Owning a Newfoundland is a wonderful experience, but it’s also a big responsibility. We hope the information below helps answer many of the questions new puppy owners have. Of course, if you ever have additional questions, we’re only a phone call or email away.
Exercise & Activity
Newfoundlands have a moderate energy level. While they certainly enjoy relaxing with their families, they still need daily exercise and mental stimulation to stay healthy and happy. A daily walk along with some playtime is usually plenty for this breed.
Newfoundlands are well known as water dogs and often love to swim. They also enjoy trips to the dog park (once fully vaccinated), obedience training, carting, tracking, herding, and other canine activities.
Because Newfoundland puppies are still growing, it’s very important to keep activities low impact until they are approximately 18 months to 2 years old. Their bones and joints are still developing, and strenuous jumping, excessive running, or other high-impact activities can cause permanent damage.
Although your puppy may think they’re invincible, they can easily overdo it. Monitor their activity and allow plenty of rest. Keep in mind that Newfoundlands continue maturing both physically and mentally until they are around four years of age.
Size & General Health
A mature Newfoundland typically stands between 26 and 28 inches tall.
Average adult weight:
- Males: 130–150 pounds
- Females: 115–145 pounds
The average lifespan of our Newfoundlands is around 10 years, although we’ve been fortunate to have several live as long as 14 years.
Overall, the Newfoundland is a relatively healthy breed. However, like many large breeds, they can be prone to certain inherited or age-related conditions, including:
- Hip Dysplasia
- Elbow Dysplasia
- Cardiac Disease
- Cystinuria (a condition that can cause bladder or urinary stones)
Your Puppy’s First Veterinary Visit
We recommend scheduling a veterinary appointment within a few days after bringing your puppy home. Your veterinarian will perform a wellness exam, discuss your puppy’s vaccination schedule, and advise you when to begin flea, tick, and heartworm prevention.
Until your puppy has completed its vaccination series, we strongly recommend avoiding:
- Dog parks
- Dog shows
- Pet stores
- Rest stop potty areas
- Any heavily trafficked public areas where dogs frequently visit
Young puppies are still developing their immune systems and are much more susceptible to illness. A little extra caution during these first few months can make a big difference.
No bloodline is completely free of hereditary concerns. That’s why every puppy from Lynn Kay Kennels includes:
- A one-year, 100% health guarantee
- A lifetime heart guarantee
- AKC Registration
- A complete veterinary wellness examination
- Age-appropriate vaccinations
- Multiple dewormings
- A complete health record and vaccination/deworming schedule
Feeding Your Puppy
We’ll let you know exactly what food your puppy is eating before they go home so you can continue feeding the same diet.
If you decide to switch foods, we recommend gradually transitioning over at least one week by feeding approximately 50% current food and 50% new food before making the complete change.
Please research any new food before switching to ensure it hasn’t been subject to recalls.
We do not recommend feeding lamb-based puppy food because it is generally lower in fat than growing Newfoundland puppies require. These dogs need a high protein diet.
Never feed:
- Cooked chicken bones
- Rawhide bones
Healthy treats include:
- Carrots
- Peanut Butter
- Watermelon
- Apple slices
- Frozen blueberries
- All-natural bite-sized dog treats
Bringing Your Puppy Home
The first day home is exciting, but it can also be overwhelming for your puppy. They’ve just left their mother, littermates, and everything familiar.
When picking up your puppy, we recommend bringing along a T-shirt or small blanket with your scent on it. Having your scent nearby during the ride home and bedtime often helps your puppy feel more secure.
During the first few days:
- Make sure your puppy is eating and drinking normally.
- Take them outside immediately after eating, drinking, waking up, and playing.
- Always use the same potty area whenever possible.
- Praise and reward successful potty trips.
At Lynn Kay Kennels, we train our puppies to use a bell by the door to let us know they need to go outside. Many families find this method very successful and continue using it at home.
Crate training is also one of the best tools for successful house training.
Puppy Proof Your Home
Remember that your puppy is very much like a curious toddler.
For your puppy’s safety:
- Block stairways until they are confident using stairs.
- Keep household chemicals safely out of reach.
- Remove small objects such as toys, beads, sticks, and anything that could be swallowed.
- Never leave your puppy unattended for long periods.
- Provide safe chew toys to satisfy teething needs.
Patience and consistency during these first few months will pay off with a wonderful lifelong companion.
Our Lifetime Commitment
Every puppy born at Lynn Kay Kennels will always have a home with us.
If, at any point during your puppy’s life, you are no longer able to keep them, please contact us first. We will gladly take one of our dogs back—no questions asked.
Please never abandon one of our puppies, surrender them to a shelter, or give them away without contacting us.
Our puppies mean the world to us. We spend countless hours caring for each litter—from sleepless nights during whelping, emergency veterinary visits, bottle feedings when needed, daily cleaning, socialization, and endless love during their first eight weeks of life.
Watching them leave is bittersweet, and one of the greatest joys we have is receiving updates and photos as they grow into beloved members of your family.
We’re Always Here to Help
Thank you for visiting Lynn Kay Kennels.
Whether you’re preparing to bring home your first Newfoundland or you’ve owned the breed for years, we’re always happy to answer your questions.
No question is too small—please feel free to contact us anytime.
Tips for Potty Training & Raising Your Newfoundland Puppy
One of the questions we’re asked most often is:
“Is my Newfoundland puppy potty trained before coming home?”
The answer is yes…to a point.
Before leaving Lynn Kay Kennels, our puppies have already begun learning a routine. They are introduced to going potty outside whenever possible, are learning a schedule, and are beginning to understand where they should eliminate. However, moving to a new home is a big change, and it’s important to remember that your puppy is learning a completely different environment.
Like children, puppies need consistency, patience, and lots of praise while learning.
Learn Your Puppy’s Schedule
One of the biggest keys to successful potty training is learning when your puppy needs to go outside.
Puppies should always be taken outside:
- Immediately after waking up
- After every nap
- After eating
- After drinking
- After playtime
- Before and after being in their crate
- Right before bedtime
Young puppies simply cannot “hold it” for long periods of time. The more opportunities you give them to succeed, the faster they will learn.
Always Use the Same Potty Spot
Take your puppy to the same area of your yard every single time.
Dogs learn through scent, and using the same location helps them recognize exactly why they’re there. Once they go potty, immediately praise them and make it a positive experience.
Consistency is one of the biggest secrets to successful house training.
Praise Goes a Long Way
When your puppy goes potty outside, celebrate!
Use a happy voice, lots of praise, gentle petting, or even a small treat if you choose.
Your puppy will quickly learn:
“When I potty outside, good things happen!”
Bell Training
At Lynn Kay Kennels, we like using a bell hanging by the door.
Each time we take the puppy outside, we encourage them to ring the bell with their nose or paw before opening the door.
Many of our puppy families continue using this method because it gives their puppy an easy way to communicate when they need to go outside.
Supervise, Supervise, Supervise
Until your puppy is completely reliable, don’t allow free run of the house.
If you can’t actively watch your puppy, they should either be:
- In their crate
- In a puppy-safe play area
- Right beside you
Most accidents happen simply because puppies wander off unnoticed.
Why We Recommend Crate Training
A properly sized crate becomes your puppy’s safe place.
Dogs naturally avoid soiling the area where they sleep, making crate training one of the most effective potty-training tools available.
Never use the crate as punishment. It should always be a place where your puppy feels safe and secure.
Accidents Will Happen
Every puppy has accidents.
If you catch your puppy in the act, calmly interrupt them with a firm “No” or “Outside,” then immediately take them to the correct potty spot.
Never yell, hit, or punish your puppy after the fact. They won’t understand why they’re being corrected.
Clean accidents thoroughly so no odor remains.
For cleaning accidents, we use:
- ½ cup white vinegar
- ½ cup OdorBan
- ½ cup water
This helps eliminate odors that might encourage your puppy to use the same spot again.
Patience Wins Every Time
Some puppies learn quickly.
Others take several months.
Don’t compare your puppy to someone else’s.
Stay consistent with your schedule, reward successes, ignore honest mistakes, and your Newfoundland will eventually become a dependable house companion.
Potty Training an Adult Newfoundland
Adult dogs can absolutely be house trained, although it often requires restarting the process from the beginning.
Observe their routine closely and establish a regular schedule.
If needed, keep a diary of when they eat, drink, and eliminate so patterns become easier to recognize.
Introduce crate training slowly if your dog has never used one before, and continue using praise and positive reinforcement every step of the way.
With patience, consistency, and realistic expectations, even an older Newfoundland can become a dependable member of your household.
A couple additions I think would really help because you get asked these questions so often:
Winter Potty Training
Don’t expect your Newfoundland puppy to love snow immediately. Some puppies run outside without hesitation, while others need encouragement. Stay with them, keep potty trips short, and praise them enthusiastically when they go. They usually learn very quickly.
Rainy Days
If you don’t want your Newfoundland to refuse going outside in the rain later in life, don’t skip potty trips because of bad weather. With encouragement, they’ll learn that going outside is part of the routine, rain or shine.
The 15-Minute Rule
If your puppy doesn’t go potty within about 10–15 minutes, bring them back inside under close supervision or place them in their crate for a short time. Then try again. This helps prevent accidents and teaches them that outside is the place to do their business.
Training Tips That Have Worked for Us
One of the questions we get asked most often is, “When should I start training my puppy?”
Our answer is always the same… the day you bring your puppy home.
Every Newfoundland puppy is learning from the minute they wake up until the minute they go to sleep. They are constantly watching you and figuring out what is expected of them. The earlier you begin teaching them, the easier it will be as they grow.
Over the years, we’ve found that consistency is the biggest key to raising a well-behaved Newfoundland. Your puppy doesn’t need long training sessions—they simply need you to be patient, consistent, and use the same commands every day.
Every family has their own training style, and that’s perfectly okay. We’re simply sharing some of the things that have worked well for us after raising Newfoundland puppies for many years.
Set Rules Early
Newfoundland puppies are incredibly smart.
They quickly learn what they’re allowed to do and what they’re not allowed to do. If you allow a behavior today but correct it tomorrow, your puppy won’t understand why the rules changed.
Everyone in the household should use the same commands and expect the same behaviors. Puppies learn much faster when everyone is on the same page.
We Like Crate Training
One of the tools that has worked best for us is crate training.
A crate gives your puppy a safe, quiet place to rest and helps establish a daily routine. We have found it to be extremely helpful for potty training and teaching puppies how to settle down.
Our dogs have always learned to think of their crate as their own little bedroom—not a punishment, but a place where they feel safe and comfortable.
Puppies Will Test You
If there’s one thing we’ve learned over the years, it’s that puppies like to see if the rules have changed.
One day they’ll do everything perfectly, and the next day they’ll decide to try something completely different.
That’s normal.
Don’t get discouraged.
Simply stay consistent and continue reinforcing the behaviors you want. Before long, they’ll remember what you’ve been teaching them all along.
Bad Habits Are Easier to Prevent Than Fix
It’s much easier to teach good manners from the beginning than it is to break bad habits later.
We don’t allow jumping on people, rough play, or nipping because those cute puppy behaviors aren’t nearly as cute when your Newfoundland weighs 130 pounds.
Teaching good manners while they’re little makes life much easier as they grow.
Every Puppy Learns Differently
Some puppies seem to understand everything within a few days.
Others take a little more time.
That’s perfectly normal.
Don’t compare your puppy to someone else’s. Keep training sessions positive, be patient, celebrate the little victories, and remember that learning is a process.
Enjoy the Journey
There will be days when your puppy seems to forget everything you’ve taught them. There will also be days when you’ll be amazed at how much they’ve learned.
Watching them grow from a playful little puppy into the gentle, loving Newfoundland the breed is known for is one of the greatest rewards of owning one.
We’re still learning from our own dogs every day, and after all these years, they still manage to teach us something new.
If you ever have questions, we’re always happy to share what has worked for us.