29/06/2024
Just a few thoughts on Newfoundlands as Service Dogs. While the popular culture picture of the breed is as the instinctive Nana, guardian of children; lifeguard of the high seas, we do not do our gentle giants any favors by endowing them with supernatural levels of benevolence and empathy in our descriptions.
1. Newfoundlands are a long-haired giant dog that drools. They are not the best choice for a dog needed to fit under a table, or not be underfoot in a store.
2. Newfoundlands are slow to mature, both physically and mentally, and are really not reliable ready for "work' until close to age 3.
3. Until they are mature Newfoundlands go through several predictable stages: land-shark, bull-in-a-china-shop and brain-dead teenager to name a few. During these times they are a challenge for an able-bodied owner to handle and cope with.
4. Newfoundlands, due to their size, have a relatively short life span, and equally short effective working life. Many other breeds can start working younger and work for longer than a Newf.
5. Service Dogs needs to be structurally sound. There is no way to know this as a puppy, and orthopedic issues are prevalent in the breed, even the best breeder may produce hip or elbow dysplasia, back, shoulder or patella issues, or a torn cruciate. With a less than reputable breeder your chances of this are even higher.
6. Newfoundlands are not plentiful or readily available. If purchasing a pup from a reputable source, wait times of upwards of 2 years are commonplace. Combined with the needs for training and maturity - the SD prospect you are looking for today may be 4-5 years down the road.
7. What happens to the pup that "washes out"? Do they get re-homed? Returned to the breeder? Or are they kept but end up playing second fiddle to the new SD prospect?
8. Newfoundlands require extensive grooming - there is just no way around it - regular combing and brushing, plus baths to keep them presentable in public are a must - can you physically manage grooming tasks or will you need to take your dog to the groomer every few weeks? These costs must be figured.
9. When looking at the specific tasks a Service Dog might be trained to do, there are many that do not require any specific physical attributes (diabetes detection, seizure alert, hearing assistance, etc.) These jobs can be more easily handled by smaller, short-haired breeds. When looking at the jobs that require a specific weight ratio that only a Newf can handle - ask yourself what the daily work requirements of hundred of pounds of load is going to do to the joints and back of the dog, and how will that impact their useful working life.
10. Newfoundlands attract a lot of attention. They are big, impressive-looking animals. Many see this as a detriment to being out in the world, some find this to be what chiefly attracts them to the breed.
11. Newfoundlands are expensive. They are expensive to acquire, expensive to feed, groom and provide veterinary care for, even having a vehicle large enough to safely transport a Newf can be an expense.
Have there been Newfoundlands effectively used as Service Dogs? Sure. But they tend to be the exception and not the rule. The "Fab Four" Service Dogs Breeds: Labs, Goldens, Poodles and Collies have been shown over time to be the best choices for Service Dog prospects, and have breeders who specialize in the trainability and temperament needed for this specialized work.
