As a proud Newfie owner, I’ve always been aware of the special qualities these dogs possess. It’s no wonder that Newfoundland dogs as therapy animals are making a significant impact in the lives of many. Their gentle demeanor and intuitive nature make them ideal for therapeutic settings. In this article, we’ll explore how people around the world are benefiting from therapy sessions with these remarkable dogs, highlighting the unique attributes that make Newfoundlands exceptional in this role.
Newfoundlands as Service Dogs
A good service dog is calm, energetic (though not hyperactive), friendly towards people and other animals, and easy to train.
In my experience, Newfoundlands tick those boxes pretty well. They’re placid and sociable, they have a moderate amount of energy, and – while they aren’t the easiest breed to train – they are intelligent and capable of learning to behave and follow commands.
So, is the Newfoundland the ideal service dog? Unfortunately, it isn’t quite that simple.
There are several characteristics of Newfies that, in my view, make them less well suited to service roles.
Size
The defining feature of the Newfoundland is their size. When a dog weighs anywhere from 100-200lbs, their size is bound to influence every aspect of their lives and can be both an advantage and a disadvantage.
For a Newfoundland service dog, their size and weight is a positive when they are tasked with helping people who are prone to seizures.
In these cases, the service dog’s job is to lie on their owner and prevent them from injuring themselves through violent involuntary movements. Given their size and strength, a Newfie can do this with ease, and as long as they are trained well, will do so without harming their owner.
Unfortunately though, the great size of a Newfoundland can also be a disadvantage when it comes to being an effective service dog.
One major issue is that a Newfoundland won’t be able to sit under a table or in front of their owner in a car or on public transport. This could prevent their owner from eating in certain restaurants where there isn’t enough room, or from travelling by plane, as airlines require service dogs to sit in front of the owner’s seat.
Another problem is that Newfies have a tendency to bump into people and objects. This can be challenging for able-bodied people, but can be even more of a concern for someone with a disability.
Many people with disabilities simply won’t be able to race around tidying up after their dog. And, even more importantly, being bumped into by a 150lb dog could put a vulnerable owner at risk of injury.
Drool
As well as clearing up everything that a Newfie bumps into, all Newfoundland owners will be familiar with the issue of cleaning up their drool too!
There’s no denying it, these dogs drool a lot, and wiping up drool can start to feel like a full-time job.
This might not be too much of an inconvenience for many Newfie owners, but in the case of service dogs, endless drool can place an extra burden on an owner who may not be equipped to deal with it.
Shedding and Grooming
As well as cleaning up drool, Newfoundland owners should be prepared to clean up a lot of fur too. These Newfs shed almost as much as they drool!
Newfoundlands also need to be groomed frequently. This involves combing mats and tangles out of their fur on a regular basis, booking a professional grooming appointment every eight weeks or so, and getting their nails trimmed too.
Like the drool problem, this shedding and frequent grooming isn’t necessarily a huge issue, as long as you have the time and money and are able to clean up after your dog. However, it may be more of a challenge for a person who needs a service dog.
Availability
If you want a Newfoundland that can be trained as a service dog, you’re going to need to buy a puppy from a reputable breeder. Unfortunately, Newfies aren’t as widely available as other breeds, which can result in a long wait for the right pup to come along.
This means that you will need to plan months or even years ahead in order to find the right Newfie for you, and then start the long process of getting them trained as a service dog.
Lifespan & Training Time
Though the exact training time depends on the skills required, it generally takes around two years to fully train a service dog.
This training often doesn’t start in earnest until the dog is around six months old, which means the dog is likely to be approaching its third birthday by the time it is fully trained.
Unfortunately, Newfies have a relatively short lifespan of 10 to 12 years and can be slow to mature, which limits how quickly they can be trained.
This means that, compared to other breeds, Newfies are likely to offer fewer years of useful service between the time they complete their training and the age at which they becomes too old to work as needed.
Expensive
The final issue with having a Newfie as a service dog is the cost. While no dog is cheap to care for, Newfies can be particularly expensive.
Newfoundlands eat a lot, which means lots of money spent on food, they require frequent professional grooming, and they are prone to a number of illnesses that may mean regular trips to the vet too.
Should Newfies be Service Dogs?
Overall, Newfies can absolutely be service dogs, and their temperament makes them perfect for the role.
However, there are a lot of drawbacks and challenges to overcome too, particularly problems presented by their size, shedding and drooling.
All things considered, when compared to breeds such as Labradors, Golden Retrievers, Poodles and Collies, Newfoundlands aren’t anywhere near as well-suited to service roles.
There is some good news though! While Newfies aren’t really cut out to be service dogs, they can still help people as therapy dogs.
Newfoundlands as Therapy Dogs
A good therapy dog should be:
- Gentle and placid around people and other animals
- Happy being petted and touched by people
- Friendly and sociable
- Energetic, but without needing constant attention and exercise
- Confident and not easy to startle
- Easy to train
And guess what? Newfoundlands tick every box!
Unlike being a service dog, where a Newfie may risk becoming a burden on its owner, therapy dogs can have a permanent owner who can cater to their every need, while also spending short periods of time helping lots of different people.
The Newfoundland’s suitability as a therapy dog is widely recognised, and many businesses already offer ‘Newfie therapy’.
This business, run by a paramedic, helps emergency workers deal with trauma by swimming with Newfoundlands, while also providing Newfie therapy for veterans and young people with disabilities.
Similarly, TimberKnolls Spirit Cove uses Newfoundlands to help people recovering from trauma or illness.
One customer, a PTSD survivor, is quoted as saying:
“Wrapping my arms around a massive bear like dog manages to bring peace in a way that medicine just doesn’t accomplish. When I’m surrounded by these joyful animals, anything seems possible. I forget about fear and pain and I’m able to live in the day, full of joy.”
So, I think the verdict is pretty conclusive: Newfoundlands make great therapy dogs!
If you’re looking for a breed that can offer comfort to people living with all kinds of physical and mental health challenges, then I say look no further than these loveable gentle giants.
My View: Newfies as Service or Therapy Dogs
Newfies have a lovely temperament, which at first glance makes them seem like the perfect service dog. However, as a Newfie owner, I can understand the difficulties they would present too, particularly due to their size.
Looking after a Newfie is hard work and I personally can’t imagine caring for them as well as myself if I had a physical or mental disability. At least, not unless I had lots of support from other people.
In contrast, I can absolutely see how well a Newfie would work as a therapy dog.
While I’m lucky not to experience a high-stress job, PTSD, or anxiety, having a Newfoundland dog still provides comfort and helps with relaxation.
After a challenging day, coming home to the warm spirit and loving temperament of a Newfoundland never fails to lift my spirits.
As a Newfie owner, I can certainly appreciate just how beneficial the breed must be as a therapy dog. It’s not surprising that so many people around the world are benefiting from these Newf therapy sessions!