Newfoundland Forum:
Frustrated

Help. Our 1st Newfie and she's 9 mos. old and is a complete monster. She's an angel when we're at doggy class, but that's it. She barks in her crate all night so we get no sleep. If we let her out she eats everything. She even knows she shouldn't. She also opens doors (pocket door to closet, sliding glass) and helps herself. I don't know where to put her or how to handle the discipline. I have NEVER had such a rotten puppy ever. She's eaten a pager, checkbook, money, multiple pairs of shoes, magazines, kleenex, toilet paper, pills, rugs, towels, etc. She's too big to put things high enough. And she jumps gates. Do Newfies have major issues w/being crated? If so, what do others do?? We both work during the day, but I let her out at lunch every day to split things up! We have invisible fence so I can't leave her out during the day for that long of a period (we're not allowed fences). Help w/any suggestions or comments. Thanks so much!! :(

I have 4 newf's and all are pups under two years, they need a lot of room to run and play, at nine mo. they are too large and energetic to stay in a crate all day, or unattended inside the house in my opinion (I value my things). A 10'x 10' kennel in the back yard might work better, out of sight of the street, since you can't have a fence. Also the chewing is going to happen, we give our dogs rawhide chews, uncooked bones (knuckle type) and all of our old shoes, sandles and boots (minus the buckles and tie loops, or any chokeables), also 3" or so cut up tree branches and even scrap lumber pieces, they love to chew and if we don't they will chew the kennel down after they have chewed up their beds and everything else. I have learned to give my dogs what they want, with my blessings, they are well mannered and happy that way, I guess that's why some people say they are owned by a Newf, I know I am. Sandi L.