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Newfoundlands => Newfoundland Discussions => : My Kahlua-Bear! :-] August 24, 2008, 01:22:49 PM

: Hmm...Is Kahlua normal?
: My Kahlua-Bear! :-] August 24, 2008, 01:22:49 PM
Lu-Bear is going on 8 months and she's 20 inches from paw to shoulder and 90 pounds. Is this runty, normal or huge for that age? I've never owned a newf before so i dont know.
Thanks for your help more experienced owners of these huge furry mooks :)
: Re: Hmm...Is Kahlua normal?
: lookingfornewf August 24, 2008, 10:25:27 PM
At 10 months Clifford weighed 85 pounds. I keep him on the skinny side, although you can't tell unless he is wet. I have no idea if this is average or not Clifford is my first newf and I just go by what weight looks right on him.
: Re: Hmm...Is Kahlua normal?
: My Kahlua-Bear! :-] August 25, 2008, 10:24:33 AM
Hmm, so it seems like in terms of weight shes big. how tall was Clifford at 6 months?
: Re: Hmm...Is Kahlua normal?
: Winslow 151 August 25, 2008, 12:31:08 PM
Hi,

Here is the link for the Breed Standard!! As long as you can feel the last ribs (with a little fat on them) you are doing fine!! All grow at their own rate!!

http://www.akc.org/breeds/newfoundland/index.cfm
: Re: Hmm...Is Kahlua normal?
: My Kahlua-Bear! :-] August 25, 2008, 12:55:52 PM
thanks. does anyone have a weight chart of their newf so i can see if Lu is in the range?
: Re: Hmm...Is Kahlua normal?
: horsepoor21 August 25, 2008, 05:10:21 PM
I have three newfies and they've all followed different growing patterns . Allie turned 3 years old in June and has finally stopped growing I think . She's a smaller girl and tops out at about 110 lbs . She actually didn't even get the saggy lips until this summer !
Spook turned 2 years old in June and he still has a TON of filling out to do . He is at about 120 lbs right now .
And then Winter will be 1 year old in October and she's tiny . She's maybe 60 lbs right now ? But she comes from nice sized parents so I do believe she'll hit 120 or so by the time she's three .

I know part of getting a newfie is to have a BIG dog , but don't be in too much of a hurry . Let Kahlua grow as sloooooowly as possible . It's so much better for her health !

What are her parents' weights ? That will give you the best prediction  :)
: Re: Hmm...Is Kahlua normal?
: lins_saving_grace August 25, 2008, 08:34:51 PM
Grace gained about 10 pounds a month till she was about 10 months old.  that seemed about normal.  She didn't grow tall until later, but each dog/breed grows at a different pace.  My other Rott grew tall before bulky.  The vet can also show you charts of ideal weights at different stages. 
Newfs are a big breed...I think this wieght at this age sounds good.  You won't be able to control the growth pattern unfortunately.  My other Rott got tall so fast and I worried.  By the time she was 2 1/2, she had had both of her ACL's replaced.  Luckily, the vet said she had great hips.  It's a crap shoot.
: Re: Hmm...Is Kahlua normal?
: My Kahlua-Bear! :-] August 26, 2008, 06:58:20 AM
Lin and Horsepoor21, you guys are great. I was just worried because i was looking at charts and the dogs weighed less but were taller at her age so i was like "OMG, Am I overfeeding her?! or is she just bulky?" The vet said her diet is great and not to change it though so I guess that means I'm doing good. Also, I guess her growing slow is better for her hips and elbows. Unfortunately I dont know what her parents look like. I got her from apet store *blushes embarassedly* I know, I know, supporting those awful puppy mills, but i couldnt leave her there, she was too beautiful and I had been wanting a newf for ages but the bitch we looked at was never studded :( So......
But I do have her pedigree, we made sure to look at it carefully before purchase and both parents are OFA certified. Though that still doesn't tell me their size.

Thanks to everyone who's answered you've really helped me. In the end it doesnt matter how big Lu is, shes still perfect, but sometimes its hard not to have those "new parent" jitters :)
: Re: Hmm...Is Kahlua normal?
: horsepoor21 August 26, 2008, 08:43:36 AM
What are some of her bloodlines ? We can do some research and maybe find out if she has 'slow growing' lines in her ?

And don't worry about buying her from a pet store .... It's so much better she ended up with you than some person who had no idea what a newfie was !!!!!  :-*
: Re: Hmm...Is Kahlua normal?
: My Kahlua-Bear! :-] August 26, 2008, 11:54:48 AM
Here's a scan of her pedigree certificate
: Re: Hmm...Is Kahlua normal?
: horsepoor21 August 26, 2008, 12:16:35 PM
Hmmm ....I don't really recognize any of those names . You have the breeders name on the papers though , why not write him a letter or give him a call and ask your questions ?
What state is she from ?
: Re: Hmm...Is Kahlua normal?
: My Kahlua-Bear! :-] August 26, 2008, 12:30:23 PM
Stickney South Dakota