Customer Reviews

Newfoundlands (Barron's Complete Pet Owner's Manuals)

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

This book, while equipt with nice photos is not worth buying. The book is poorly written and contains little information that is particular to the breed (other than a repeated insistance that the dog owner must remember that the 15 pound puppy will soon turn into a 130 lb dog). It is a book about dogs (only "newfie is substituted for dog). For instance -- in the excercize chapter: it says something like "Jogging is good exercize for you and your newfie"... Duh.

I bought this book looking for more breed-specific information on the Newfoundland than I could find surfing the web. However, what I got was a poorly written, inconsistent "manual" by a person who doesn't even own a Newfoundland! This book covers a very impressive breadth of information but the depth is just not there. For example, there are some nice pictures of working and rescue Newfs but the accompanying text lacks substance. Also, there are spots where the author actually contradicts herself. In the feeding chapter, for example, in a photo caption it says "A puppy needs three meals a day between the ages of three and eighteen months", but in an inset detailing how much to feed your dog at what age, it indicates that your puppy should eat 2 meals per day starting at age 3 months!

Overall I was disappointed. I did not find any information in this book that I couldn't find on the Internet in about 10 minutes. Also, I have a hard time believing anything I read because of the contradictions and the author's lack of direct experience with the breed.

This book is small and has nice photos. It has general information about overall dog care. It does not have alot of specific information for the newfie breed that I was particularily interested in. It is short and would be an good book for younger adults.

I agree with the others who were dissapointed by this book. If you know anything about giant dog breeds, then reading this book will add little to no information. There aren't many breed-specific facts about the Newfoundland, and the facts that are there are very general and could apply to any giant dog. I will keep looking for better sources.

The first time I saw a Newfoundland, I assumed it was a Black Saint Bernard. I mean, the similarity is striking. So is their size. The Newfie looks like a circus bear! Or black bear?

Actually, the Newfoundland is a breed of working dogs from Canada, famous for their large size, swimming ability and good-mannered temper. They used to help fishermen howl in the nets, pulled carts and even served as "nannies" to children.

According to popular legend, the Viking chief Leif Eriksson had a Newfie with him on his journey to Vinland, while another Newf saved Napoleon from drowning during his daring escape from Elba. Even the American Indians had large dogs similar to Newfoundlands. Indeed, nobody knows where the breed originally comes from.

While most Newfoundlands are black, a few are black-and-white. Known as Landseers, they are named after the British painter Sir Edwin Landseer, who often painted portraits of this particular dog. (I've seen the paintings on art websites, but never understood what breed it was!)

"Newfoundland" is a basic introduction to the breed, and to dogs in general. Some of the other customer reviewers found this objectionable. Personally, I think even a short, general book for $ 9 fills a niche. (I liked the Boxer, Irish Wolfhound, Great Dane and Giant Schnauzer books in this series, as well.) People who never owned a dog before, or whose only experience with dogs is a poodle, might do well to look through this little booklet in case they fall in love with a Newf. We're talking a 130-pound dog that can be 28 inches tall...

The book contains information on puppy training, where to buy a puppy, feeding, grooming, potential health problems and suitable activities. The latter include swimming, hiking, cart pulling and tracking. This little doggie isn't a couch potato!

An extra star for the superb and sometimes humorous photos.

This book would have been good had it not been used and in a very poor condition. Binned it as it was for a present and I could not give it. Contacted the seller they never got back to me.

A terrific resource book every Newfie owner should have on their shelf. A great way to get to know the breed.

From the cover to the last page on this book it is filled with gorgeous pictures and great material on this magnificent breed. The information contained within the book is worth the buy, but the pictures is what keeps you coming back for another look.

I bought this book at the recommendation of a Newfoundland breeder. It is small, but quite informative and not a fill-in-the-blank dog book that is really about any dog.
Linda Morgan

I bought this book in addition to several others prior to getting my Newfoundland puppy. I loved the pictures and thought it was a good general reference on the breed. The chapter on grooming was especially helpful. The comment from another reviewer that the author lacked direct experience with the breed puzzled me since the last page indicated she had owned Newfoundlands for 25 years. If you are looking for in-depth information on training your Newf for rescue work or water trials then you should look for other resources. If you want a general reference on the breed, then you can't beat this one for the price!