Rearing a Newfoundland Puppy
Things Not To Do:
1) Do not allow puppy to do anything you will not want him to do as an adult.
2) Do not allow puppy to jump off your bed,your deck, a grooming table, out of the car. Always help him down
supporting him in front.
3) Do not throw a frisbee for your Newf. Newfs are too heavy to leap up to catch a frisbee. Serious damage can be done to developing joints as they land. Do not throw sticks or balls for your Newf to chase. Serious damage can be done as he brakes to stop.
4) Keep your Newf puppy off stairs - again, he can do serious damage to joints going both up and down. Elbows and shoulders are pretty well completely developed by 12 months. Introduce stairs carefully at that age.
5) Do not let your Newf puppy exercise with an older rough pup or an active smaller breed dog. He may exercise with a sedate older dog or with a Newf pup his size. Active breed pups like a Golden Retriever, Australian Shepherd or Labrador, can entice the Newf puppy to overdo and injure his joints.
6) Do not spay or neuter your puppy before it becomes sexually mature - 9 months for females/12 months for males. Early neutering diminishes the hormones necessary for normal bone growth. This predisposes the puppy to orthopedic problems, including cruciate ruptures. Lack of the sexual hormones (growth hormones) increases the angle of the tibial plateau causing the cruciate ligament to be prone to rupture.
Things To Do:
1) Keep your puppy outdoors on good footing,grass,gravel, etc...as much as possible at least 80% of his day time. He needs to build muscle to support his bones.
2) Throw sticks and bumbers into water for your pup to retrieve. The water will support his joints.
3) Take him to kindergarten class. (puppy)
4) Take him to obedience class.
5) Take him out to meet lots of people and experience lots of different things.
6) Groom him thoroughly and check his skin frequently, 2-3 times a week at least.
7) Keep his nails short, check and clean his ears frequently.
8) Call if you have any questions.
