Common sense

Use common sense, if you live in Alaska, don't buy a Chihuahua or a hairless dog. If you live in a hot desert or the deep south, don't get a Newfoundland - they don't like the heat.

If you don't want a very large dog, that sheds lots of fur, and drools, fall in love with some other breed than a Newfoundland.

These dogs will be uncomfortable in the heat of the summer. If it is hot enough that your house is air conditioned (or you wish it were) then it is too hot to leave them outside. Brought inside, they shed and drool in the summer.

They love the water, they want to swim - which then means that you have a big wet dog, that still needs to come inside, is that a situation you really want?

Would you get better off with a short haired dog? One not so large and bulky?

If you live where winters are cold, a heavy coated dog like a Newfie makes sense. And a big heavy dog holds his heat better than a small thin dog - another reason to NOT to have a newfie if you live where summers are hot.

Newfies tend to be very gentle dogs with a sweet temper. But they require a cooler summer environment - like inside. They shed, they drool: they are huge. But they are usually nice dogs.

Before you get a big heavy drooly dog, watch the Tom Hank's movie "Turner and Hooch" - no the dog in the movie is NOT a newfie, it's a French Mastiff called a Dogue de Bordeaux, they have short hair and a red color, but are not always as gentle as a newfie.