I was on a long walk two weeks ago when I started tearing up, thinking, “This is probably the last walk that I’m going to take alone.” I was slated to pick up my first puppy in two days and, what was 3 months of preparation for her, was finally about to be brought to reality. I told very few people of my decision to get a dog, because opinions, opinons, OPINIONS. I had to shield myself from what masquaraded as “concern” from others—for fear I would back out of this decision being slightly more anxious as a first-time dog owner. My first rebuttel came from my mom of course:

“Honey I’m not against you getting a dog but could you get a smaller one at least?”

I had other subsequent calls with from relatives on both sides of my mom and dad telling me similar things. In doing small talk with people at my work, their first question was always “So what breed are you going to pick?” In jest, I told them to hold their breath before saying the word “Newfoundland.” They always replied—either laughing or aghast—“Oh my gosh Whitney, do you know how big those things get!?” I’ve worked hard in life up until this point and I did a ton of homework on this breed. So, instead of having to explain/defend myself every time I told someone, I just stopped talking altogether and kept this new chapter in my life—the first time I’ve had complete ownership over a living breathing thing—a secret.

DISCOVERING TOTEM’S BREEDER

Above: saying goodbye to Titan and Scarlett, Totem’s parents // Eagle Mountain, UT

I discovered Wasatch Newfoundlands in Utah 2 months before the litter was born. Amy the owner and breeder. was very accommodating: our handful of phone conversations during that time were long and informative as she bestowed on me her 16 years of knowledge of this magnificent breed. The more I learned the more I knew it was going to be one of the most exciting, challenging, yet rewarding journeys of my life to have the privilege of owning this dog. I was ready for the hair, the drool, the larger-than-life poop, and any travel inconveniences. The pros would outweigh the cons as most great undertakings in life would not be great without such inconveniences. Remember that famous Tom Hanks quote, “There’s no crying in baseball”? Well, there’s no crying in puppy potty training (as I am speaking right now), grinning n’ baring it, all for the jubilation Totem brings me outside of the struggle.

Originally I wanted a male (subcononciously due to the lack of male presence in my life living as a single gal, as I’m sure most women can attest) and the name Totem would be so befitting for him. I came up with it while running by a totem pole earlier this summer in Prince Rupert, B.C.—“What a delightful name for a boy dog!”, I thought—and it stuck with me. The ultra feminine name “Thumbelina” was my first choice if I got a girl, but my best friend said saying “thumbellina” would get tiring with all those syllables, and she thought Totem would also be befitting for girl, why not! And what do you know, when my turn came around (a couple weeks prior to pick up), there was just one female brown left in the litter and my eyes quickly snatched her up—Hello, little Totem. Yep, I’m still going to name you Totem!

It was dusk when I pulled into the driveway after 7 hours of driving from Colorado and I saw my little chocolate dumpling romping around the yard. Amy had the dad and mom present, too, which was so adorable. Totem had just been weened a week earlier so she was still trying to get to her mom’s belly area for a snack. She also frolicked around her dad who seemed unimpressed by his offspring’s enthusiasm towards him as he gazed stoically into the field. “Does he even know this is his?” I asked Amy. “Probably not”, she chuckled. Titan is a champion stud, and his lineage involved commercial tv and show dog work, so he has been siring litters for years. Scarlett the mother is just a few litters in and knows Totem is hers. I gave them both a head massage and silently communicated that I would take good care of their little girl. We drive off and she whimpered a little, the first time she was away from her parents and first night away from sleeping with all her litter mates—it made me tear up! What I’ve been reflecting on since that moment is how animals lack so many traits of our human exceptionalism in E.Q. and I.Q., but the commonalities we still share are loneliness and scaredness. I knew that’s what Totem experienced her first night.

I woke up 2 times with her that night and subsequent nights. I guess it will be like this for a few months until she can hold her bladder until the morning. Oddly, I look forward to our twilight potty outings. Instead of chasing a leak, she would sometimes chase a leaf—at 3am how could I not laugh that this dog woke me up just to chase foliage? Plus, I’ve never seen a tail wag faster—it’s like puppies get a second high in the middle of the night. Sometimes the presence of struggle is where we find forms of endearment for people—and our animals. Upon reflection, It’s almost like I yearned for an inconvenience, a disruption in my life—as my existence living as a single was becoming too comfortable, too selfish. I wanted some healthy tension competing for the time I had to myself (which I get plenty of because she takes like 6 naps a day).

THE NEWFIE CATALYSTS THAT PIQUED MY FASCINATION

There is a catalyst for every decision and I had a couple that would set in motion my path to Totem. Something spoke to my heart about this breed when I discovered an online news article back in 2021 about a family who owned 9 newfoundlands in England. I was immediately drawn to their teddy-bear looks and gentle-giant demeanor. The second catalyst was in 2022 when I came across a Condé Neste Traveler article by author Meghan Daum hilariously chronicling her options to get her 140lb newfoundland “Goose” from LA to NYC. What should have turned me off, further intrigued me on the challenges of owning this kind of dog and the kind of challenges I might personally run into.

I would also start running into more newfies in real life (or maybe my conscious was just more aware of them, even though they are a rarer breed on the street). “Lewis” and “Clark: were two Newfies I met in Breckenridge. I also had a major crush on a man in 2022 who later revealed to me (without awareness of my Newfie obsession at that point) that his family bred newfies while growing up—my heart melted. “Ok, we have to be together. I can be the dog mom and you can be the dog dad!”, I thought. That happy ending didn't come to fruition the way my imagination would have liked: I still went on to buy my newfie after my potential dog dad unfortunately left the scene I made up for us in my head.

WHAT GOT ME PREPARED

-A couple of audible books on dog obedience training

-For obedience training I discovered Will alterton videos in the summer of 2023 and they were a huge help: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pptoq7avEKM

-My Brown Newfies Blogspot became an excellent go-to place for me to discover All Things Newfie in the early summer months of 2023 leading up to my decision to buy Totem:

-Sue Raney was so welcoming to me, I contacted her after joining the Newfoundland Club of America as she was on the list of Ambassadors in my area. After I picked up Totem, we visited Sue and her Newfie Bailey in Denver—my puppy’s first interaction with another large Newfie apart from her dad!

At Sue Raney’s house in Denver! She is a Newfie ambassador for NCA and gave me the sweetest little gift bag for Totem—I will always value her mentorship during my early days as a dog owner.

ATTRIBUTES I DISCOVERED I REALLY LIKED

Lower energy levels: At heart I have always been a cat girl. Having had 5 generations of them growing up and having posted about my preference for the more elusive feline class of animals in my blogpost “The Case for Cats”, I subconsciously picked the Newfie because it resembles the closest thing to a cat’s demeanor. The Newfoundland is similar to a cat’s demeanor in one profound way: elusiveness—not to be confused with the cat kingdom’s infamous trademark of aloofness. The newfie brings out its elusive nature through its quiet ease compared to that of other dogs. I can’t stand hyper energetic traits including yappiness and the barkaholic nature found in alot of dogs (mostly the smaller breeds). Are there drawbacks to elusiveness? YES! Totem is so elusive, I seldom get good “hints” that she needs to relieve herself outside of may normal taking her out—so we’ve had potty accidents because of the attribute I so love about her!lol

Spirit Animal (woo woo, I know): My subconcious affirmed to me, as I read more stories and factual information on the Newfoundland, that this was my latest spirit animal and one that I could at least atain—the other two have long been the orca and the horse. The orca being not feasable for purchase and the horse too expensive to manage, I get my fix by watching orcas in the wild and riding horses whenever I can.

Gentle giants: I think it relates to men on my life: I’ve always been attracted to more physical statuesque men in comparison to my frame. Since I don’t have a man in my life I want a similar physical presence and responsibility (beyond just watering my 10 house plants) to take the place of him: enter the 130 lb (on average) newfoundland.

Great with Children: going along with the gentle giant, these creatures are renown for their gentle disposition around little humans which complements my job as a children’s author doing reading events with kids—I’ll have her right by my side!

Grooming: I actually find grooming cathartic and boy does this dog need it almost every day (once it sheds its puppy coat).

Water Lover: I love water, just like the newfoundland breed—famous in the canine world for their water rescue abilities! So, I have already proposed in my mind that I will go on a roadtrip with my fur gal and we’ll visit many lakes and go hiking. I can’t wait for what’s in store.

…..and so much more to discover down the road!