Early Care and Training for a Newfoundland Puppy

The Newfoundland is a gentle giant belonging to the working dog class. It is extremely loyal and protective of family members without being unduly aggressive. This breed typically gets along well with other animals and children and is generally inactive indoors. Because it can grow to 130 pounds or more, the Newfoundland needs room to play outdoors, plenty of food and daily walks.

  1. Early Veterinary Care

    • Before you get a Newfoundland puppy, select a good veterinarian. Make an appointment to take your new puppy to the vet for his first check-up. The vet can advise you on the right choice of treatments to protect your dog from fleas and ticks, heartworm and diseases. She will give your Newfoundland a series of vaccinations over several visits during the first six months of the puppy's life. Tracy Warncke of the Newfoundland Club of America recommends keeping your new puppy away from other dogs in the early weeks since it has not yet developed immunity to diseases.

    What to Feed Your Newfoundland Puppy

    • Your new puppy needs to eat three to four times each day. Your vet can advise you on the exact type of food to give your puppy: the Newfoundland needs specific nutrients and vitamins to develop sufficient bone strength for its large size. High-quality, dry dog food is a good choice; dry food helps with your Newfoundland puppy's dental health and tooth development. Be sure your puppy always has plenty of clean, cool water to drink.

    Home Care Needs

    • Newfoundland pups are friendly, loyal and energetic. Since they grow to 100 to 150 pounds, they are not good choices for apartment living. Take your dog on walks at least one or two times each day, more often if you are working on leash training. A fenced-in yard makes a great play area for your new puppy. Brush your Newfoundland once each week except during the spring shedding season, when it will need more frequent brushing. Check its nails once a month to see if they need to be trimmed.

    Training Basics

    • Due to their friendly nature, Newfoundland puppies love to jump onto people. It is important to train them to control this behavior when they are very young, usually around three months, because their increasing size means a friendly jump could knock over a small child. Use calm, consistent, simple voice commands from the day you bring your Newfoundland home to teach him to sit, stay and heel. Train him to stay beside you on walks; do not let him pull you along. Use small crunchy treats to reward your puppy as he responds to training.