Grooming your Newfypoo

 

Baths 

      I highly recommend you do not over-bathe your Newfypoo as this can cause shedding, oder, skin allergies, itching, rashes and long term skin problems. The coat needs natural oils and good bacteria to keep bad bacteria in check, especially during the fast growth of puppyhood. Once every 4-6 weeks at the most making sure to rinse ALL shampoo and conditioner out and  DRY the coat completely after each bath. Please see "getting ready" for shampoo, conditioner and blow dryer recommendations.

 When it comes to grooming your Newfypoo the first thing you need to remember is that your Newfypoo WILL NEED HAIRCUTS to keep the coat looking good!!!

    Now I fully understand that there are some breeders out there breeding Newfypoos with a more wire type coat, or breeding back to a Newfoundland (F1B) for a more Newfoundland double coat. These types of coats should NOT be trimmed (haircuts) but will SHED( possible just as much as a Newfoundland) and need regular brushing out of the undercoat to prevent overheating and matting. WE DO NOT BREED THESE TYPES OF NEWFYPOOS. 

       If you got your pup from us it will need regular haircuts to keep the coat in good shape. 

Now you have a bit of choice here about HOW you would like to keep your pups coat in good shape. 

Long and Shaggy

IF YOU LIKE IT LONG AND SHAGGY as with any dog, be prepared for more work. A lot more depending on how long and shaggy. 

        Brushing weekly at minimum ( more often depending on daily activities and the length of the coat), making certain to get all the way down to the skin to prevent matting is necessary and very important for longer kept coats. First go over the whole coat with the slicker then the comb. Pay special attention to the face, ears, groin, tail, and buttocks areas as these tend to mat quickest. Google "Line brushing" for good technique.

Fully blow dry after any water play or bath will also prevent matting. Air drying or towel drying with a long doodle coat will cause much matting and grief. A slicker brush and a greyhound comb will be your best friends as well as a high powered dryer( see "getting ready" page).

Dogs kept at a longer length still need regular trims at the groomer to keep the coat in good shape. Otherwise it will continue to grow, and grow, and grow, and grow. As you brush and brush and brush and brush  the coat will start to get brittle and break off leaving a very inconsistent coat (what groomers call the "Fried" look). Note that when you take your Newfypoo for a trim to prevent the fried look, they will likley need to "scissor cut" the coat to keep it at a longer length. This can considerably add to the cost of the grooming and time spent at the groomers.

 I also advise at least one shorter trim (1-2 inches or so) around 6-8 months as the adult coat starts to come in and compete with the puppy coat.

When coats are kept long, more frequent trips to the groomer are usually necessary. This will make your nail trimming and ear cleaning less of an issue as your groomer will likely keep up with those things.


  Also keep in mind that newfypoos with long shaggy hair can overheat quite easily. And if you have a young pup that seems unwilling to do much during the daylight hours, wont give you much attention, hates the crate, does not want to go on a walk, etc......your pup may just be HOT from that long shaggy puppy coat. I find the shaggy look easier to keep maintained  in adult dogs after all training is complete and they have settled nicely into life with your family.  For pups in training I find a short coat so much easier to keep clean and it makes the pup more comfortable and willing to listen/work with you.

Easy Breezy

My preferred method of keeping up the Newfypoo coat is the easy way. Starting around 8-12 weeks depending on the weather, I have the first full groom done and the pup cut down to 1 inch or so. This gives me lots of puppy snuggles and a very comfortable pup for prime training time. I then let the hair shag back out for a few months and do it again. I find I need to do very little if any brushing at all this way. So much so that I have to purposefully set aside time to brush just to get the pup used to it even though it is not needed at the time. Best to do this when young just in case you want to grow the coat out when the pup is an adult.  It is also wonderful bonding time for pup and person to have a good brushing session before bed each night. Don't forget the nails and ears weekly!!

     When I keep a Newfpoo on this schedule of a good clip down ever 4 months or so, I have almost zero necessary brushing and I get to enjoy the positive things about each coat length as it grows out. The short cut with its super ease of cleanliness and super snuggly( not over heated) dog. And the adorable shag near the end before the next clipping. The only thing to keep up with is regular ear cleaning and nail trimming which I do once a week. 

Here is the same dog with different lengths growing back out again. Sorry I did not get one with her super shaggy but will next time. 

Super short for summer 1/4 inch

About 2 months of growth from the above cut.