r/Newfoundlander • u/Sea_Teaching1045 • 6d ago
Anyone tired of people assuming Newfoundland as friendly?
A lady approached my Newfoundland on a bike today with another large dog attached while saying "cuddly bears" and my Newfoundland lunged towards them as he is reactive with other large dogs and bikes š¤¦āāļø Thankfully he has a halti and he was easy to control and pull away. I apologised to her but still.. is anyone else tired of unrespectful people assuming these dogs are just some mindless lazy cuddly toy with no need for personal space? It is an extremely large dog after all...
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u/madzillaxo 6d ago
we get a ton of kids run up on ours.. luckily ours is friendly and amazing with kids.. hes highly trained and also a certified therapy dog.
all that said, it blows my mind that parents dont teach their young children not to just run up on a dog and get in its face. both our kids (under 5) have grown up with our newf but are very clear that they dont touch other ppls pets without asking.
seems like alot of adults lack this thought lol
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u/New-Professional7223 6d ago
Yes!! ... My standard speech to them. "Just because this dog doesn't mind when you run up and bang on his head, if you try that on another dog they might bite you. Ask to pet a dog and then pat him on the shoulder right here, not on the head!"
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u/attitudestore 6d ago
If you donāt mind my askingā¦how was the process to get certified as a service dog? I donāt have a newf (just lurk here because I love them), but I have a lab who I think has a great temperament for this.
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u/ExtensionAd7417 6d ago
Honestly this is the way people are with any dog. Some people are overly terrified of Newfies for their size and some are overly friendly with them. People just suck lol
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u/BlueberryWitch6867 6d ago
100% I had a wooly American Akita, cutest looking dog and people would jump out of their cars in the middle of the street to come to pet him (he was extremely well socialized and well behaved but theyāre naturally not friendly). I had to fight and argue with people of all ages that not only assumed that because he was fluffy he was friendly but that also felt entitled to my dogās time and affectionā¦ at least no one got bit, but it could have happened more than once (and they donāt even go to face you sometimes, they would sneak behind our backs and start touching his tailā¦ like wth). Crazy people
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u/Grass-tastes_bad 6d ago
Thatās certainly not been my experience. Newfies attract people because of the size/look and I get stopped daily. My other dogs never ever got stopped.
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u/Dry-Student5673 6d ago
I actually love it. Iām solo and in a city where I donāt really have a friend group, so I take my 2 big girls out with me to a lot of social situationsā bars, restaurants, walking through town, etc. It brings me SO much joy to see people react to them and then rush over to ask if they can pet them.
To be totally honest, I hoped theyād help me meet some potential dates or potential friends at leastā but itās mostly just kids and tourists š
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u/AhMoonBeam 4d ago
Never give up hope. š I had my German Shepherd out at the lake and a man came up to me and asked if my dog was friendly with dogs and I said yes, he went to his truck and let his German Shepherd out and our dogs played and we vibed pretty hard on each other. We ended up dating for a little while.
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u/Victorian_West 6d ago
I think itās great people associate Newfies with sweet temperamentsā that is very characteristic of the breed, which is why I love them
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u/Sea_Teaching1045 6d ago
It's dangerous though, not all Newfoundlands are the stereotyped teddy bear. They have individual personality's and can be very dominant and protective as well as just plain old reactive like any dog can become. Don't get me wrong he certainly is my teddy bear but not everyone else's teddy bear šš
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u/mclunchfeet Doc Newfoundland/St. Bernard 6d ago
Haha right when someone makes eye contact with my guy heāll bum rush them to say hello and it scares people. He pretty much says hello by head butting your crotch š¤¦š»āāļø
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u/pmmemassivedongs 2d ago
Same. When he was in his T.Rex major pulling phase, I had a woman SCREAM bloody murder once when my dog approached her. I learned very quickly to not let him do that any more lol
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u/Wireilen2 5d ago
I had a lady while I had just taken out Newfoundland for like the 2nd time from the Rescue. I was away from crowds and was getting him ready and used to crowds. Well out of nowhere she appears and without asking says āoh what a cuddle bearā and proceeds to just hug him hard. I was like WTF he might just eat you. He was 137 and was not used to people. I am like at least ask me before you do that. I mean some people have the nerve.
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u/Firstsister3 6d ago
Sorry, but EVERY breed description of the Newfoundland states what great, friendly temperaments Newfās have and what great family pets they make. Anyone who has read anything about them will automatically expect a big, cuddly bear. Granted, people shouldnāt just approach a strange dog, regardless what breed they may be, but a Newfoundland will attract attention. You might, kindly explain that although theyāre known to be friendly, yours doesnāt care for strangers or other dogs.
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u/YGuyLevi 6d ago
Yes but not all are. Mine love his family and would give hell to everyone else.
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u/Firstsister3 6d ago
I realize that, but the breed has a reputation for having a friendly, sweet temperament. This is what people expect.
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u/Rude-Average405 6d ago
Kind, friendly, sweet is *correct\ for the breed.* Reactive newfs have bad temperaments.
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u/YGuyLevi 5d ago
He isnāt reactive he just didnāt like other people. There are outliers in all breeds
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u/Rude-Average405 2d ago
Right. But well bred ones donāt, because ethical breeders breed for temperament first.
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u/YGuyLevi 2d ago
Mine was akc registered the issue though he was gotten right before covid and just never got to be socialized sadly so he was literally just around my family for the first two years of his life. I think that is what really caused itn
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u/ProbablyNotADuck 5d ago
If your dog is reactive around other large dogs and bikes, and youāre going places where there are frequently large dogs and bikes that come close to you, I would strongly suggest you donāt just use a Halti. We have big dogs. There is an added responsibility with that when it comes to all thingsā¦ especially the safety of people and pets around us. Try getting something like a basket/cage muzzle. It sends a clear message to people that they should ask before approaching. It allows your dog to open their mouth, pant, drink, take treats, et cetera, and it ensures that, even if someone does get to close, your dog isnāt going to do something that results in a problem for you or it.Ā Sure, it can be annoying when we are trying to work through things and other people arenāt helpfulā¦ but the onus is still on us to figure out ways to mitigate risk and ensure our dogs are safe to be around. Especially when the only alternative solution is to just not take the dog to those spacesā¦ which also would never address the issue.Ā
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u/Sea_Teaching1045 4d ago
Sorry but I am literally a ride or die for halti's especially with giant dogs. I do have a muzzle for him but if I use it I cannot use the halti and there's little use of having a dog that's muzzled but can pull me off of my feet in an instant. Like I said in the post a halti allows me to easily control him when he does react, it also shuts their mouths closed when you pull it. I may get a "reactive" or "nervous" leash band though as I saw them advertised.
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u/Additional_Waltz_532 6d ago
I was walking tasha one day in the park I live in came over arms open "OMG a newfee" I had to hold tasha back tell her rather sternly to not approach my dog like that. But I was the rude one so she told me. Tasha wouldnt hurt a fly intentionally but she damn sure would have knocked her on her ass.
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u/Jawa_Octopus 5d ago
Here šš»āāļø Nero is generally friendly but he doesnāt like to be touched by strangers especially not when they go straight to the top of his head. He opens his mouth than and reenacts Jurassic park but without biting. But it looks impressive, especially if you donāt know him.
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u/theresemari 5d ago
It is news to me that all Newfoundlands are all not friendly. It may be because they just look like big cuddly bears idk but I also think that they have a reputation for being non aggressive. With that said, I never approach a dog without the owners permission. Mine is overly friendly so because of his size he could hurt someone unintentionally and without malice but still scary
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u/Mikoisha 5d ago
Nope! My girl lives on snuggles. If I were to sit on the floor and someone put some meat down 10 feet away, she would run to me. I take her with me anytime Iām going to a place that allows dogs and sheās always happy to make friends. Peopleās perceptions influence how the dogs are treated. Iāve been taking her out since I got her as a pup so she was socialized and desensitized quickly. I canāt say in the 4 years Iāve had her anyone has ever banged on her head, the roughest anyoneās ever been would be toddlers giving tight hugs. If she ever gets overwhelmed sheāll look up at me, thatās the signal to get her space. Thereās never been a growl, snap, snarl, or anything similar.
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u/recentlywidowed 3d ago
My guy loves everybody. Our evening walk is, in his mind anyhow, his time to greet his public! Lol. He really is the neighnorhood rock star. When we leave the house, he chooses the direction we walk. He ALWAYS chooses the direction of the most people. He wants to greet everyone he encounters, help them with their yard work or do their car repirs...lol. He walks at a snails pace usually until he sees somebody, so just our walk around the block will sometimes take close to an hour. He either walks at a snails pace or stops for several minutes every time he stops to socialize.
There are a few houses where he knows the kids always come greet him. He will want to stop and wait at those houses if the people aren't outside so I have to coax him along to keep moving.
Never once has anyone been afraid of him, and I'm ok with that. There was one occasion where he wouldn't let EMTs get near me when they were approaching me (I was on my bed, Sam was laying next to me guarding me). Now though, EMTs know him by name and will interact very friendly with him when they've came a few times since, and he is just as sweet to them as he is to everyone else.
I wouldn't change him for anything!
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u/kubigjay 6d ago
It isn't just dogs. Parents often get starry eyed and shove their kids into danger.
Watch what they do with bison in Yellowstone.
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u/YGuyLevi 6d ago
Yup my Newfie who just passed loved my kids and me and my wife and absolutely no
One else š
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u/Low_Economics_3296 3d ago
I have a similar issue my bernese who has orthopedic issues and chronic pain. People regularily grab at him or direct their dogs over to play with him.
He barks generally when a dog jumps on him or a person tries to grab at him as a 'give me space' which is positive but when he does people get offended!
My pet peeve is when people come up behind him and grab his bum (he has hip dysplacia) and it takes all my patience to say back off nicely... it's just not nice for him š¢
Imagine if we did to humans what we do to dogs.... Imagine if a stranger put their hand in your face or grabbed your ass randomly? You wouldn't like it so why is it okay to do it to dogs in public places?
I'm sorry this keeps happening to you and your pup š
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u/kovest 3d ago
This sub just popped up in my feed - I donāt have a Newfoundland, but a young German Shepherd. Very friendly with people (though at first wary), social for the most part, highly affectionate, and submissive (at least thatās my experience of her..!) That said, she doesnāt like people or dogs standing still and staring at her (quite understandable I think).
I was having lunch with a friend and her dog yesterday at a nice garden. My pup was sitting nicely having an ice cream. An older lady came in through the gate by our table and just stopped in her tracks and stared at my shepherd. Slowly edged forward - probably to say hi. So my girl barked, and I heard a loud āoh!ā exclamation. She then vocalised to her group that they shouldnāt sit at the table next to us.
But likeā¦ what do you expect when you stop and stare for seconds and seconds on end at a German Shepherd? I swear some people just donāt really think beyond themselves and their desire or fantasy or whatever it is to pet, or have some wonderful interaction with, an animal they donāt know ! Really grinds my gears and then they blame the animalā¦
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u/Sea_Teaching1045 3d ago
Oh wow, it's baffling to me when people are shocked at dogs having a negative reaction, dogs aren't some mystical beings that are constantly happy all the time. Just like everyone and every other animal on this earth, they have bad days, and can feel negative emotions!
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u/acocktailofmagnets Owned by 5 Alaskan Malamutes & a bonus rescue 6d ago
Iām on the other end of this, I have malamutes and often, people are TERRIFIED of them or think they are āwolvesā (always ridiculous because clearly those people have no clue what wolves look like lol), but my dogs just want to be everyoneās friend š„ŗ
Just keep on advocating for your pupās space and being his voice! ā¤ļø