Newfoundlands are large dogs with even bigger personalities. They’re intelligent, loyal, and love to have fun! But they can be stubborn at times, and many people wonder if it’s hard to discipline a Newfoundland.
In this blog post, I’ll share some tips for disciplining your Newfoundland that will help keep him happy and healthy.
Know your dog’s body language and what they’re trying to say.
Like most dogs, Newfoundlands will let you know when they’re upset by growling or barking at you. Sometimes the pup might need a break and be trying to tell you that he’s had enough and would like for you to leave him alone for a few minutes.
Pay attention to your dog’s body language and what he’s trying to say to you – this will help you understand when it’s time for a break.
Some examples of how a Newfoundland communicates include wagging its tail and jumping up when happy.
Newfies will bark to alert the master of impending danger or visitors at the front or back door. They will also lie down flat on their belly when it is in a submissive state.
When in an excited state, they may lick their lips and drool.
Be consistent with discipline
Mixing up the punishment isn’t effective and will confuse both you and your pup. If he misbehaves, don’t yell at him one day, give him a stern “NO” another day and take away his favorite toy on another day.
Keep it simple and always follow the same routine: if your Newfoundland does something that the rules don’t agree with, say no in a firm voice and remove him from the situation.
In most cases, they’ll understand that they misbehaved and will apologize by licking your face or hands.
You can also try clapping your hands to get his attention – when he looks at you, give him a treat! This simple training method is used on marine mammals to teach them tricks and behaviors.
It’s a good idea for anyone who has a Newfoundland – practicing with this easy trick will help guide your pooch not to jump on guests, etc.
You may also like – How to Get Your Newfoundland to Trust You? 11 Key Tips!
Be calm and assertive when disciplining a Newfoundland.
Has your Newfoundland growled at you? You can try giving him a toy, but if he keeps growling, take it away and tell him no. Don’t yell at him – this will only make the situation worse.
If you feel like you might lose your temper, take a moment to calm down before disciplining your pup.
Yelling or screaming won’t teach him anything except that when he misbehaves, someone loses their cool. Keeping your composure will help maintain the trust between yourself and your canine best friend!
Give a warning before disciplining them.
Your Newfoundland will appreciate the warning before you discipline him.
If your Newfie pup is misbehaving by getting into the trash, for example, give him a warning outside of the room before taking it away and telling him no.
This simple step can help prevent accidents from happening in the future without scaring or confusing your furry friend!
Newfoundlands are sensitive dogs with big personalities- being firm but caring with them is always best. Be careful not to scare or hurt your canine companion when disciplining her.
Ensure that she knows that you’re displeased with what she’s doing rather than punishing her out of anger or annoyance.
Maintain a schedule for feeding, walking, playing, and sleeping.
Your Newfoundland pup thrives on having a schedule for feeding, playtime, and other activities. When you create set times for feeding, walks, playing inside or outside, etc., your Newfie will learn to expect them and be excited to see you when they come around!
Keeping a clear schedule with strong boundaries is also helpful for house training the pooch – he’ll know what is expected of him throughout the day!
Newfoundlands love doing things that make people happy- making sure that you’re happy makes them happy too!
Being strict but caring with your Newfoundland pup is an effective way to help ensure it grows up healthy and well-behaved.
Keeping excitement out of disciplining helps teach your pooch right from wrong without confusing her.
Punish bad behavior immediately for best results
Puppy training is all about consistency – punishment for bad behavior needs to happen immediately.
If your Newfie pup does something wrong, give them a firm “NO” and take them away from the situation you disapprove of. Please don’t wait to punish them, or they won’t know why they’re being disciplined!
Remove something important when your Newfie misbehaves.
This will teach the dog that if it wants something, it has to behave appropriately. Generally, it’s best to take away a plaything or food.
Yelling, spanking, and other forms of discipline will only confuse your Newfoundland and could cause more issues than it fixes!
Put your Newfoundland in a time-out area if required.
If your Newfie continues to misbehave, putting them into a time-out area will send a clear message their behavior isn’t acceptable.
This should be a boring area that the Newfie will not want to spend time in after you discipline them.
This can be their crate or another room- just ensure that it’s an area where your dog won’t hurt himself if left unattended!
Saying no and removing something vital to them is usually enough for any Newfoundland dog!
Use a leash or spray bottle if necessary.
Using a leash or spray bottle might make the situation more urgent and will get your Newfie’s attention. Just be sure not to hurt your dog when using one!
Spray bottles should only be used if directed at the muzzle to get their attention rather than directed at them from a distance.
Leashes help keep you in charge of the situation while staying close to your canine companion- they can be helpful during training!
Reward good behavior with treats, playtime, etc.
Rewarding your Newfoundland with treats, extra playtime, and compliments helps when issuing discipline. They associate those actions with positive reinforcement.
It’s essential to be as consistent as possible- only give out rewards if it responds to a command or does something you approve of, such as chewing on its own toys!
Be mindful that Newfies are very food-motivated.
Food works well for most dogs- the Newfoundland is heavily motivated by food, so keep this in mind when training and providing discipline.
Food can be used as a reward for good behavior, but it is essential to have the dog understand that positive reinforcement can also come with love and affection rather than just food – do not fall into the trap of using only treats!
Helpful tips to prevent bad behavior
Ensure your Newfie gets regular daily exercise
Making sure your Newfoundland gets enough exercise can help prevent bad behavior.
Exhausted dogs are more likely to sleep during the day instead of getting into mischief! Newfoundlands love playing fetch and other sports, so be sure you dedicate time for this each day. It might seem like a lot, but it will make training easier later on!
Ensure regular bonding sessions with your Newfie.
Bonding sessions are vital because they help create a robust and trusting bond with your Newfoundland.
Spending time together is essential for bonding- just be sure to do so in short sessions, so you don’t wear yourself out! This will help strengthen the relationship between you and your dog.
Give them something to chew on when they’re not home.
Your Newfie pup may be inclined to get into mischief while you are gone if it doesn’t have anything else to keep it busy.
Ensuring that there’s always at least one thing that can keep its attention (such as an outside bone or food-dispensing toy) helps prevent bad behavior! Also, make sure that whatever your pup chews on does not pose any danger.
Train and socialize your Newfie early
Early training is the best way to ensure that your Newfoundland will be obedient. Teaching basic commands – such as sit, stay and lie down- can also help prevent bad behavior.
Training sessions should only last for a few minutes at first; it’s essential that you teach them early on that good behavior will lead to positive results!
Socializing your Newfoundland pup with different people, places, and other dogs can also help prevent bad behavior. The more exposure they get to new experiences, the better their overall life experience will be!
Seek professional help if you feel overwhelmed
If you have tried everything and your Newfoundland is still causing many problems, it may be time to seek professional help.
A professional dog trainer might uncover the root cause of the problem and help you develop a plan that will work for both yourself and your Newfie! Just remember- training should not have to involve pain or negativity!
Final thoughts
Providing discipline to your Newfoundland doesn’t need to be scary. Stay calm and focus on clear communication and consistency. This is the best way to ensure your new Newfie grows up healthy and well-behaved.
