Thinking of getting a Newfoundland,any advice please?

[Totallyfloaty35]

We have 2 Chihuahuas(not teeny ones, very big for breed in fact,they weigh at least 10lb)used to have Shar-pei but she died in April,a cat who is totally not bothered by dogs and 3dds 14yrs,11yrs and 2yrs.We live a 20min walk from the sea and very close to parks,the South downs etc.
Someone is always at home.So im hoping i would pass breeders check list
I just wanted opinions from those who have lived with the breed,any advice etc.Thanks

they are very loving and loyal but are hard work.

The mess is awful. They moult all year round regardless of how much you brush them and the slobber gets everywhere and is constant.

Our newfie slept downstairs and every morning the kitchen floor looked disgusting from dirty hair, slobber and a splashed out water bowl.

When we took him for walks, we took several small towels with us to wipe his mouth and they always came back very slobbery. On those walks - we discovered 2 types of people. one type either loved him and wanted to stroke him (once his face was wiped) and the other type would turn pale and walk away from us as fast as they could!

Having said all of that, Chumley was an amazing dog and great company. The children adored him and we were all devastated when he died aged 9. It was awful. A big dog takes up a lot of space in the home but we didn't realise how much until he died.

He was such a sweetie.

no idea

I only had one and only knew other people with one

They are lovely dogs, but make sure you do your research as the breed has a history of heart problems (dilated cardiomyopathy, I think). Talk to breeders- I think there is a program for trying to weed the problem out by selective breeding, and good breeders will be conciously trying to do this.

Also remember that medical bills are HUGE for these guys! Drugs are dispensed by weight, and they weigh 70/80kgs, so 4 times the dose of a normal collie-type dog, and four times the price! eg, even worming tablets could cost you £20+.

Lovely natured dogs (I've never met a nasty one), but they ARE very slobbery- think slug trails on the thigh of your jeans when they brush past you!

Used to have a Boxer so used to slobber also had longhaired Shar-pei who just left hair everywhere so not that fussed by the general mess of dogs,but i know Newfs can make a very big mess
Paula did you get another one? Thats one of the only things that worries me,the life span of large breeds is pretty short and we were a mess when our Shar-pei died.

They are great (dp has a Newfie X) but

hairy

smelly

slobbery

enthusiastic about water - dp's tried to rescue everything including people who didn't need rescuing

very big and heavy so be prepared for high vet bills and some serious training to make sure s/he doesn't pull

we didn't get another one.

Hubby wanted another big dog and I wanted something smaller that the children can walk. I got my own way and we have a lovely border collie (Orca) and is everything chumley wasn't!

She is petite, a fussy eater, very clean, will walk for miles etc

The cats aren't too impressed though - Orca keeps trying to herd the cats (we have 4 at the moment)

They are wonderful dogs, but hard work I would think.

A colleague of mine had 2 and had to have 2 cars - an old banger just for taking the dogs out in because of all the dirt, hair and slobber. I once went to her house and the hallway had mud spatters all the way round the walls, from floor to ceiling where I assume the dogs had shaken themselves when coming through the front door. She didn't mind the mess though and thought they were well worth it.

My friend has one and lives in a converted barn, part of the ceiling is full height (2 storey) she has yet to work out how to get the slobber off the beams up there.

DH has asked me to consider a Lab,he says Newfs dont seem to move much.I have wanted a Newfie for last 10yrs though but we ended up with a grumpy Shar-pei who hated other dogs apart from the Chihuahuas we have who bossed her around.

our Newfie loved walks but wasn't very good in the heat.

He would play with us and the children for ages too.....especially come winter time when he would pull the children in their sledge!

They are hard work and make a huge amount of mess but they are very sweet natured and not quite as greedy as labs (although they do eat random things)

Chumley was from the "Karazan" line and was a very good looking dog and well as being lovely natured. When my youngest was toddling, he used to curl up and sleep on Chumleys tummy and the 2 of them would stay sleeping together for ages. It was very cute

we have a bullmastiff and are about to get a dogue de bordeaux and i can say that slober, vets bills and mess is certianly part of owning them!! i have two children aged 4 and 5 and my BM is fab with them, and (if needed) would protect us all (dh works away alot!) he only wants to sleep in hot weather but will happily go for a 3mile jog with me in the winter/cooler weather. i adore big dogs and reckon you should go for it!!!!

Thanks for all the advice everyone,am in talks with a couple of breeders now.

Any advice?
I would really love either a newfoundland or st bernard in the future would just like to know how much do they cost to own? Iv done alot of research and know they obviously slobber and shed alot of hair and take up so much room etc. I have an english bulldog that i love but iv always wanted either of these (my partner isnt so keen) and thinks that they are way too expensive, which i know because they are a larger breed they will be more money. I would just love to own pne in my lifetime any advice ppl?