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Messages - NewfieMama

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1
Newfoundland Discussions / Re: apparently an irish spotted
« on: September 16, 2009, 12:19:28 pm »
He's adorable. If you're not in it for show or breeding, "ideal" is in the eye of the beholder. :)

2
Newfoundland Discussions / Re: omg CHECK THIS OUT
« on: September 16, 2009, 12:18:25 pm »
Yes, it takes at least 4 hours to groom my Newf (at the groomer's). The bath and dry are the bulk of the "work" - I don't think the trim/nails etc. take all that much time once he's clean and dry.

If I bathe him at home it takes most of the day to dry. I'm not ready to invest $200+ in the right kind of blower so I prefer to take him to the groomer and only bathe him myself if I *have* to.

PetSmart has a puppy deal where they'll do the shampoo for 10.99.

Bear in mind that your dog still has his puppy coat as well - his adult coat will take a good bit longer to dry. I could towel and brush Coop for an hour and he would not be nearly dry once he's soaking wet. So it's worth the investment to find a good groomer (or invest in the blower and decide where you'll bathe him in cold weather when he's bigger).


Good luck.

Mary


3
Newfoundland Discussions / Re: omg CHECK THIS OUT
« on: September 14, 2009, 11:06:12 am »
Ummm, yes, Cooper did his "Spring shed" this year in June, about a month after being completely groomed by his breeder. I got a good bit of hair off of him on his daily brushings in early June but then bam, it all let go and I filled 3 plastic grocery bags in one day. Now it's back to handfuls.

But yes, as Patrick said, get ready! It's not for the faint of heart, and the groomer won't get anywhere near all of it.


Good luck!

Mary

4
Remembering those no longer with us. / Re: Sam's at the bridge
« on: August 16, 2009, 07:45:20 pm »
I am so, so sorry. :(



Mary

5
Happy birthday guys! I love the pics - the black and white is stunning and the couch one is so precious!


Mary

6
General Board for Big Dogs with Big Paws / Re: DIY Dog Beds
« on: August 14, 2009, 07:44:38 pm »
That's a great idea! My 5.5 year old daughter could sleep on Cooper's LLBean bed with about as much room as on the crib mattress stowed under her bed, so the crib mattress is really a perfect size for a big dog! I know what he'll be sleeping on when he finally decides to climb the stairs to her room! :)


Mary

7
Hi all,

Cooper is 2 years old, and we got him in May from a breeder. He was returned to the breeder for allergies in the family, but has been a healthy dog. We have been feeding Taste of the Wild Prairie mixed w/1 T. of canned (usually Wellness) and he's done OK, though stool has been pretty soft and from time to time unformed.

About 3 wks ago he hurt his leg, and the vet prescribed Rimadyl. He had a reaction to it so we stopped it right away, but he's had the runs ranging from watery to yogurt poo (sorry) off and on since then. He'll have 3 days of yuck, then 1-2 days solid, then back again. I had him in for bloodwork and a stool sample, both came back normal. They gave him I/D and Flagyl, which seems to make him *feel* better (he's more dependably happy, goofy and active). Tonight he did have a super soft unformed poo, but it is hot out, so not sure if that might be causing it.

So, in terms of feeding, when we go back to a normal diet, I am in search of a food that is high quality and provides great nutrition, and that may also help to make his stool a little firmer. I'm considering EVO but not sure a grain-free is going to work for him (too rich maybe?) or Nature's Variety Prairie (a nice thing that I can rotate a little raw in as well).

I'd love any advice/insight, and any ideas as to what else I might check into for his tummy issues as well!


Thanks,
Mary and Cooper


8
General Board for Big Dogs with Big Paws / Re: Mourning Bo
« on: August 04, 2009, 03:37:50 pm »
I am so sorry for your loss. It's always so hard, but even more so when you have to decide in the moment and are not at all ready to say goodbye. :(

It sounds like you made the best decision for him. I'm sure he is at peace and I hope that you are able to find it too.



Mary

9
I run into this so often when I take Cooper for a walk, I just need to get it out somewhere. We live near a park with ballfields, basketball court, and fenced in areas with jungle gyms/swings. Most days in Spring/Summer/Fall the place is pretty busy with ball games, kids playing, families lounging in the grass, etc.

We love to go there, my kids love it and my dog loves it. We walk around, sit in the grass to watch the games, kids go in and swing for a bit (I have to stay outside the fence with Coop as it is clearly marked NO DOGS in the playground), run around with friends, etc.

Nearly every time we go, we encounter small dogs (and their owners) who approach Coop, who is wagging, quiet, gentle, and happy to meet them all the way, then the owners laugh as the dog starts to growl, bark, and react very aggressively (scaring my kids too). This is usually accompanied by something like "Not too bright, Fifi, that dog would eat you in one bite!" or better yet "Oh, he thinks he's so big he could eat that big dog!"

OK. First of all, if my dog behaved even HALF as badly as these little dogs, people would be calling the police. Why don't these owners understand that aggression is NOT CUTE? Second, as to the one bite comment, my dog is too SWEET to EVER bite ANYONE or ANYTHING. Believe me, I've seen him take a few good licks from cats and smaller dogs and he always backs right down. He is a sweet, sweet tempered dog, and he is well TRAINED.

It's so frustrating! I know there are responsible owners of small dogs out there, that's not what I'm trying to rant on. :) Coop has a couple of Cockapoo, Pekingese and Maltese buddies (and boy do they look cute playing together!) whose owners all treat them like any other dog, correct poor behavior and praise good behavior and have great dogs as a result.

I'm sure I'm not alone in this?  ???

Mary

P.S. The big dog rant from CL is hilarious, and I hear "put a saddle on him" and "how much does he eat/weigh" just about every time we leave the house too...but since those comments don't terrorize my dog or my kids, I'm letting them slide. LOL.


11
Breeding Questions & Information / Re: limited registration
« on: July 25, 2009, 08:18:34 am »
I believe (but may be wrong on this) that it means the dog can be used for a variety of purposes but NOT for breeding. So water work, obedience, agility, etc. OK but not intended as a breeding dog. Not sure about showing, since I believe show dogs are not neutered/spayed, perhaps you could do limited showing until you get the dog fixed?

Good luck!

Mary

12
Collars, crates, & other cool things / Re: Dog Ramp
« on: July 24, 2009, 12:16:41 pm »
So our ramp arrived today and we all LOVE it. It's very sturdy, has a handle and strap to hold it closed so it's pretty easy to maneuver.

We walked Cooper over it a few times laid out flat on the floor in the house, then took it out to the yard. I had intended just to practice with getting it set up on the car, folding and putting it in, etc. but both my daughter and Cooper were excited to try it out. In he went, no problem, and then sat down and waited for us to get on the road! lol.

I think this ramp is a keeper. Thank you, Winslow, for recommending it.


Mary

13
Helpful Groups & Dogs in Need / Mastiff on Boston Craigslist
« on: July 23, 2009, 09:14:14 am »
The title says it all. Hope someone who knows the breed can help this dog out.

http://boston.craigslist.org/sob/pet/1284420070.html


Mary

14
Poor boy! I'll be thinking of him, let us know what you find out!


Mary

15
Collars, crates, & other cool things / Re: Dog Ramp
« on: July 19, 2009, 08:57:04 am »
Hi,

http://www.dogramp.com/index.php

Bought this 1 four years ago and still doing great!! Winslow is at 155 now and the ramp is holding up perfect!!

Thanks! I just ordered this (the trifold version). Hoping it will fit WITH Cooper in the back of our Outback (thought the trifold would be easier to maneuver/wrap/bungee when he's in there.

If you have a bigger car, or a free backseat (we have child seats so no room there) there seem to be a lot of options, some much cheaper (Costo has a couple under $100).

Good luck and let us know which one you pick, I'll come back and post a review once we get ours!


Mary

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