Information on Caring for your Newfoundland or Great Pyrenees

Responsible Breeding & Health

FOOD  & NUTRITION   

    Our dogs are fed a high quality kibble (and some are fed a Raw diet) with wonderful results. Please make sure your dog is on a good Quality dog food as it is very important for the well being of your dog. Don't over feed your dogs, maintain a healthy weight by monitoring how much they eat and their size.  Newfs and pyrs have different metabolisms, therefore they do not eat the same amount, same as puppies and adults.  Pyrs have slower metabolisms, but both breeds do not mature til they are close to 3 or even 4 years old.

Here is a great dog food comparison link.

HEALTH  INFO 

Orthopedic Foundation for Animals ~ OFA  is an excellent site for researching health problems and clearances with dogs of many breeds. You can also go to their links page for more great information.

Our newfs have been groomed and maintained by Penny Shubert.  Penny is the top groomer in newfs in the World.  She has groomed at Crufts and all over the World.  She is a wonderful teacher and mentor to us. Penny can usually be found grooming our dogs a few times a year at our home and at shows. She is the best when it comes to grooming Newfs!!

With plenty of coat, newfs and pyrs need to brushed on a daily basis. Keeping up with any mats, hair on the feet, hindquarters and tails is very important for the dogs. A pin brush, comb, scissors, de-matting tools are all used along with good shampoos and conditioners.

SHED, SHED, SHED!!! ...imagine all that hair in your house...food....bed, and stuck to your walls!!  Be prepared for hair and lots of it with both of these breeds.  Daily combing & brushing keeps loose hair from matting and your house from fiesty hair balls.

How To Groom a Newfoundland here is a link to a site that gives good basic instruction on grooming & trimming your newf.  Don't be afraid to 'dig' in and trim those ears and feet!

Newfs tend to 'fade' or get sunburned in the outdoors on bright sunny days so we use a sunscreen on them.    Neither breed should ever be left out in intense heat or hot direct light for a long length of time with proper shelter & access to Cold fresh water. 

Here is a picture of our grooming area. Grooming table, dryer, tools, shampoos, conditioners and Tons of towels! We also have a special tub just for bathing our large breeds. Vaccuming or sweeping almost daily when you have these big dogs. 

This is one of our 1st newfs and 'dog areas'.  Having proper facilities is a must for anyone who is serious about their dogs.  Most of the time our dogs are spent in the house with us, though they do love their yard to play !

Please be aware of the responsiblity of acquiring a newf or a pyr.  They are not the kind of dogs to be kept outside all day, alone, or in the heat of summer.  Having a newf or a pyr as a pet means a good weekly brushing, trimming of nails and plenty of love and training. 

We STRONGLY feel that a grooming table is Required before you bring home your pyr or newf.  The Grooming table is also a great Training Tool.  We start our pups on the table as early as 4 weeks old.  They get nails trimmed, brushed, given love and attention and on the grooming table is also where they learn to Enjoy being groomed. Which is Very important when you have a 100+ lbs dog !

 Please note All of our show owners MUST own a grooming table, arm & dryer before they receive their puppy.

 Newfs & Pyrs love to be with their people.  They are also a giant breed, therefore they do need basic training.  Full grown at 110-150+lbs average for newfs, 85-100+lbs for a pyr, you don't want a dog that won't listen or behave when you have company or want to take them places.

We recommend puppy classes and a good daily routine and you pup will understand its boundries and what is expected of it.  A well behaved dog is a happy dog too !!

Crate training IS required with puppies until they are trusted to be loose in you house and sometimes they just prefer their crates !  A crate is a 'safe' place where your pup can relax and know they can retire to when they want to.

 Need a Grooming Table ? Build Your Own !! 

This table is approx 4ft long, 24 inches wide and 26+ inches tall (give or take your prefered height)

Supplies:  4 - 2"x4"s, 3 - 1x4's, nails or screws, depending on your preference.

Notice the table lip extends Over the frame of the table.  You want it to extend enough to be able to attached a Grooming Arm to either the side or the end of the table, whichever is your preference.