Newfypoos will drool much less than their Newfoundland parent. The Poodle influence will mean that their jowls are not floppy, the reason behind a drooling dog. An F1 Newfypoo will have a beard and mustache though which will often be wet after drinking. This can be confused with drooling.
The Newfypoo is one of the giant Doodle breeds fast gaining in popularity today. When you meet a Newfypoo it’s easy to see why. Crossed between the courageous water rescue dog The Newfoundland and the beautiful, outgoing Poodle the Newfypoo is a magnificent looking dog who also usually has a calm, gentle demeanor making him the ideal canine companion for many.
Most Newfypoos are large to giant sized (although it is possible to find mini Newfypoos) and have profuse wavy or curly coats. Like all crossbred dogs, they do vary in appearance. Some are heavy set and look more like their Newfoundland parents whereas others are lighter built like the Poodle.
Most also have webbed paws and absolutely love to swim, hardly surprising when you think they are a cross between two breeds that were originally bred to work in water.
The Newfypoo temperament is second to none as the Newfoundland is a true gentle giant, placid, calm and gentle whereas the highly intelligent Poodle is a clown by nature and just lives to be by his human master’s side.
The Newfypoo is usually much calmer than many of the other Doodle breeds and not prone to excessive barking or jumping up. He can however be on the stubborn side just like his Newfoundland forefathers. Once you choose to make a Newfypoo part of your family you will find it hard to imagine living without one of these loving bears by your side.
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Why Do Dogs Drool?
As much as we love our dogs there are a few things they do that we humans find, shall we say slightly less savory, one of them being drooling. For many people, this is a ‘deal-breaker’ as they don’t want to live with drooling. Drool is messy there are no two ways about it and anyone that lives with a breed that drools (me included) will tell you that they are forever cleaning. You find drool in the most unlikely places, even the ceiling as when your furry buddy shakes his head that drool can really fly.
Given that it has the consistency of wallpaper paste it sticks too! I could never consider having a fabric couch for example as it would soon be ruined by the drool. Drool smells and it stains. This is an added problem for allergy sufferers as it’s not just dog hair that many people are allergic to, the saliva can be just as bad.
So why do our dogs drool? Drool is saliva, plain and simple and dogs produce not just one but three types of saliva. The type of saliva your dog produces can even vary depending on the food you give him. Dogs that are fed dried kibble produce more watery saliva than those that are fed wet or raw food as saliva is needed to break down the dry food.
Saliva is being produced and swallowed constantly (not just by dogs) and its purpose is to keep the mouth moist and free from food. It also contains enzymes that keep the bad bacteria away from the teeth.
Another purpose of drooling in dogs is to help cool down. You may notice that dogs drool more in hot weather. This is because dogs can’t sweat so they have to find other ways to prevent overheating. So, all dogs produce saliva and are therefore capable of drooling but some drool more than others (think of the St Bernard in the movie Beethoven) and there is a reason for this also. It is not simply that some breeds produce more saliva than others it is all down to the anatomy of the face and in particular the jowls.
Picture for a moment a dog that you have seen with bootlaces of saliva hanging from his mouth. Chances are he was a large-headed, shorter-nosed breed with loose floppy jowls (like a Newfoundland for example).
Those lovely cute soft squishy jowls collect pools of saliva that the dog can’t get back into his mouth to be swallowed so they either pool and dribble down from his lips or………..he shakes his head and sends the slobber flying.
There are times when all dogs are more likely to drool than others. When anticipating food whether it be his or yours, he will produce saliva ready for eating so his mouth is literally watering. This is why many people train their dogs to go and lie down away from the table while the humans are eating. It can be off-putting eating your dinner while being stared at by a drooling hound.
Some owners of drooling breeds, me included again use ‘slobber stopper’ bibs to catch the drool. These are practical and look pretty cute too. If you do end up living with and loving a drooler you will even grow to love the drool believe it or not. It’s all part of what makes your dog who he is.
When Does Drooling Start?
At what age do dogs start to drool or are they born dribblers? This is a question often asked by potential puppy owners if they really want to avoid living with a drooling dog. Puppies, even of those breeds that are prolific droolers, do not tend to have floppy jowls when they are very young.
Again, there is a reason for this. Before pups are weaned, they have to be able to form a seal with their mouths around their Mum’s nipple in order to drink milk. If they were born with floppy jowls the milk would pool in the lips in the same way that drool might in later life.
So, you won’t be able to tell by looking at an eight-week-old puppy whether or not he will drool. Instead, look to his parents. Physical anatomy is inherited so if he has parents that drool there is more chance he will also drool.
Most pups start to drool from the age of about five months onwards, increasing with their head size (and jowl size) until they reach adulthood. The easiest way to make an educated guess at whether or not your Newfypoo will be a drooler is to look at his head shape. If he has a shorter nose and blockier head like his Newfoundland parent, he is more likely to drool than whether he has taken the more Poodle like head shape with a longer nose and tighter jowls.
Newfoundlands and Drooling
The Newfoundland has exactly the head type that we have described as being prone to drooling. Wide head, short nose, and floppy jowls. He also has an incredibly heavy thick coat which means he feels the heat and as discussed earlier, dogs drool more when they are hot. It’s no surprise that the Newfoundland is one of the breeds most likely to drool of all.
Some people do speak of ‘dry-mouthed’ Newfoundland’s but in all honesty, this is more likely to be a marketing ploy by breeders. In reality, any Newfoundland that doesn’t drool is likely to be one that doesn’t meet breed standards as he is supposed to have those lovely floppy jowls that cause the drooling.
One of the reasons for crossing the Newfoundland with the Poodle and creating the fantastic Newfypoo was to lessen the drooling along with the shedding. Most people that choose to own Newfypoos will tell you that they love Newfoundland’s but wanted a dog with the loveable Newfy character but with less drooling and shedding.
On the whole, the cross is very successful as although some Newfypoos do drool it is rare to find one that drools anywhere near as much as the purebred Newfoundland. The reason for this is the infusion of Poodle blood means most Newfypoos do not have floppy jowls underneath the hair.
The Newfypoo does have an issue of his own though which leads many people to think that he too is a drooler. Thanks to his Poodle parent the Newfypoo has the typical Doodle beard and mustache that we know and love. He also inherits an obsession with water from both of his parent breeds so whilst he may not actually drool so much his beard will often be soaking wet from being dunked in the water bowl. He will often drip water everywhere from that beard and loves to lie his great soggy head in your lap!
Dealing with Drooling and Dribbling
If your canine companion drools like a Newfoundland or drips water from his beard like a Newfypoo you’re going to have to find a way to deal with it. Don’t worry help is at hand. As the very proud owner of both a St Bernard and a Newfypoo I have both issues to deal with.
One way to help you cope with both issues is the bibs mentioned earlier. These are giant dog-sized versions of a baby bib made especially for large drooling dogs. Embrace the issue and use them as a fashion accessory! My girls have them with their names embroidered on them and look super cute wearing them.
Another tip is to keep the water bowl out in the yard and keep a small towel inside the door so give your Newfypoos face and paws if he’s dunked them, a rub down every time he comes in. Don’t get too hung up on the drool and dribble as there will come a day when your friend is no longer around that you will miss him so much you even miss the drool!