Raising dogs, especially taking care of the newfoundland, is nothing new for people. Some zoologists postulate dogs were domesticated sometime between 12,000 and twenty five thousand years ago—and that dogs evolved from wolves. Since those days, people have selectively bred more than four hundred breeds, varying in size from four-pound teacup poodles all the way up to Irish wolfhounds, whose 3-foot stature has earned them the title of the tallest pooch. However, the most preferred pooches are non-pedigree dogs—the one-of-a-kind dogs known as mixed-breeds. The newfoundland is also a favorite choice among dog owners. Some owners are unaware, however, of some of the most critical newfoundland care tips.
Cost of care for your newfoundland
The annual cost of caring for the newfoundland—including food and snacks, veterinary care, toys and license—could vary between four hundred twenty and seven hundred eighty dollars. This does not even include capital costs for sterilization operations, collar and leash, a dog carrier and a doggie crate. Note: Be sure you have all the required supplies before you get your newfoundland home.
General newfoundland Care
How To Feed your newfoundland
- newfoundland pups between eight and twelve weeks need four bowls of food daily.
- Feed newfoundland pups 3 to 6 months old three meals every twenty-four hour period.
- Feed pups 6 months to 1 year two bowls of food in a twenty-four hour period.
- By the time the newfoundland reaches his or her first birthday, 1 bowl in a 24 hour period is enough.
- Sometimes adult newfoundlands, however, do better with two smaller servings. It’s your duty to learn your newfoundland’s eating tendencies.
Premium-quality dry dog food ensures balanced nutrition for adult newfoundlands and can mix with canned food, water, or broth. Your newfoundland may enjoy cottage cheese, fruits and vegetables, and cooked eggs, but these dishes should be less than ten percent of his or her daily nutrition intake. newfoundland pups should probably be given premium-quality, name brand puppy food. Please try to cut down on “people food”, though, since it can result in vitamin and mineral imbalances, bone and teeth issues, and might cause extremely finicky eating habits as well as obesity. Give clean, fresh water exclusively, and make sure to wash water and food dishes regularly.
newfoundland Care Tips: Your newfoundland needs exercise daily
newfoundlands must get physical activity in order to burn calories, stimulate their brains, and remain in good health. Daily activity also tends to help newfoundlands avoid boredom, which often leads to destructive behavior. Supervised fun and games would appease many of your newfoundland’s desires to herd, dig, chase, retrieve and chew. Individual exercise needs are dependent on your newfoundland’s age and his level of health—but ten minutes in the backyard and merely a couple of walks around the block every day probably won’t be sufficient. If your newfoundland is a 6 to 18 month adolescent, his requirements will be higher.
newfoundland Grooming Tips
You can help reduce shedding and keep your newfoundland clean with brushing. Check for ticks and fleas daily during the summer or other warm weather. Many newfoundlands don’t need a bath more than a few times during the year. Before giving him or her a bath, comb or cut out any and all mats from the newfoundland’s hair. Carefully rinse all soap out of the coat, or dirt will stick to soap residue.
How to Handle Your newfoundland
Puppies, as opposed to adults, are obviously easier to handle. When carrying your newfoundland puppy, take 1 hand and place it under the dog’s chest, either with the forearm or your other hand supporting his back legs and rear. Don’t attempt to lift or grab your pup by the forelegs, tail or nape. When you have to pick up a larger, full-grown newfoundland, lift from the underside, holding his or her chest with 1 of your arms and rump with the other arm.
newfoundland housing
Your newfoundland needs a warm peaceful location in order to sleep apart from all the drafts and off the ground or floor. You may want to purchase a dog bed, or consider making one from a wooden box. Put a clean blanket, sheet, comforter, or pillow inside the bed as cushioning. Wash the newfoundland’s bed covering frequently. If your newfoundland will be outdoors much, be sure he has access to shade and plenty of cool water in hot weather, and a dry, warm, covered shelter in winter.
newfoundland Licensing
Heed the city’s licensing regulations. Make certain you attach the license to your newfoundland’s collar. This, together with an ID tattoo, may help secure your newfoundland’s return should he go missing.
newfoundland Behavior Info
Training Your newfoundland
A well-mannered, companion newfoundland is truly a pleasure to raise. But when untrained, your newfoundland may be troublesome. Teaching your newfoundland the standards—”Stay”, “Come”, “Down”, “Heel”, “Off”, “Sit”, and “Leave it”—improves the relationship with both your pooch as well as your friends. If you’re the owner of a pup, start training her on the appropriate behavior as soon as humanly possible! A snack can be used as incentive and recognition. Pups should commence obedience courses when they have been adequately immunized. Contact the community humane society or SPCA for information about training schools. Always walk your newfoundland on a leash when, even while a pup. Be certain your dog will come back to you when you call him. An aggressive or disobedient newfoundland shouldn’t play with people.
newfoundland Health
newfoundlands should see the vet for a complete examination, vaccinations and heartworm examination annualy, and ASAP when he is injured or ill.
Your newfoundland’s Dental Health
While many of us may object to our newfoundland’s bad breath, it’s important to be aware of what it might be a sign of. Foul breath is a sign that your newfoundland is in need of a dental screening. Dental plaque brought on by germs causes a terrible odor that can only be cured with professional treatment. Once you have given your newfoundland a professional cleaning, the teeth and gums may be kept up by brushing regularly, feeding a special diet focused on dental health, and eliminating table food. Your veterinarian can provide you other guidance on minimizing periodontal disease and stinky breath. You should clean the newfoundland’s teeth using a dog toothpaste or a homemade baking soda and water paste a couple of times per week. You can brush them with a gauze pad, a piece of nylon stocking wrapped around the finger, or a soft, child’s toothbrush. Periodontal disease,which is an infection between the gum and tooth, often affects newfoundlands. This painful affliction will sometimes cause tooth loss and also spread disease throughout the body. Veterinarians will sometimes brush the teeth at a regular checkup.
newfoundlands with Bad Breath
Although bad breath brought on by oral disease might not be too serious if found early, some halitosis may also indicate more serious, long-term problems. A sweet, fruity smell can often be a sign of diabetes, while diseases of the liver or intestines may cause foul breath. Kidney disease is a possibility when your newfoundland’s breath smells of urine or ammonia. Set an appointment with a veterinarian whenever your newfoundland has halitosis along with other signs of disease like excessive urinating or drinking, depression or lethargy, weight loss, nausea, or decreased appetite.
newfoundland Tick and Flea Issues
During the summer, it’s important for you to perform regular, daily inspections of your newfoundland for fleas and ticks. You can find and remove fleas using a flea comb. There are many new procedures of tick management. Talk to your newfoundland’s doctor about these and other recommendations.
Heartworms in newfoundlands
Your newfoundland is at risk of contracting heartworms if he is exposed to mosquitoes often. Mosquitoes carry the worm from dog to dog. Heartworm infestations are potentially fatal. It is wise to give your newfoundland a blood test for heartworms each spring—this is necessary for stopping infections from the previous year. A monthly pill given throughout the warm, wet time of the year can help to protect your newfoundland. If ever you travel south with your newfoundland during the winter, he must be on the preventive medicine during the trip. In some milder areas, veterinarians advise preventative worm medication be taken all year.
Toxins and Medications
If you’re contemplating giving your newfoundland medicine that was not prescribed for her by his vet, don’t. Just one ibuprofen tablet is known to create stomach ulcers in newfoundlands. Make sure your newfoundland is never exposed to rat poison and other rodenticides. Be sure to immediately call your dog’s vet if you believe your newfoundland has consumed poison. You should also call the ASPCA Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 for twenty-four hour help.
Spaying and Neutering newfoundlands
Male newfoundlands should be neutered – the extraction of the testes – and females spayed – the extraction of the ovaries and uterus – by six months old. Spaying before maturity greatly diminishes the breast cancer risk, a common and frequently deadly disorder for older female newfoundlands. The chance of a diseased uterus, which is also a serious affliction that affects more mature females, will be eliminated by spaying prior to 6 months. Testicular cancer, prostate diseases, some hernias and certain types of aggressions are all preventable by neutering males.
newfoundland Vaccinating
- The combo vaccine (also known as the “five-in-one shot”) must be given to your newfoundland at 2, three, and 4 months old and again once annually. This shot immunizes your pup from parainfluenza, parvovirus, leptospirosis, hepatitis, and distemper. The newfoundland must be innoculated for at least the first four months of his life.
- If your newfoundland has not been innoculated and is older than four months, he will need to be given 2 vaccinations promptly, 2 or three weeks apart. After that you must immunize annualy.
- newfoundland pup immunization and socialization should go together. You should take your newfoundland pup to socialization courses as early as eight or nine weeks of age, according to many veterinarians. They should have received their first innoculations by then.
Laws are so varied between different areas, that it’s best to contact your local doctor to get rabies immunization details. In New York City, for example, the regulation states that all pets older than three months of age to be vaccinated for rabies. The initial rabies innoculation must be followed up by a subsequent shot the next year, and then every 3 years. There are a variety of immunizations that may appropriate for your newfoundland. Your veterinarian can give you her recommendation. By the way, if your newfoundland gets sick because he is not properly innoculated, do not give the shots until the dog has made a full recovery.
Intestinal Worms in newfoundlands
newfoundlands are often exposed to worms and possible infestation—even in urban areas. Microscopic eggs produced by roundworms are transmitted through an infested dog’s feces. Even the healthiest of newfoundland puppies carry roundworms or hookworms. An accurate, early detection is the key to treatment. Early, accurate diagnosis maximizes the possibility that prescribed medication will be effective against your newfoundland’s worms. A dewormer that eliminates roundworms, for example, can’t kill tapeworms. Your doctor can best identify the culprit—and prescribe the effective treatment.
newfoundland: Miscellaneous Care Tips
newfoundland Supply Checklist
- Top-quality dog food and snacks designed for newfoundlands and similarly-sized dogs
- Food dish
- Water dish
- Toys, toys and more toys, including safe chew toys
- Comb and brush for grooming, including flea comb
- Collar with license and identification tag
- Quality leash
- Carrier (for puppies)
- Crate for training
- Dog box or bed with blanket or towel
- Doggie toothbrush
The no-no list
The following items should never be fed to newfoundlands:
- Alcohol, beer, wine or liquor
- Chocoloate or any food with caffeine
- Raisins & grapes
- Spoiled or moldy food of any kind
- Onions, garlic or chives
- Chicken, turkey, or any other poultry bones
- Salt & salty foods
- Tomato leaves, stems & unripe fruit
- Dough
The scoop on poop
Unless you are at home, or in a secured, fenced-in location, keep your newfoundland on a leash at all times. And please, when your newfoundland defecates on your neighbor’s lawn, take care of it! Don’t forget to check out these other articles about newfoundlands
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