Fall is hands down my favorite season and besides winter, I’m pretty sure that it’s my Newfoundlands’ favorite too.
As soon as the air turns crisp and the first leaves hit the ground, they know that their world is changing and it’s time to emerge from their summer hibernation.
The cooler temps, crunchy leaves and smell of pumpkin spice swirling through the air brings out the most Newfie-ish behaviors imaginable.
If you’re proudly owned by a Newfoundland (or 2), you hopefully know what I mean.
If not, here’s a peek into what life looks like with these house bears once autumn hits.
They Become Walking Leaf Collectors
Newfoundlands are known to be Velcro dogs, they basically follow you around everywhere you go because you’re their world, but their coat is also like Velcro.
You know those sticky burrs and leaves that blow across the yard every fall?
Within seconds of stepping outside, Odin and Lou have at least a dozen leaves stuck to them.
Their legs, tails and jowls are prime leaf sticking targets.
And of course, they bring their leaves inside with them so not only do we have leaves in the yard but also inside the house.
Muddy Paw Prints Become Part of the Decor
Fall = muddy paw season which lasts until summer.
No matter how many towels I have to wipe away the mud or how many “muddy paw mats” I have to absorb the mud, there’s mud on the floors.
Our fall decor?
Sure it’s pumpkins and plaid pillows but it’s also mud and leaves on the floors, furniture and even the walls.
It’s natural fall in this house.
Most Newfie owners stop fighting it after a couple of years because if you can’t beat it, join it.
It’s part of the charm of living with Newfoundlands.
Acorns Are Apparently Snacks (and Toys)
We don’t have an oak tree in but our neighbor does and all the acorns seem to drop only in our yard.
I always seem to have 1 dog that think that acorns are nature’s snack.
Right now that dog is Lou, although at 4 years old, he seems to have mostly outgrown his acorn addiction but the previous 3 years were an uphill battle trying to convince him that acorns aren’t dog snacks and can make him sick.
He now likes to toss them around which I guess is better than tossing them down his throat.
Fall Decor Is Free Game
I learned the hard way nothing even vaguely shaped like a pumpkin is safe around Lou.
Faux pumpkins, skeletons and fake bats are all fair game.
If it’s within a Newfie’s reach, it belongs to them.
Every Leaf Pile Needs a Newfoundland Supervisor
Most dogs love jumping into leaf piles.
Newfoundlands, however, take it a step further.
They monitor, or Newfervise, them.
Lou likes to plop a squat right in the middle of a leaf pile or stand directly in front of the piles of leaves that I’m raking.
Odin prefers to sit directly in front of a leaf pile or pee on it.
Either way, no leaf goes unchecked.
The Seasonal Shedding Performance
Just when I think we’ve made it through the worst of the shedding, fall arrives and proves me wrong.
Newfies shed all year round but they shed heavily (blow coat) twice a year.
One would think they didn’t have much undercoat growing during the summer but one is wrong.
Vacuuming becomes a daily workout and I start to wonder if I should knit an entire sweater for a Christmas gift to my sister.
(Answer: yes, absolutely)
Selective Hearing Goes Into Overdrive
Newfoundlands are known for their gift of selective hearing but the cool weather seems to make my Newfies even more determined to ignore me.
“Let’s go inside!” apparently translates to “Lay out there on the cold cement for as long you want, I’ll wait.”
I have no doubt that they hear me even though they don’t bother to open their eyes to look at me.
They Act Like The Backyard Is a Fall Festive
With all the new smells, sounds and textures, the backyard turns into an amusement park for my dogs.
They prance around the yard sniffing the breeze, strolling through leaf piles and dramatically stand and watch the deer and squirrels do their thing.
It’s pure joy and honestly, their wonderment is contagious.
Every fall day becomes an adventure.
Living with Newfoundlands means embracing the chaos that comes with every changing season.
Fall (and winter) are peak chaos season.
It’s muddy, leafy, hairy and fun.
My floors may never be clean again, my faux pumpkins might not live to see another fall and I’ll be pulling leaves off of my dogs until Christmas but I wouldn’t change a thing, ever.
Because at the end of each day, these goofy Newfies remind me to slow down, enjoy the season and find magic, even in the messy chaotic moments.