Newfypoo are a cross breed that are growing in popularity.
They’re a cross between a Newfoundland and a Poodle to create a medium-to-large dog that can make a great family pets.
Newfypoo are one of the largest Poodles mixes in the Doodle family, but these hybrid dogs are sometimes labelled gentle giants.
They can also be called Newdle, Newfydoodle, Newfydoo, Newfoundlandpoo, Newfoundlandoodle and Poofoundland.
One of the most appealing aspects of owning a Newfypoo is their potential to have hypoallergenic qualities.
Just remember there’s no guarantee that a Newfypoo will inherit certain desired traits from either the Newfoundland or the Poodle.
In this article, we’re going to take a look at the pros and cons of owning a Newfypoo, hearing from current owners of the cross breed to get a detailed insight into these hybrid dogs.
We’ll hear from Alfie the Newfypoo (@alfie.the.newfypoo) and Dolly the Newfypoo (@dolly_the_newfypoo).
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Pros
Friendly
Newfypoo tend to be friendly dogs that get along with people and other dogs. Newfypoo are usually quite calm dogs, a trait that can be inherited from their Newfoundland parent. Just like any breed or mix, Newfypoo will still benefit from socialization and training from a young age. But you’ll find that this particular cross breed will relish interactions with people, especially their fellow family members.
Tricia says Dolly has been friendly with other dogs so far.
Dolly is extremely friendly and seems to love all animals. Unfortunately due to Covid-19 we haven’t been able to work on her manners as much as we would like, she doesn’t realise how big she is. She adores our French Bulldog but the feeling isn’t mutual
Easy to train
The Poodle is the second smartest dog breed in the world so there’s a good chance you’ll have a fairly smart pup on your hand if you get a Newfypoo. Of course, there’s no guarantee that your dog will inherit the IQ of the Poodle, but seeing as Newfoundlands are reasonably intelligent, it’s safe to assume that a Newfypoo should be quick to learn new commands. Nevertheless, it’s a good idea to take your dog to puppy manners classes from a young age to lay down the ground rules.
Hypoallergenic
There has been a surge in demand for Poodle crosses over the past couple of decades thanks to their low-shedding coats. Poodles are put forward by the American Kennel Club and the Kennel Club as examples of breeds that don’t shed a lot. The Newfoundland, on the other hand, is a moderate shedder. Therefore, there’s a chance that your Newfypoo could shed a little if they inherit the trait from the Newfoundland parent. However, most Newfypoo owners that we spoke to said that their dogs don’t shed apart from when they shed their puppy coat.
Alfie the Newfypoo is currently shedding his puppy coat.
Newfypoos can be hypoallergenic as many of them don’t shed, but it does depend upon how much Poodle content them have. Alfie is shedding at the moment, we believe because he is losing his puppy coat, although hasn’t until recently.
Tricia had a similar experience with Dolly.
I’m not sure, Dolly doesn’t malt really but as I mentioned she does get brushed a lot. At around 7-9 months we would find lots of fur tumble weed rolling about the house, I think this was her shedding her puppy coat.
Gentle with children
Newfoundlands are famous for being gentle guardians of livestock. Over time, they’ve earned a reputation for being protectors of the family. Newfypoo can be excellent as family pets given they’re usually quite gentle around children. They can develop a deep bond and sense of loyalty with the younger members of the family. Having said that, we don’t recommend leaving a child alone, unsupervised with a dog ever.
Sophie believes Newfypoo are excellent family pets given her experience with Alfie so far.
Newfypoos make such a wonderful family pet because they are so gentle and loyal. It’s just their size and the accompanying bills that might put people off.
Guard dog / Watch dog
Tying into our previous point, Newfypoo can make good guard or watch dogs. Their Newfoundland parents were traditionally guardians of the livestock or the family. This trait could potentially be passed down to the Newfypoo. With a potential to grow to a height of 25 inches and a weight of 110 pounds, their size alone should make them a deterrent for would-be intruders. They’re also alert to unfamiliar visitors the home.
Cons
Size
Newfoundland are usually pretty large dogs. They can grow to be between 21 and 25 inches tall, while they can from 85 pounds to 110 pounds. The result is a big dog that can be difficult to control if your Newfypoo isn’t trained to walk nicely on a leash or not to jump on new visitors in your home. This could be particularly challenging for first-time dog owners who may not have a lot of experience around dogs, especially big dogs!
Attention
This hybrid dog has only started to become more popular in the past couple of decade, with the origin of the mix unclear. Given the variety of different colors and potential for different sizes, you can expect a lot of questions from dog lovers. As someone who owns a rare breed, you’ll have to be prepared to field a lot of questions on your daily walk. If you don’t like to be disturbed on your afternoon stroll, you may want to think twice about getting a Newfypoo.
Tricia gets lots of questions about Dolly.
You will never be short of attention, going for a quick walk can take hours because the amount of people who stop to ask about her (this can be a Con sometimes).
Need a lot of space
Unlike a Cavapoo or Cockapoo, Newfypoo are one of the bigger members of the Doodle family. Therefore they’ll require a lot of space to roam. Newfypoo won’t be a good match for dog lovers who live in an apartment or don’t have a garden. They’ll usually require at least 60 minutes of exercise a day – if not more!
Expensive
Newfypoo are often dubbed a designer breed like Goldendoodles and Labradoodles. They’ll cost a little more given they’re not that common. Having said that, we recommend you do careful research to find an ethical and responsible breeder. You should ask to see your pup’s parents as well as proof of health and vet checks. During our research, we estimated that the average cost of a Newfypoo pup is around £1,000 to £3,000. You should also be prepared to pay for monthly reoccurring costs such as dog food, pet insurance, grooming costs and more.
Grooming
While Newfypoo don’t shed a lot – if at all – you’ll need to be prepared to regularly groom your Newfoundland Poodle cross. They require regular grooming to ensure their coats don’t become matted or tangled. Additionally, it can prevent potential infection and remove debris picked up on their coat outside the home.
Tricia gave us an insight into her grooming schedule with Dolly.
They do need regular grooming, I brush Dolly everyday, it takes about 5-10 minutes but even then they can still get matts. Before lockdown I got Dolly professionally groomed about ever 6-8 weeks. She was due to be cut just as lockdown kicked off. As much as I tried to keep on top of it I lost the battle in the end. I was so relieved when I got her booked in to be cut. I was paying £70 in a major pet store but now I have found a local lady who is amazing and only charges £45. I don’t think they require any more care than other long haired breeds though.
Separation anxiety
Newfypoo can suffer with separation anxiety just like any other variety of dog. Separation anxiety is a chronic canine disorder that can affect any dog irrespective of breed or mix. It occurs when pet parents are about to leave the home or leave the home. The result is incessant barking, chewing, howling and whining. While this is a problem that we read about quite a bit during our research of Newfypoo, Alfie’s mom hasn’t experienced any separation anxiety with her pup – yet.
Alfie doesn’t seem to display any signs of any separation anxiety, but he does love to have his sister there. Whilst he was doing brilliantly during the day on his own, we also have mostly been in lockdown since soon after we got him and as we collected him at 15 weeks old we are not sure how he will deal with being on his own now.
Anything Else To Consider?
If you’d like to learn more about the potentials pros and cons of owning a Newfypoo, you could always find some owners of these dogs on social media and fire them a message. We find that pet parents are always happy to help with advice and information based upon their experiences with the breed or mix.
Here are two Newfypoo to follow on Instagram:
• Alfie the Newfypoo (@alfie.the.newfypoo)
• Dolly the Newfypoo (@dolly_the_newfypoo)
Wrapping Up
We’ve reached the end of our look at Newfypoo pros and cons.
Just like any other dog, they can bring their perks but come with their challenges.
Newfypoo need a lot of space and require lots of exercise, but they’re smart dogs that are quick to learn commands.
They tend to do well in a family setting but pet parents should always supervise interactions with children.
While Newfypoo are friendly dogs, their size alone can make them competent guard dogs.
