Newfoundlands are known for their gentle nature and friendly temperament, but what about when it comes to small dogs?
Some may assume that Newfoundlands get along with all other dogs, regardless of size, but the truth is more complex.
In this article, we’ll explore whether or not Newfoundlands are a good match for small dogs and what factors to consider before introducing them to one another.
Newfoundlands can get along with small dogs, but socialization, training, and a good introduction help to make sure all goes well. Like all dogs, Newfies can have a prey instinct and enjoy chasing smaller animals. However, when proper steps have been taken, Newfoundlands tend to get along well with small dogs.
We can look in detail at what to do when introducing a Newfie to a smaller dog and how to handle problem situations should they arise.
How can I tell if my Newfoundland Likes Small Dogs?
Your Newfoundland is likely to get along with other dogs well, including small dogs. But there are two main issues you might encounter.
First, because of the size difference, an untrained or unsocialized Newfoundland might not know how to play with a smaller dog properly. Small dogs can often get intimidated by their behavior, and a vicious cycle ensues.
Second, Newfoundlands have a prey instinct, like most other dogs. It’s usually not as pronounced, but it can often happen that they enjoy chasing around smaller animals. This can get dangerous for small dogs.
Now, check how your Newfoundland treats other small animals when they see them. This can indicate how strong their prey instinct is. For example, do they tend to want to chase after cats, mice, or squirrels? If so, be cautious when introducing them to a small dog.
Why does my Newfoundland Like to Chase Small Dogs?
Some Newfoundlands like to chase small dogs because they see them as prey animals. However, most dogs have a prey instinct and enjoy chasing smaller animals around.
However, this can be trained out of a dog most of the time, especially while young. Especially with Newfoundlands, you can usually get them to cohabitate with small dogs and cats.
They don’t hate small dogs, but often small dogs can trigger their prey instincts. Luckily, many small dogs will hold their ground, and Newfoundlands can recognize this as a reason not to chase.
Sometimes they can still try to chase a small dog out of boredom and for play, which might be ok, but generally speaking, it is dangerous with the size difference. It’s best to train this behavior out of them.
How to Introduce your Newfoundland to a Small Dog?
Follow these steps to help introduce your Newfoundland to a small dog:
- Train your Newfoundland for fundamental commands and obedience training to have some control over them. For example, they should obey commands like “sit,” “stay,” and “come” before the introduction.
- Make a safe space to allow the Newfoundland and small dog to meet. No other animals or distractions should be in the area.
- Separate rooms for the first few days before they meet can help. By getting used to each other’s presence and smells, there’s less chance of a confrontation.
- During this time, you can feed them on opposite ends of a closed door or gate. They will learn to associate a pleasant experience like eating with the presence of the other animal.
- Once you’ve done this for a while and they seem calm while eating near each other, you can have them meet in a neutral space – a common area in the house. Make sure to have a leash on both dogs to keep them from getting aggressive with one another.
- Reward them with food whenever they seem to be getting along well.
- After a brief meeting, allow them back into their respective rooms and continue to set up meeting times until they seem to be getting along better.
- If your small dog gets frightened and runs away, make sure the Newfoundland doesn’t chase them.
- The more sessions you can have without incident, even if they are very short, the better.
- Over time, they should get used to each other and can spend more time off-leash with one another until they are ready to be full-time in the same room.
What to do if your Newfoundland and Small Dog don’t Get Along?
Follow the introduction steps above first to try to get them to get along. Then, if that doesn’t work and your Newfoundland is chasing around and causing your small dog trouble, here’s what you can do:
- Keep the big dog on a leash whenever your small dog is in the same room as the Newfoundland.
- Whenever the Newfoundland seems to be paying too much attention, the small dog gets their attention and rewards them when they ignore the small dog.
- Keep your Newfoundland’s attention and keep treating them until your small dog leaves the room. If the small dog wants to stay around, give the Newfoundland a toy or other distractions to keep the two apart.
- Over time, the Newfoundland should stop chasing the small dog and instead come to you for attention whenever they enter the room.
Why do Newfoundlands Dominate Small Dogs?
There are two main reasons your Newfoundland is trying to dominate your small dog.
The first is one we’ve discussed before; it’s their prey instinct. Like most dogs, they like to chase after smaller animals as it seems like fun. It isn’t as pronounced in Newfoundlands as in other breeds, but it’s still there.
The second is that Newfoundlands are often unaware of their size. So they might think they are just playing nicely with a smaller dog, but in fact, they are bullying and dominating them.
Methods to Help Newfoundlands Get Along with Small Dogs
Here are three concrete methods to help your Newfoundland get along with small dogs.
Socialization is critical
Socialization with smaller animals from a young age is a great way to get your Newfoundland to understand their size. They will also be able to read better other animals and dogs in particular, which will allow them to know when they are playing too hard or causing a problem.
Like humans, the more interaction they have with others, the better they will understand the social dynamics.
Redirect your Newfie’s attention
Attention redirection is one of the best simple methods to get your Newfoundland to stop causing trouble for a small dog.
Whenever they are in the same room together, and your Newfie seems to be bothering the small dog, try to get their attention and reward them when they come to you instead.
Over time, this should curb their bad behaviors.
Behavior training
If attention redirection isn’t enough, it might be time to get some professional help.
You can go to your local dog trainer and get them to work out a plan for your Newfie so that they no longer cause a problem for your small dog.
This will likely involve an entire regime of obedience training to get them to understand and obey all the basic commands.
Once accomplished, further behavioral training is recommended to stop harassing smaller dogs.
You can follow an obedience regiment yourself without doing to a dog trainer by teaching your dog commands like “sit,” “stay,” and “come.” By learning these commands, you can better control your dog when other bad behaviors come into play.
Final thoughts
We hope this article has given you some insight into whether a Newfoundlands will get along with small dogs and what to do if they don’t get along.
We’ve tried to give some concrete advice, including introducing them and what to do if they aren’t getting along.
Not all dogs of the same breed act the same; you might get all sorts of behaviors that are out of the ordinary. But, for the most part, Newfies are an easy breed to train and gentle for a larger dog.
Before long, you shouldn’t have too much trouble seeing them get along with small dogs.
