Newfoundlands are known for being a bit clumsy, they can go far in anything they set their mind to. So this triggered the question as to whether Newfoundland dogs are agile.
Overall, Newfoundland dogs are not very agile. They can be trained for agility, however, if they have an aptitude for it. They are better known for their strength, stamina, and ability to swim. But, as working dogs, their strengths lie elsewhere.
There are no limits to what you can do with your Newfie, so it’s up to you where you want to take them. But, of course, their disposition matters too, and a Newfoundland that doesn’t seem to want to get more agile will probably be quite a struggle to train.
We explore the agility levels of Newfoundlands further, including the different environments they thrive in and ways to increase their agility levels.
Working Water Dogs
Newfoundlands were bred as working water dogs and as such, have a lot of strength and stamina. They worked with fishermen for most of the breed’s history and helped them to hunt fish.
Their build is heavy-set because of this, with a thick, waterproof coat and heavy bones.
Their ability in the water is one of the greatest among all dogs, as they have a powerful breaststroke-like movement and a body built for swimming. They’ve known for being great rescue dogs in the water as well, with the ability to guide people to shore.
Newfies are not known for their agility, but that doesn’t mean you can’t train them for it. Agility is something that a good trainer can provide a lot of help to a dog with, plus it’s something that a highly motivated dog can invest in and grow with.
One of the reasons it’s more difficult for Newfoundlands is that they are heavier-boned than breeds like Border Collies, which are similar in size but more agile on average.
Unfortunately, because Newfies are quite large, making the tight turns of agility courses are more challenging for them.
Before you decide whether to get your Newf invested in agility courses, you should check if they are interested in agility training themselves.
If your dog isn’t enthusiastic about a specific type of training, it can be very hard to motivate them. But some Newfies do enjoy agility training a lot, and for those, you can get a lot out of training them.
These obstacles can all be overcome with determination and training, but they are worth watching out for. Don’t let anyone tell you a Newfie can never be agile.
How to Train for Agility
Training Newfoundland dogs to be agile is a great way to bond with them. They are a highly intelligent breed with an incredible instinct for training and work.
Their temperament makes them very suitable as a breed to train at just about anything you like, including agility training. Agility training provides great physical and mental stimulation, giving your Newfie an outlet for their energy.
Usually, you’ll want to take a Foundations Class or equivalent with your dog to learn the basics of agility training.
Then, once you and your Newfie have got your footing, there is further level courses to take before you can start building a course at home to practice if you’d like.
Agility refers to the sport where a dog and its handler navigate a course of ramps, jumps, tunnels, and other obstacles that test the dog’s ability to move with dexterity.
Both accuracy and speed matter in an agility course, with points awarded depending on how fast it’s finished and how many mistakes were made.
Agility practice takes a lot of time and practice, plus you have to be patient with your dog as they are learning what’s required of them. However, it can also be a lot of fun. If your dog is into it, they should be having a lot of fun too.
Health and Safety for Agility Training
If you decide to get your Newfoundland into agility training, you should check that their hips, elbows, and heart are healthy.
Because Newfoundland dogs are heavy, doing intense, repetitive training activities can hurt their bodies more than other dogs. This can make it difficult for this breed to become agile due to its size.
If your Newfie is overweight, it is essential to get them to a healthier weight before getting into intense training. The pressure on their joints and body will be too much and has a greater chance of injury. A good warm-up is always helpful for preventing injury.
Age is also a factor. Newfoundlands that are too young risk being too uncoordinated to train safely. Plate closure is the essential piece of timing here, as they shouldn’t do lots of exercises until this development is complete.
Of course, older Newfies will also have a problem due to their health conditions when they get older.
It’s better to spend a dog’s youngest months on obedience training and general health and fitness. However, voice control is critical for competition and very helpful in many other areas of a dog’s life.
By the time you are starting agility classes, they should be nearly fully trained in voice commands.
Finally, keep daily training between 20 and 30 minutes. Any more and your dog risks greater injuries and will lose attention span.
Basic Training
Before moving on to agility training, it’s essential to get obedience training and basic training down first.
Thankfully, a Newfie’s smarts, obedience, and loyalty are all primed to allow this phase to be reasonably easy.
Make sure you have a sound reward system prepared, with treats and lots of praise when they do the right things.
Head pats, specific praise words, and tons of love and affection will indicate to them clearly when they’ve done something right vs. when they haven’t quite mastered the desired command.
Harsh training won’t work with Newfoundlands but is also frowned upon in general. However, you can accomplish everything you need using positive reinforcement.
If they behave exceptionally badly, you can use a firm voice and time-outs to correct their worst behaviors.
Because they are quite large and strong, it’s crucial to get leash training and similarly completed before anything like agility training to know you have control over your dog. A Newfie can yank you with the leash if left untrained.
Agility in Search and Rescue
When it comes to search and rescue, Newfoundlands are excellent dogs. Both on land and in the water, they can seek out people and will work hard to rescue them.
There are many stories of Newfies rescuing their owners in the water as they know how to help bring them to shore. They will also protect their family from dangers on land or at sea by blocking threats with their body.
They are not aggressive by nature, but they have a strong instinct to help their family in any way they can. They’ve been known to keep sharks and other aquatic creatures away from their owners in the direst of circumstances.
Final thoughts
Newfoundland dogs are a fantastic breed for many reasons, however, being agile isn’t one of them.
We’ve seen that they can accomplish anything they set their mind to, with some careful training and patience.
However, you should be sure that agility training is something they’re interested in if you are going that route. Different dogs tend to be interested in other things, including those within the same breed.
If they are interested, make sure they are physically up to the task. This, of course, is after you’ve done the proper obedience and foundations training beforehand. Then, you’re all set to have fun with your little Newf!
