands come in different colors: black, black and white, brown, or gray. They need long walks and occasional swims.
The Newfoundland is named after the island of that name in the north-east Canada. Its original duty was to act as a fisherman's drought dog, but it later became famous for its seagoing rescue feats. This large, heavily built breed has been described as a "huge, cuddly bear of a dog" and is one of the gentlest of all breeds, known for its love of children and its endless patience when enduring their most annoying habits. A great swimmer and a natural lifeguard. If you want a companion dog or a protection dog, the Newfoundland is the answer. He must have a great deal of exercise, at least two hours a day, and he is definitely not an apartment dog. It has a thick coat that is usually solid black, but can also appear in a dark, rich brown, and black-and-white (Landseer pattern).
It's not true that Newfs don't do well in apartments: they do very well in apartments
It's not true that Newfs don't do well in apartments: they do very well in apartments. They're relatively inactive indoors. That said, they wouldn't do well in a small apartment, or one that isn't air conditioned in summer.
The better comment -- and one that should be applied with respect to all dogs, for that matter -- is that the owner must live in an area where tenant laws forbid eviction of tenants on the basis of a pet (such as Ontario, Canada), and where the dog can have access to plenty of green space and a fenced yard or dog park. No dog -- Newfs included -- should be treated like an apartment cat. Dogs need exercise and attention: cats need accommodation, food, and affection when they feel so inclined.
It would have been more important to note that Newfs are prone to separation anxiety, and so when the breeder asks if someone will be home with the dog during the day, please pay special attention to that question; otherwise, these 150-200lb dogs will do a lot of damage to a home or apartment, and even the largest crate isn't large enough or strong enough to contain him when he's frantic. Some people find having two dogs helps, because then the dogs are never fully alone when their human pack needs to go grocery shopping, for example; however, that only works if both dogs aren't prone to separation anxiety.
We live in an apartment, and our Newf has an excellent quality of life. We've access to a large fenced yard, elevators and ramps for when he ages, plenty of walking trails next door to us, and a beach not far where he can swim in Lake Ontario. He cannot be left alone for more than a few minutes (yes, minutes), because he does panic and become destructive. But to suggest that it isn't appropriate to have a Newf in an apartment shows a lack of real knowledge of this breed.
Posted by Guest_5063 on Tuesday, March 01, 2011
 Comments?
|
|