Oh boy…am I glad to find this board of more seasoned Newfie owners and can only hope I don’t wear out my welcome with all my questions!
After months of researching and then looking at the Newfoundland breed I brought home my adorable 12 week old Newf, Chloe this past Saturday. (I wanted KoKo…but my teenage girls wanted Chloe!) This is the first dog we have had in our home in years…and my 4 year old’s first “dog” so its been an exciting adventure.
Because all of our Newfs are special
you already know…Chloe is adorable. I do have a few questions. We have always been Golden folks. Love them…but this time we wanted to research other breeds to find same gentle, fun and outgoing (Take anywhere with us) sweetness but just a LITTLE less zeal for life and demanding of our full attention!
Therefore all I have been exposed to is the behavior of a Golden. Its interesting to me how laid back Chloe is and must admit we are finding that a pleasant change from “bouncing off the wall” energy. Even when she is being naughty…it’s in a slow motion way. Perhaps this will change…but right now it’s fine with me.
I would love advice/help with the following…Since we are doing the potty training I keep her crated when not home and right now unless she is with me and I have my eye on her 100% I TRY and confine her to the laundry when I needed to do something. Eventually I will broaden that confinement to the kitchen area and so forth and so forth.
The problem is she HATES to be confined. When I crate her she will bark for 30 to 40 minutes. I understand this is totally expected for a new puppy in a new environment and should ignore it. But even when its in other areas (like the laundry) and she can still see us she goes NUTS! With our goldens it took only a few sharp and loud “no” and they understood where as Chloe refuses to stop.
Night before last I wanted to eat supper in peace so I decided to put her on the porch because it was cool outside. She broke through the screen door and proceeded to run around to our kitchen bay window where she heard us…plooped her big feet on the screen which of course also busted through. So last night I gave in…I played outside with her until she was worn out and then let her plop at my kitchen door while we ate. She was fine but should I not be allowed to be put her up when necessary without having a melt down? Is this because this is all new and she needs to learn this is what we will do in our home or is this a Newf trait that she will forever insist on being part of the family for every occasion or will punish us!! With only having her a few days as well as her age I am hesitant to take a very harsh dominate role. She seems so “soft” I don’t want to make her timid.
Any help with my big spoiled baby would be GREALTY appreciated.
Thanks!