Help?

[Mom2Sadie]

Sorry to be asking so many questions, I'm just really rusty at the puppy thing and I've never owned a Newf before.

Anyway, Sadie and I live in Massachusetts and we are having some extreme temperatures today and very high winds. Sadie hated being outside today. I fed her dinner at about 6 this evening and I've taken her outside 5 or 6 times since then. She does her...uh...num ber one every time and she knows she gets a treat when she does it but she hasn't done a...uh...numbe r 2 since just before I fed her last. I know she must have to go because it's been over 6 hours and I tried to make her stay out there until she went this last time. But the winds were freaking her out and she kept hiding under my legs or pulling towards the house. I finally gave up after about 45 minutes of freezing cold and I put her right in her crate when she came in instead of letting her play with kitties. I don't want her to think I'm punishing her, but I don't want her going on the floor and getting into that habit. Should I be bundling her up to go outside? I thought Newfies liked the cold weather? I know I'm probably overly paranoid, but could she be sick or something? I don't know if she is just being stubborn because she doesn't like it out there or if something might be wrong. She didn't fuss when I put her in the crate like she normally does either, she just laid down and kind of konked out. Maybe she's just really tired? We did go outside a whole bunch of times today and she spent the afternoon having some serious playtime with her kitty friends. I'm just nervous I guess, she should have gone by now, even if it was an accident somewhere and I've read about blockages and things.  Any ideas from anyone as to what might be going on here or am I just worrying too much?

Again, sorry to be so verbal when I just "met" all of you a couple of days ago, I just don't know who better to ask than people who own these dogs too. Any advice would be much appreciated.

[Anky]

Hey, what part of Mass do you live in?  I live in Southern New Hampshire, and there are several Mass people here.  Trust me I know what you mean about the cold.  What has she eaten?  Sometimes stress can lead to the not pooping thing.  I wouldn't be too concerned for right now.

Oh by the way, my name is Ang, and i have a Beautiful Dane boy (That's staying with a friend right now, long story) named Sanity, a Chinook named Hobo, and an evil English Setter named Araby. 

[shangrila]

Don't worry. It's perfectly normal for sadie to be freaked out today -snow, bitter cold (it was SO COLD today) , and heavy winds are all new to her. And since she's freaked out it's perfectly normal for her to not want to go out. But trust me, she'll go eventually.

[Mark Dozier]

Nefies are great cold weather dogs, but the puppies are still very tender and sensitive to the wind and wind chill, Part of it is the newness of the weather and part is just being a puppy who's coat is still devoloping.  As she grows her abilities to work with snow and wind will too. And she is to be appluaded for her ability to hold it at this young age.
I may suggest that if you have a fence with a corner you put a tarp around the corner to make windbreak and see if that helps her excuvate her bowel. (i.e. poop). in the place of no wind.

[nostaw]

Don't worry, pups arn't tolerant to cold, once they start losing their puppy fur it takes a while for their coats to develop. Hovis is 15 months now and still prefers a centrally heated house to sleeping outside with Bell.

As for the pooping it's to be expected, how would you like to drop your drawers in that weather?

Andy, Bell and Hovis

[Mom2Sadie]

Nefies are great cold weather dogs, but the puppies are still very tender and sensitive to the wind and wind chill, Part of it is the newness of the weather and part is just being a puppy who's coat is still devoloping.  As she grows her abilities to work with snow and wind will too. And she is to be appluaded for her ability to hold it at this young age.
I may suggest that if you have a fence with a corner you put a tarp around the corner to make windbreak and see if that helps her excuvate her bowel. (i.e. poop). in the place of no wind.

I absolutely agree. I'm thrilled that she's already holding it. I'm just a little nervous because I know it isn't normal at this age. She didn't mess in her crate last night and went normally this morning. I guess the wind just really freaked her out. She's really very good at holding it. She went yesterday from 7ish to 6 o'clock with no poop- and we went out every couple of hours. She pees every time we go out though and she had one tiny accident with that yesterday which was TOTALLY my fault. She seems ok though this morning. She cries ALOT in the crate - ALOT - and I worry that she's trying to tell me she doesn't feel good or something. Like I said, I'm a new mommy so I worry too much I'm sure.

We're in Lowell, MA Ang, we're actually on the Dracut side of Lowell which is minutes from the NH border.

[Fumble]

where did you get sadie from??? just curious?? fumble and i live down on cape cod.. and i got him in orange, ma!

[Winslow 151]

Hi Mom2Sadie.

Wow we are in Lowell also  . WE HAVE TO MAKE A PLAY DATE. Winslow is 6 months now and stands at the door when he needs to go  , and rushes back in when he is done.

Sadie will weather this storm! and a few more this winter I suspect. PM me if you want to try and get together, for some Newf fun time.

Rich

[Anky]

We're in Lowell, MA Ang, we're actually on the Dracut side of Lowell which is minutes from the NH border.

Cool!  I'm in Nashua, like seriously, 5 minutes from the Mass Border.  I smell a playdate!

[Mom2Sadie]

where did you get sadie from??? just curious?? fumble and i live down on cape cod.. and i got him in orange, ma!

I got Sadie in Derry NH, Kaylabear Newfs. Pups were raised in the home around kids, parents were there when I picked her out and I got to meet them both. Hips and elbows certified. And part of the puppy contract (maybe it's standard but it sure made me feel good about getting a dog from them) is that I'm never to take her to a shelter if anything goes wrong and I can't keep her. They don't want any of their dogs to wind up in shelters so they're willing to either help you place them or take them back. Not that I'd EVER want to give her up, just nice to know that they really care about their dogs, you know?

Thanks to everyone for not making me feel like a paranoid loser I've only had her for 2 days but I already love her so much and I just want her to be happy and healthy and I worry that I'm doing the wrong things. I just kept thinking, she shouldn't be able to hold it this long yet. But she went twice this morning. It's still cold but the wind's not quite as bitter today. We're definitely having a little showdown as to who's the boss on the leash though. If she wants to go in and I still want her to go, she'll sit down and refuse to move or try to climb up my leg and whine, like "Please pick me up?". I'm trying to remind myself that even though it's cute now, this is going to be a large dog and I can't let her get away with stuff like that. But that little face...I can't stand it Anyone else's dog do this as a puppy?

Pics tomorrow I promise! I got a really cute one of her with her Barbie purse, LOL, she loves it. Carries it everywhere. She's definitely a dog after my own heart

[Mom2Sadie]

We're in Lowell, MA Ang, we're actually on the Dracut side of Lowell which is minutes from the NH border.

Cool!  I'm in Nashua, like seriously, 5 minutes from the Mass Border.  I smell a playdate!

Yay playdate! She only gets to meet little yippie dogs in our neighborhood and I always have to pick her up to prevent them from tearing her head off! I'd love for her to meet another big doggie! We're probably really closeby actually, I am not even 10 minutes from Nashua.

[Anky]

I'll PM you my address and you can see how far away we are.  Maybe Winslow's family can come too!

[Winslow 151]

Hi,

Definately keep us in the play date loop!! Just give me a PM and we'll make a plan.  We really want to get Winslow more big dog socialization.

He did his 6 week obedience class, Sadie's mom, I recommend you get Sadie in one. Winslow is a charm on the leash Most of the time now and he met all shape and size dogs and loved it.

Now we are thinking water training and we met a couple (3 NEWFS) who introduced us to a newf group that does that. We met a few weeks ago for a newf group walk (In the park behind Nashua High School)  We are heading up to Squam lake at the end of the month for another Newf stroll with some obedience work and water basics (on land) before a Pot luck meal.

Rich

Rich

[Leah-n-boy-os]

/snip/ she'll sit down and refuse to move or try to climb up my leg and whine, like "Please pick me up?". I'm trying to remind myself that even though it's cute now, this is going to be a large dog and I can't let her get away with stuff like that. But that little face...I can't stand it Anyone else's dog do this as a puppy?

As a puppy???!!!!!! *snicker* Onyx does it *STILL* and he's a year old and weighs 130lbs. He's absolutly convinced that if he *thinks* he's a lapdog, everyone else should believe it as well, and thusly accomodate him accordingly!

I wouldn't worry *too* much about the puppers at this point. If the weather calms down, and there's still no...productiv ity, then I'd give you Vet a holler, but as everyone else has said, Sadie's probably just fine. I know where I her, I wouldn't want to....do my business with the wind blasting up the skirts so to speak!

[chaos270]

I'm in Southeastern CT so keep me and Kali in  mind for a playdate...she's only seen one other newf and two newf mixes since she came home.  So PM me if you plan something.

And Kali still wants to be in your lap and be held.  Tyler a 140 lb saint puppy loves to be held and picked up still.  I'd enjoy holding her they generally aren't too bad when they're older.  Kali's gotten over the no more carrying thing.  We carried or held her til she was about 40lbs.