My Philosophy

The Newfoundland Dog is a giant breed, known for the gentleness of temperament. Variation from this kind spirit is NEVER acceptable. The breeder’s primary responsibility is to assure that the dam and sire used for breeding display soundness in temperament, body, and mind. The responsibility of those sharing their life with a newf is to provide the love and care necessary to promote the health of the Newfoundland in body, mind, and spirit.

The Newfoundland’s Body: The breed standard describes the Newfoundland’s physical characteristics:

“Average height for adult dogs is 28 inches, for adult bitches, 26 inches. Approximate weight of adult dogs ranges from 130 to 150 pounds, adult bitches from 100 to 120 pounds. The dog's appearance is more massive throughout than the bitch's. Large size is desirable, but never at the expense of balance, structure, and correct gait.”

All too often, people describe their Newfoundland in terms of their dog’s weight, taking pride in a weight greater than that described in the Breed Standard. Somehow the implication is that more is better. Weight should never exceed that appropriate for the frame of the dog. Joints need to be sound, able to support the weight of the dog pain free for the life of the dog. Growth of a puppy needs to be slow. Food for puppies and adults needs to be a premium food that has protein content less than 26%. A rule of thumb is for weight gain during the pup’s first year to be at the rate of no more than 10 pounds a month. This allows the pup to grow slowly giving the growing joint and bone a chance to mature minimizing the negative impact of accelerated and excessive weight gain. In addition, daily supplementing the newfy’s diet with gloucosamine, chondroitin, MSM, L-Lysine, and Vitamin C seems to promote healthy joints. Following this protocol has positively impacted the health of the newfies in my care.

My family's Health Clearences can be viewed at

http://www.offa.org/results.html?num=&submit=Begin+Search&registrar=&namecontains=N&part=sandycove+&namecontains=N&breedlist

=ALL&variety[]=&sex=&birthday_start_month=&birthday_start_year=&birthday_end_month=&birthday_end_year=&birthday

=&regand=N&regand=N&rptdte_start_month=&rptdte_start_year=&rptdte_end_month=&rptdte_end_year=&rptdte=

Exercise should always be low impact. Swimming is the best conditioning exercise for the Newfoundland. Exercise should never be on concrete, asphalt, or other unforgiving surface. Newfoundlands, though “giants” are not as robust as suggested by their size. I do not allow my newfies to mix it up, zigging and zagging, running at each other, rising on their hind legs, bumping their bodies against each other. This behavior is an orthopedic injury waiting happen. Instead, they exercise on the treadmill or swim, never permitting them to roughhouse.

The newfies that share my life offer a testament to this feeding and exercise protocol. The oldest bitch competing in conformation at the 2009 NCA National was Curie, the oldest male competing in the working dog class at the 2009 NCA National was Cyrus.

The Newfoundland’s Mind:

The Canadian Newfoundland Breed Standard states that

“Above all things, the Newfoundland must have intelligence, the loyalty and the sweetness which are his best known traits. He must be able and willing to help his master perform his necessary tasks at command and also have the intelligence to act on his own responsibility when his rescue work demands it.”

Because the Newfoundland has such great intelligence, the importance of training and formal education of the Newfoundland cannot be overemphasized. Just as children need to be trained and educated to reach their potential and to develop appropriate social habits, so too is the case with the Newfie. When Newfies are trained, know what is expected of them, and are schooled in canine good citizenship and manners, a human can have no more delightful companion. The Newfoundland is a working dog and as such does best when they are given tasks to perform. The saying “an idle mind is the devils workshop” holds as true for Newfies as it does for humans. They are not born knowing how to be good citizens, it is the responsibility of the human companion to teach and educate their Newfie. Harsh correction is never appropriate nor is it necessary. The Newfoundland learns best with a positive method of instruction. A positive enthusiasm on the part of the trainer, loving petting, coupled with their favorite treat is most likely to bring the desired result. They are learning all the time. It is up to the human companion to make certain that the Newfie is learning the intended lesson and not some undesired behavior. Clicker training is useful. Timing is everything, making certain that the desired outcome is what is being reinforced. Set the dog up for success and make learning fun. Newfies do not enjoy mindless, boring repetitions. The Newfie seems to enjoy the variation of rally training over the more structured, predictable and routine of classic obedience. Through rally exercises, the intelligence of the Newfoundland is challenged keeping the learning exciting and interesting. Finding the right trainer can be a challenge. Because the Newfoundland has the intelligence to react to novel situations as they occurs in a real life rescue, finding a trainer that understands how to work with such intelligence in a positive and fun way is essential to the success of training. My Newfie family is very fortunate. Their friend and professional trainer/handler, Elizabeth Baugh understands and connects with them in a positive way enabling them to become wonderful family members and companions as well as titled Newfoundlands. Elizabeth Baugh has a real connection with the Newfie. Due to her expertise, each and every one of the 16 Sandy Cove Newfies that she has trained, educated, exhibited and titled have become the outstanding representatives of the breed that they are. As important as her active training of these Newfies is her training of me allows me to experience a more meaningful relationship with my Newfie family. We are forever grateful to Elizabeth for teaching us how to be the best Newfie family we can be.

The Newfoundland’s Spirit or Soul:

The Newfoundland Breed Standard states that

“Sweetness of temperament is the hallmark of the Newfoundland; this is the most important single characteristic of the breed.” Wikipedia adds, “The Newfoundland dog is legendarily known for its benevolence and strength. It is known to be one of the kindest and gentlest dogs, if not the very best and gentlest dog of all when it comes to children. It is for this reason that this breed is known as "the gentle giant". International kennel clubs generally describe the breed as having a sweet temper. It has a deep bark, is easy to train, makes a fine guardian or watchdog, and is extremely good with children. The Newfoundland dog is also extremely good with other animals. Its caring and gentle nature comes out in play and interaction with humans and animals alike.”

This sweetness is the very spirit or soul of the Newfoundland. They possess unmatched loyalty. Many historical accounts illustrate the depth of their commitment to their human companions. One of the best known accounts of the Newfoundland Spirit is of Seaman, the Newfoundland dog, who accompanied Captain Meriwether Lewis, the famous explorer on his trip to the Northwest Territory. In 1809, Captain Lewis died. Historians describe an inscription on the Seaman’s collar,

“The greatest traveller of my species. My name is SEAMAN, the dog of captain Meriwether Lewis, whom I accompanied to the Pacifick ocean through the interior of North America. A note found with the collar read regarding Seaman’s response to the death of Captain Lewis. “No gentle means could draw him from the spot of interment. He refused to take every kind of food, which was offered him, and actually pined away and died with grief upon his master’s grave!”

Another well-known tribute to a Newfoundland is the poem by Lord Byron

A Memorial to Boatswain

Lord Byron

Newstead Abbey, November 30, 1808.

Near this spot

Are deposited the Remains of one

Who possessed Beauty without Vanity,

Strength without Insolence,

Courage without Ferocity,

And all the Virtues of Man without his Vices.

This Praise, which would be unmeaning Flattery

If inscribed over human ashes,

Is but a just tribute to the Memory of

BOATSWAIN, a DOG

Who was born at Newfoundland, May, 1803,

And died at Newstead, Nov 18th, 1808.

When some proud son of man returns to earth,

Unknown to glory, but upheld by birth,

The sculptor's art exhausts the pomp of woe,

And storied urns record who rest below:

When all is done, upon the tomb is seen,

Not what he was, but what he should have been:

But the poor dog, in life the firmest friend,

The first to welcome, foremost to defend,

Whose honest heart is still his master's own,

Who labours, fights, lives, breathes for him alone,

Unhonour'd falls, unnoticed all his worth,

Denied in heaven the soul he held on earth:

While man, vain insect! hopes to be forgiven,

And claims himself a sole exclusive heaven.

Oh man! thou feeble tenant of an hour,

Debased by slavery, or corrupt by power,

Who knows thee well must quit thee with disgust,

Degraded mass of animated dust!

Thy love is lust, thy friendship all a cheat,

Thy smiles hypocrisy, thy words deceit!

By nature vile, ennobled but by name,

Each kindred brute might bid thee blush for shame.

Ye! who perchance behold this simple urn,

Pass on --- it honours none you wish to mourn:

To mark a friend's remains these stones arise;

I never knew but one, --- and here he lies.

The Newfoundland’s eyes are the gateway to their soul. Their spirit dances in the expression in their eyes as their gaze meets the gaze of their human. The bond with their spirit is unequalled in adoration, loyalty, companionship, and unconditional love. I hope to forever have the good fortune to share my life with Newfoundlands. They teach me so much! I am a better human as a result!