Page 106 - K9 News - Issue 14 - December 2020
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Welfare
Welfare is an extremely important section of The whole process is always anonymous, we
any breed club. People are often surprised never pass back details of new owners or let
that Newfoundlands need to be rehomed, but new owners know where their new addition has
the reasons are just as varied as for any other come from. We try to get as much information
breed. as we can, both their health and behaviour
records. Obviously in an ideal world, we would
Relationships breakdown. Financial like all breeders to maintain responsibility for
circumstances change, and training doesn’t their puppies throughout their entire lifetimes,
go as planned. All reasons dogs are given but we know this isn’t going to happen anytime
up. Our volunteers give up their time to collect soon. We do have some wonderful breeders,
dogs, move them around the country and home but also like other breeds, Newfoundlands
check prospective adopters. We do our very are being sold more unscrupulously over the
best to match people to dogs, a bit like a dating internet, and have all the health faults you might
agency. Some are easy, a lovely, well trained expect when the parents are not health checked
dog that has been given up due to illness or a before breeding. As a minimum we should be
bereavement. But others where the dog has not heart testing, by colour flow echo doppler, x
had the initial training and a cute puppy has, raying for hip and elbow dysplasia and DNA
almost overnight, become a 10 stone dog that testing for cystinuria. It is truly upsetting to
is totally out of control, not so easy. Fortunately, see young dogs come in with serious hip or/
we have some very experienced members that and elbow problems. And this happens all
are able to foster and instil some manners. too often. Luckily we have the ideal exercise
routines for these dogs……..they love to swim,
One such dog, a lovely little bitch was taken into our owners love to swim with them and it is the
a veterinary surgery to be put to sleep as her very best exercise for building up muscles to
behaviour had deteriorated to such an extent support a dodgy joint. We like our fosterers and
that her owner thought this was in her best new owners to send us updates and photos for
interests. The vet asked her to ring Patricia time to time. It is very rewarding to see a dog
Franklin, who is the Southern Newfoundland that had been given up on to be leading a happy
Club’s Welfare Officer, and we took the girl in. fulfilling life.
She was walked and played with and allowed
freedoms she hadn’t previously had, and found Patricia Franklin is the Southern Newfoundland
a new home, where she shows none of the Club’s Welfare Officer. She can be contacted on
extreme behaviours she came in with. A new welfare@southernnewfoundlandclub.co.uk or on
start is frequently all that is needed. shinglebaynewfs@gmail.com
The Southern Newfoundland Club - Newfoundland Of The Year
On Saturday 5 October 2019, the Southern The dogs were divided into 4 categories –
Newfoundland Club held the first Newfoundland puppy, yearling, open and veteran. The day
of the Year competition in the UK. The event, started with all 4 categories numbers being put
which had the format of a match, was held into a bowl and chosen at random. Each round
at the Citrus Hotel in Birmingham and was a had 2 dogs that went up against each other
qualification-only competition. There was an (with some exceptions where an odd number
overall entry of 27 dogs on the day and our of dogs in that category were present). Each
Judges were Karen Fitzsimmons (Lanleadane) winning dog then proceeded to the next round
and Patricia Goodyear (Harvestbank). until the final two in each were present.
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K9 NEWS DIGITAL / DECEMBER 2020
