Hibernian Farm

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the approval process for a Hibernian Farm Newfoundland Puppy?
The first step is to request our questionnaire. We will review your answers and let you know if we believe you are a good fit for a Hibernian Farm Newfoundland. A deposit is now required to be on the waiting list. We have inquiries coming in daily. Deposit helps us to focus our time and efforts on families that are committed to placement as well as discern them from those who are not yet ready to make a commitment. The deposit is non-refundable. It is intended to cover the application process, time corresponding via phone, email and/or text, as well as the required visit to our farm, and time spent informing potential clients of our policies & practices, our philosophies and education regarding breeding, rearing, health and diet for Newfoundlands, as well as answering questions posed by individuals/families. This fee will be deducted from the total cost due at placement if a suitable match is made.
What is the selection process for a Hibernian Farm Newfoundland Puppy?
The matching process at Hibernian Farm will begin when puppy personalities really begin to emerge at around 6-8 weeks. The required family visit, at least once before we start matching puppies, is essential to the right match. Different personality and lifestyle has a huge impact on the success of puppy placement, so we take all factors into account.
When will Hibernian Farm Pups be ready for new homes?
Pups will be ready to go home at 12 weeks of age. Our dams wean their puppies naturally on their own schedule. They are with their mother 24/7 as directed by her. This extended weaning schedule and time together with mother and litter mates, allows them the necessary time to develop and socialize under the direction and watchful eye of their mother and our other adult dogs. They learn about the world, their place in it and gain confidence and independence in a natural way. An often over-looked stage of development, which occurs between 8-11 weeks of age, has a profound impact on the personality and lifetime self-assurance of each pup. it's a time of development that mother and litter mates impact in a way that can be replicated by human interaction. This enables them to be ready to bond with a new family, free of the fears and anxiety that many puppies removed from their mothers too soon, and/or are without proper socialization from the beginning, develop.
How many litters a year do you typically have on Hibernian Farm?
Generally we have only 1 litter per year. Depending on our girls' Estrus cycles, 2 litters may happen within the same year. It's essential to the physical and emotional health of our breeding females, that they have time to heal, recover and have puppy-free time between whelpings.
What steps do you take to ensure the health of Hibernian Farm pups? Have they had any tests to ensure they are healthy?
We do not do disease certifications. The value of this is largely misunderstood by breeders and you will read/hear breeders and breeder clubs talk of the necessity of these certifications/clearances.

We feel this is behind the times as well as dismissive of what we know to be the full story on health issues. Hibernian Farm pups come from excellent, healthy lines. We have done extensive research on raising healthy, sturdy family and therapy dogs in a holistic manner. New research shows there are far more factors involved in the issues the breeds struggle with, for example neutering too early, over vaccinating and poor nutrition.

While science points to some specific genes associated with certain disease, what we know about gene association is limited, as is pointed to by the upheavals of much of what we once thought we understood about the human body. Two disease certified parents can yield pups that have exactly what they are certified against. Beyond that, I don't know any breeders certifying against genes. None of the certification is a guarantee that you will get a healthy dog, only that the specific disease did not appear to be present in the certified dog at 24 months of age. Furthermore, the general contract for a certified pup merely states if your pup turns up with one of the specified diseases (which would require your investment of proof that the disease is genetic), you can return the pup and have it replaced. By the time a dog shows up with any of the said disease it is going to be a well loved family member. No breeder is offering to pay medical bills. To us that is a false sense of security that omits all of the other factors, including education, that lead to an unhealthy dog.

While I understand the desire to have the assurances that it seems certifications offer, we believe we can benefit our animals and their new families far greater with the means in which we raise and care for our dogs, as well as the education we offer our clients.
What type of medical care and vaccines will a Hibernian Farm pup have had prior to placement?
Hibernian Farm Newfoundland pups are examined by our Veterinarian, whom visits our dogs and pups at our farm. Each pup will have a copy of their exam summary. As recommended by leading Veterinary Immunologist Ronald Schultz, D.V.M, we delay administration of vaccines, specifically because our pups wean so late, and recommend only the core vaccines.
What is Hibernian Farm's position/policy regarding spay/neuter?
One of the requirements we have for Hibernian Farm clients is that pups must not be spayed/neutered prior to 24 months of age. We also advocate that clients who are set on neutering, seek out a Veterinarian who performs the canine equivalent of a tubal ligation/vasectomy. In addition, pups will not be permitted to be bred prior to 24 months of age.
Are your Hibernian Farm Newfoundland puppies and parents socialized with small children?
We have 10 children of varrying ages. Our puppies are in contact with our entire family daily.
Are your Hibernian Farm Newfoundland pups exposed to a variety of surroundings, loud sounds, etc. while with you?
Hibernian Farm Newfoundland pups spend time everyday playing both inside and outside. They all have turns riding in the car. They visit with our goats, chickens and see outdoor critters. They are exposed to outdoor tools and vehicles. They spend time individually inside with the family and experience our busy house and all the noises that come with it.
How would you describe the temperament of Hibernian Farm Newfoundland parents?
Hibernian Farm Newfoundlands all have very easy going temperaments. Ophelia and Nya are very maternal, very natural caretakers of our children and excellent attentive mothers. Our males are particularly laid back. Maximus is a very sweet easy going boy that is very tender with the girls. His boys are exceptionally laid back.
What type of living situation are Hibernian Farm Newfoundlands raised in?
Hibernian Farm used to be a small urban farm on about an acre within the city. We have since relocated to 40 acres in the Ludington/Pentwater area. Our pups move from the whelping box in the house at six weeks, to a heated and cooled 10x10 pen in our polebarn kennel. They are taken outside several times each day once age is suitable to the weather.
What are Hibernian Farm puppies fed?
We believe diet is the absolute foundation of health. Beginning at 3-4 weeks, depending on litter size, we start Hibernian Farm Newfoundland pups on supplemental feeding goat milk, followed by a gruel consisting of organic oats and grains. We gradually begin transitioning to variety of raw, organic and grass-fed ingredients. By the time puppies are placed at 12 weeks, their raw diet consists of primarily ground beef with. We follow a Newf specific feeding plan as their needs and growth is very different than most dogs.

After several years of utilizing a partial raw diet for our females and pups, we moved to a 100% raw diet for all of our dogs and puppies. The health results were astounding for our adults. The difference for pups in size and development was unmistakable and we would never go back.
Do you allow visits to Hibernian Farm prior to someone purchase of a puppy?
We require at least 1 visit to Hibernian Farm prior to placement time, as part of our approval process. Getting to know you and your family is also an essential part of matching you with the right pup for you.
What do you love most about Newfoundlands and the breed in general?
We love our Newfs for their sweet, laid back yet lovingly protective family nature. They are a major part of our everyday life and integral part of our family. I think they are largely underestimated in their abilities and their emotional intuitive senses. We have several of our pups placed for Therapy and Service.
Can you gaurentee a puppy for the waiting list I place a deposit on?
Unfortunately no. We breed naturally, without the use of medical intervention. Many factors effect canine estrus including, but not limited to; other females cycles, environmental/seasonal changes, last whelping and last weaning. We also cannot determine litter size, color of pups or number of each sex. Matching puppies to individuals and families is the most important part of what we do. Sometime there isn't a pup in a litter that will be a good match for you/your family, your work hours, your life style, etc. For example, there may not be a puppy in that litter that is suited to extended hours home alone. If that's what you need, I will not place a pup with you that would likely develop anxiety or become destructive due to his inability to handle so much alone time. Waiting to get the best match is the best Ling term approach.

We take into consideration personality and temperament of a puppy, family/individual personality and lifestyle, work hours,children in the home, other pets, preferences of the client such as sex, color and size, as well as timing of placement on the waiting list.

We believe that if you are committed to the way we do things, there is an understanding of the why and how, which makes the wait absolutely worth it.