Full confession: I only really like big dogs. I’ve never had a small dog and never really wanted to. My dog is a big Newfie mix, more than 100 pounds, and he resembles a bear cub. He’s a pain in my ass but I love him to pieces. So I was interested in hearing that Sienna Miller got a Newfie girl puppy a few years ago. She named the dog Nana and she was adorable as a puppy. Nana grew up to be a big hulk of a dog (go here to see a photo of Sienna with Nana), which is what happens when you get a Newfie puppy. But this growth apparently shocked Sienna, and she has given the dog up. Huh.
It was clearly difficult for Sienna Miller to resist Newfoundland puppy Nana when she was a tiny black bundle. But it seems the American Sniper actress failed to factor in the breed’s astonishing growth rate – they can weigh up to 9st and measure 6ft from nose to tail.
Now three years after bringing Nana home, the dog has been adopted by Sienna’s stepmother Kelly Hoppen, who owns a sprawling estate in the Cotswolds.
It’s a sensible move – Sienna, who has a two-year-old daughter, Marlowe, and another dog, Bess – previously admitted that on walks Nana ‘pulls me over flat on my face into the mud’.
One side: she’s a total douchebag for not understanding that one day that adorable Newfie puppy would end up as a huge dog. I hate people who don’t understand the basics of dogs, or are like “Oh, I only wanted a small puppy, not a big dog.” Then don’t adopt a Newfie puppy!
The other side: my Newfie mix had a few years where he was bit crazy and temperamental and every dog is different. I could see where it could be a case of hoping Nana would be a gentle giant and Nana ending up being much more of a handful than expected. And Sienna prioritized her daughter ahead of Nana and found Nana a good home in the country, where she could run and be wild all the time.
Here’s a random Newfie.
Here’s an old photo of Sienna with her other dog, Bess.
Photos courtesy of WENN.
I like big dogs, too…but actually love all animals. This just pisses me off.
me, too about being pissed off. yeah, the dog pulled her because it wasn’t properly trained as a pup. HER fault, not the dog’s.
and newfies are some of the best nanny dogs…if the dog had been properly trained, it would be a great companion and protector of her 2-year old.
but at least she didn’t just dump the dog at a shelter…it got a good home and she’ll still be able to visit with her.
“but at least she didn’t just dump the dog at a shelter…”
I volounteer for a dog foundation and sadly, that was my first thought. After all the sh!t I’ve heard of people doing to their dogs once they don’t want them, this actually doesn’t make me even angry.
Which doesn’t mean I like it… it’s SUCH a common thing to see, people dumping their dogs the moment they have a baby, and often times even while their still pregnant. The worst thing ever though that you can do to a family dog (apart from obvious abuse) is f***ing dumping it a at a shelter once your grandma/grandpa/any elderly person who took care of them dies. THAT MAKES MY F***ING bBLOOD BOIL – children/grandchildren of dog owners who have no problem whatsoever of taking care of every single thing they inherit from their deceased family member except their dog. If it wasn’t enough for the poor animal that they just lost the most important person in their lives, now they’re left all alone, mourning, in a strange place after a lifetime of sleeping on a couch and being kissed and cuddled, and to top it off at this point they’re usually old and disabled somehow themselves and have no chance in the shelter….. rant over, off to kiss my doggie.
qwerty, your comment made me cry.
qwerty, I get your point about the poor animal now left alone, but really, to harp on people who refuse to take in an animal from a deceased relative? Why does it never seem to occur to people that there are others out there who simply do not like dogs? I am one of them and I absolutely would not bring a dog into my home even if it did belong to a relative who’s passed away. Is it really an ideal situation to bring an animal into a home where it doesn’t fit, no one likes it/is comfortable around it/is willing to give it the time and attention and nurturing it wants, versus trying to find another owner who actually appreciates dogs? I just don’t understand how you can criticize someone who can recognize they aren’t a good fit for an animal, and at the very least tries to ensure it gets another home, versus just dumping it off in the countryside somewhere. Not everyone likes animals; not everyone wants one in their home or would be a good fit. It’s better that that be acknowledged up front and other courses of action taken to re-home the animal, instead of feeling obligated to an animal that is unwanted and unwelcome.
“If it wasn’t enough for the poor animal that they just lost the most important person in their lives, now they’re left all alone, mourning” – to be fair, the humans are usually similarly in mourning…
People who get rid of their pet for reasons like that are disgusting.
They should have known what would happen. It’s too bad they can’t be fined for it, because otherwise the psychopats would just kill their animals and dump them in the river.
Qwerty, I’m with you. People need to research breed specifics and understand the commitment they are making when bringing a pet into the family. But sometimes life changes do require a reassessment of whether the pet’s needs are being met in the changed circumstances. When that happens, Sienna’s method of rehoming is the best possible course–with a loved one, where contact with the original owner will be maintained, but where the dog can get the attention, room, and stability it needs. It is nowhere near comparable to dumping him at the pound or, even worse, on the street.
Qwerty: well said! I am really disgusted by this abandonmment.
And this btw is one reason why I am giving long careful thought to creating a pet trust for my fur babies. I want to have some sort of fund when I die to assure that any pets I have at the time are well cared for after I am gone.
Plus she could have known that this kind of dog wouldn’t get along with her lifestyle. That said at least her stepmother took the dog and she stays in the family. I bet the dog likes the english countryside much more than New York!
Similar thing happened with my neighbor friends. They knew exactly how big the dog was going to get.
But, once the Mom heard a growl from the dog aimed at the toddler- who wasn’t even looking or touching the dog- that was it for her. Her feelings for the dog cooled considerably and she was nervous for her kid. She found a new home for dog and continued to pay Vet bills. Within the same breed, once in a while a gentle breed will have a dog with an aggressive Alpha type temperment.
Liv, I totally agree with you on this…
After 13 some-odd years of living in LA, fostering and caring for many different dogs, also adopting a few of my own, I’ve learned quite a bit, not just about animals but humans as well.
For instance, with this city being one of the most impoverished in the U.S., some people bring their dogs to the shelter because they’re poor and afraid they have no options left. Fortunately, we have rescues now that intervene and offer help to those good people who really do want to keep their beloved pets…
On the other hand, I’ve also met or dealt with people who definitely have the means and resources to do better, or can afford to hire help, but they just don’t. At a certain point, it becomes obvious that the dog isn’t the problem, and though the solution may be a simple one, the person will never *get it*.
So, yes, in this case at least Sienna gave the dog to a family member in the country, where I’m sure he’ll be much happier instead.
What was she supposed to do with it if/when she decided the dog no longer fit (no pun intended) in her life? She did the right thing and found him a new home where he would be loved and cared for and have lots of space.
this is why researching the breed before you get it makes all the difference. she knew it was a a large breed, what did she think was going to happen??
What she should have done is not gotten a dog in the first place.
Agreed. She should have researched the breed and then she wouldn’t have been so surprised at how big she got!. That being said, she kept it in the family and the dog will probably have a great life in the country.
I agree. The dog stayed in the family and got lots of room in the country. Who know what might have happened to it had she not adopted it. Yeah she should have done her research, but at the end of the day, unless her stepmom is a terrible dog person, the pup will be fine.
Her life circumstances drastically changed after she got the dog – she got pregnant, her career got very busy again. It’s entirely possible that she knew what she was getting into and *thought* it was the right fit for her at the time. Would it be better for her to keep the dog and have it be miserable, but that way she’s fulfilling the commitment?
I suppose it all boils down to very differing view of pets. In our home, a pet is a member of the family. Saying a pet no longer fits into the family or the lifestyle would be akin to saying my son or daughter no longer fits into my lifestyle.
And for those who like to holler the “isn’t your child more important than your pet?” I say calm your tits. Yep, that’s why I acknowledge I can make the choice in the beginning to adopt the dog in the first place, whereas when my husband and I have discovered unplanned pregnancies, we’ve thrown up our hands and said, “Well, it is what it is, we better start planning and make it work!” My kids get the default welcome whereas the pets we have we’ve made conscious decisions to adopt. If we couldn’t have taken on the responsibilities of the pets, we just wouldn’t have adopted them in the first place.
The only place saying she gave away her dog for how big it got is the daily mail. I feel like she knew how big the dog would be because the dog’s name sounds like a reference to Peter Pan’s Nana. I suspect she wants to keep the dog in her life and the reasons for giving the dog away are much more complicated than the mail seems to be presenting them.
People need to walk in her shoes. She did what she had to do for the family, and for the dog. Sometimes dogs just need a different environment to be happy. We had a lab/springer cross that was so high energy that we couldn’t slow her down. She was sweet and we loved her but it was unkind to keep her because we couldn’t give her enough exercise. She had a fenced yard and was walked a couple times a day but when she was in the yard she spent her time trying to escape. She could climb any fence, even if it was electrified and it was dangerous for her to be out running loose and it was cruel to leave her tied or in the house all day.
We gave her to a family with young boys who did a lot of hiking and outdoor stuff who really wanted her, and even they couldn’t give her enough exercise. She would get away from them and run, not come back until she was so tired her back legs were dragging. So they gave her to people who had a farm and I lost track of her then.
I’m just saying, sometimes when dogs grow up they just need something different than we can give them. Oh, and we did obedience training too. I always felt bad about her, and never got another dog.
Its with her stepmother on an estate in the cotswolds, life would’nt get much better for a dog. All this pearl clutching crap about giving it away and not caring, ppl need to read the article.
I have to agree with PhenomenalWoman here. It’s so easy to say “should’ve known better” or “do your research”. Yeah. And what if you still mess up? I’ve never had a dog and if I got one, I would of course do the research. But I might still not be able to keep the dog after a few years for whatever reason and when I decide that, what am I supposed to do? Keep it although I don’t want it anymore? No. You find it a good home and learn your lesson. Nobody can always know everything beforehand.
And just to be clear, I’m never getting a dog (or cat) for that reason. But still. Some people f*ck up, at least she did the responsible thing. Sure, you can say it’s her fault and not the dog’s (which … I mean is it ever?) but this was probably the best thing for her AND the dog. This is no Justin Bieber/Kim K. situation.
@littlemissnaughty
“……. what am I supposed to do? Keep it although I don’t want it anymore? ”
If that is your attitude (not you specifically) to begin with, you don’t get a dog/pet in the first place. Plain and simple (No shade… just a matter of fact)
A dog/pet is a lifetime commitment… for THEIR lifetime and not your convenience.
Not until they are no longer a puppy.
Not until they get to big.
Not until they drool more than expected.
Not until they shed more than you want.
Not because they don’t always behave the way you want.
Not because you’re too lazy to put in the time required for training.
Not because you don’t like walking them in bad weather.
Not because the kids got older.
Not because life got busy.
Pets are not disposable. And excusing it as a “f*ck up” does not make it ok.
Well thank you for the lecture. As I said, I don’t plan on ever getting a dog (or pet, for that matter) because I’m just not someone who likes that kind of committment (now guess my attitude towards children). Life changes, your situation changes, you miscalculate. I never said I’d congratulate anyone one making this mistake but the dog will be fine. And some people really just can’t take care of their pets anymore. Whether you’d categorize that as laziness doesn’t change anything. Let me repeat: The dog has a nice home, this was not a crime.
I agree with you, littlemiss. Life happens, and sometimes that means people have to make hard choices. If doing research and planning are great, but if all that was needed in life to make a great choice every time was this, there would be no divorce either. I have a friend who had two dogs, and found out that the baby she was pregnant with was going to be special needs. There was no way she was going to be able to devote the time, attention, or resources necessary to her pups anymore, so she found them a new home. It hurt, she is still sad about it, but sometimes people have to make hard choices.
As someone said upthread, I suspect there is a lot more to this than the DM is sharing. If the dog was being aggressive/dominant with her toddler, she may have had no choice but to remove the dog from the child’s daily living environment. I would.
It pisses me off too. If you do any minimal kind of research on this breed, you would know how very large they will grow to be. They are KNOWN for their size!
I am glad she gave it to a home that could accommodate its needs, but really, she should have done the research first.
ita
but someone who isnt really committed to owning that pet its whole life, imo isnt that great with it all the days she had it. it was a novelty for her. i hope someone at its new house is into it because sienna wasnt.
Meh. I have to side eye, because there’s a thing called Google which is capable of providing you with these magical images of what the breed you’re about to choose will look like when it grows up. But at the same time, this isn’t as bad as taping your cats up in a cardboard box and dumping them at a shelter because “they’re so much cuter as kittens” (my kitten gets cuter as he gets bigger, thankyouverymuch). She made the necessary arrangements and took care to find Nana a home where she will hopefully be a very happy dog. Overall, a little dim-witted, but not grossly reprehensible.
I HATE that chick that did the kitten thing. I hope her character dies on OITNB.
Yup. Sorry but she gets no passes from me.
Animals are a responsibility. For life. No exceptions.
I also completely agree that cats get better as they age. Kittens are just like human babies–of course they’re adorable but they don’t have any personality and they all behave pretty much the same way. As they get older, they reveal their quirks, and unique personality traits. Plus I personally think my foldies just get cuter as their faces fill out 😉
….even if the dog turns out to be not-so-well-suited to living with your toddler?
For all we know, Nana was temperamental, or the child liked to bother her and was an immediate risk of getting badly bitten before Sienna and Tom could get it through her that the family pet is not to be teased/bothered (and Sienna can’t very well give away her child). In those circumstances, I think it’s reasonable that she found Nana another home with a family member.
But nobody has to get a dog, particularly a purebred. That’s my only point. I just think if you get a pet you should honor your commitment to that animal no matter what.
Don’t get me wrong- I think it’s great that she placed the dog with someone she knows and trusts, but it’s always traumatic for a dog to experience a lifestyle change that includes new owners and a new environment. I think that puppy would have been happier to have gone to a different owner of a permanent, stable forever home in the first place.
I don’t think Sienna should be raked against the coals (I actually like her BTW) but I see people casually give away or abandon their pets far too often and it really irks me.
I think people are being a completely unfair to her though. She seems to still want the dog to be a part of her life and gave it to family. It sounds more temporary while she’s busy with her career and her kid then it sounds permanent.
Yes no one has to have a dog, but she got the dog before she got the kid. It seems like she did know how big the dog would get, but then the kid happened. Besides we don’t know the exact reasons there’s no direct quote from her side regarding this. I think the scorn she’s getting here is so unnecessary.
I don’t disagree with you at all. Pets are a huge responsibility and many people need to realize that. I really really want two cats. I’ve got names picked out and everything for my future cats. I’ve picked where I’m going to go to grad school based on the fact that it’ll be easy for me to find places to live even if I have cats. So I’m fully aware of how people need to make sure they are capable enough to get a pet.
This! I have a large breed working dog. A 100lb German shepherd to be exact and he’s my baby. Working dogs specifically and large breed dogs in general need a lot of work but if you put the training in, you gain such reward. Our shelters are full of large dogs which people thought were cute as puppies and then found out they couldn’t handle . It’s a 10-15 yr obligation and you should do your research before adding a pet to your family. Very irresponsible.
@Kitten, I heart your foldies. My baby is a mutt (Siamese/American Bobtail/whatever else mix) and he has such a baby face still, even has he grows. It’s so precious, and so hard to get mad at him.
I stand in the middle on this.
If we take the article as truth, then yes, if she gave up a Newfie because she got “too big” that is outrageously irresponsible. Newfies are known to be huge, this shouldn’t have been even remotely surprising for her when the dog grew.
Not only should she have been aware that Newfie’s are a large breed, KNOWING that, she should have taken the time to properly train the dog. That goes for ANY breed, but come on–if you are going to have a moose of a dog that outweighs you–you BETTER have it well trained. An untrained Maltipoo is annoying, but at least you can pick them up and move them if you need to. An untrained Newfie is going to do whatever IT wants.
I frown on people getting pets that they later realize are inconvenient for whatever reason and then dump them. I love dogs. I don’t HAVE one because I am fully aware of the responsibility they come with and I am not ready to take that on right now. Maybe when my daughter is older and can wipe her own butt. 😉
That said, I don’t HATE the fact that she found what is arguably a better situation for the dog. She didn’t take up a spot at a No Kill shelter, she didn’t dump the dog at shelter where there would be a count down to the dog being euthanized. It isn’t ideal that she abandoned the dog who must have been confused by it—but maybe Nana knew the step mom and was comfortable with her? In which case that isn’t the worst.
I think Sienna made a mistake by adopting a dog that she may not have researched at all, and then not TRAINING the dog properly. HUGE mistake. But I think re-homing to a family member was the BETTER response than sticking the dog in a shelter.
I also think that this is a hot button for us animal lovers because there are gazillions of Siennas out there, and it is way more common for the “Nanas” to end up dumped by the road, or in shelters than to be sent to live with “Grammy”.
And as far as the pets that live on when an elderly relative dies? I might not be willing to take on a pet in that case, but I would find them a home rather than dumping them in a shelter where they would for sure be destroyed. Maybe the deceased had a friend, for example, that could use the company. The idea that my Aunt’s beloved kitty that she adored wouldn’t be cared for? Awful!
Ugggh. Do your research on the kind of dog that suits your lifestyle… as a puppy, as an adolescent, as an adult and as a senior. It’s that simple.
And … errrrmmmm.. it’s called TRAINING. Essential for ALL DOGS, but especially important for large/strong breeds.
At least hopefully now the dog has an appropriate owner.
But stilll… this whole thing could of been avoided.
Ugh.
#Ilikebigmutts
Def read that hashtag as #likebigmuffs and laughed at work so hard I choked. Thanks 🙂
I read #likebignutts
I think the Clooney post got to me.
I like ALL those hastags!!!!! 🙂
Exactly! We are a big dog family. Currently we have an old 109 pound long-coat german shepherd who we took to an AKC dog training school to receive her canine good citizenship certificate. She has been an absolute joy for our family for the last 11 years (my youngest was an infant when we got her). We also have 2 collie puppies who are about to start their AKC training this week so they can have their CGC certificates as well.
Dogs are wonderful family members, but they need training. Research which dogs best suit your family needs and if you prefer rescue dogs, then God bless you!
Regardless, whichever dog you choose, please get them trained. You and they will be much happier for it!
One of our Scotties failed the canine good citizenship training. She got her certificate the second time around.
Yup. Exactly!
We are a big dog family too. We currently have an 8yr old (pushing) 90lb Lab/Shepherd mix and recently adopted a 3yr old 100lb Bloodhound rescue (found as a stray on a Native Reserve and never claimed).
The Original Dog I’ve had since he was 8wks old… and he tries his best every single day to be the good dog that he’s trained to be. He doesn’t always get it right, but I wouldn’t have him any other way.
The Bloodhound on the other hand, that’s a whole different ball game. He’s a rescue, we have NO history on him so we are essentially starting from scratch. A 100lb headstrong scratch! He is true to his nature – we RESEARCHED before rescuing him (go figure?!) – and he’s as stubborn as all the breed information said he’d be, and in no hurry to do anything to please anyone other than himself. He’s also the most snugly creature on the planet, smart and just an all round lovely lovely guy.
We’re 4wks in, it’s a roller coaster… and he gets about 15% of things right 10% of the time. Haha. But we’ve made a commitment to him, so we are making it work. For him. For Original Dog, For us. Slowly. Very slowly.
And even when New Dog gets things wrong, or now that life has gotten 100 times more complicated, or when Original Dog and New Dog don’t get along, or when he jumps on the furniture, or when he cleans the counter with his nose, it’s all part of the process ….
Yeah, I can’t shade her too much for this. Even if she knew how big Nana would get (and OMG Newfies are massive!) if the dog’s temperament wasn’t ideal, it’s for the best to re-home it.
Slight aside: When I was a young baby we had a cocker spaniel, and she was uber jealous of me. Apparently one day she growled in my face when I was playing around on the floor, and my dad said “Okay, enough of that” and gave her away soon after. My mom said she cried for 3 days but what was the other option? Keep her and hope that she wouldn’t bite me?
If Sienna got rid of the dog merely because of her size then that’s definitely lame. Otherwise, I have to give her a pass here.
I give her a pass too
For several reasons: first off, that dog needs a domain, a place to have as his own. She travels a lot and that’s not ideal for a dog like that. She may have underestimated NOT HOW MUCH WORK THE DOG WOULD BE BUT HOW MUCH WORK A TODDLER IS! We have two huge Bernese mountain dogs and a large fences in yard. They love it. My 3 year old loves them and rolls around with them. But when I take her to the bog or the local farm trails, I only take the older Berner bc the younger one is still only a year and a half and he’s massive and soooo strong and it’s too much on my back to leash him and manage my daughter.
Sienna probably realized SHE WAS BEING SELFISH to keep him bc she couldn’t give him the best life he deserves. So she found a loving home- a home where she can still visit him.
Hating on her for this is ridiculous. She deserves some credit for doing right by the dog.
I had a cocker spaniel named Lota when I was a kid and I loved her and she loved me. But when my sister was born she was so jealous of her. She would bark at her, she ever tried to jum into the crib. My parents had to give her away, they made sure she was going to a great family who will take care of her, but I was still so sad.
I have two dogs, a german shepherd and a shih tzu/pekingese mix and they’re both so great in different ways, small dogs can be great too!
Sounds like the story of my family dog when I was little. We had a super sweet and well behaved Spitz who adored my mother to death, but did not take kindly to my arrival at all. And baby me didn’t realise it and just kept chasing my fur sister around (despite ma’s efforts to separate us and teach me not to go after the dog).
It took over a year and some growling before mum realised Snoopy just wasn’t going to get along with me, so she rehomed her with my grandparents, where by all accounts she was very happy to be the sole centre of attention, and lived till I was nine. I don’t know what my mother was supposed to have done with an already trained dog who wasn’t into the nosy toddler taking over her house and her territory, but apparently removing the risk to both child and dog means she was a terrible person and irresponsible pet owner.
My parents kept our abused rescue cocker spaniel even though he had a terrible reputation when we got him. I was three and they taught me how to behave with him and kept him in sight whenever we interacted until he was fixed up and calmed down. The dog wanted to be with us even if he couldn’t express it, that much was clear, so my parents did what they could to honour him and make sure he knew he was with us for life. If it’s a situation where the animal just needs to be worked with then it’s inexcusable to not put in the work (note: not a situation where an animal is completely implacable) when you’ve formed that bond with them.
^^ Snoopy. I love that name.
Yup. My parents had a black lab – they ADORED this dog. One day he went up to my Mom, sat down next to her and smelled her stomach really carefully. He then looked up at her and growled. This was unheard of behavior. It turns out he knew she was pregnant just a few weeks in – before anyone else! He was jealous from the moment he made his discovery. He was never nice and I remember having to keep my distance. When I was three (he was six or seven at this point) he bit me. It wasn’t serious but a bite is a bite. My parents were beside themselves. My Mom decided that if it happened again, they had to give him up. Sure enough, he nipped my hand- I actually remember telling on him. My Dad had him stay with someone on his side of the family. It was sad for everyone involved but it was the right decision.
Newfoundland dogs are called ‘newfs.’ “Newfies” is a derogatory term for people from Newfoundland, aka Newfoundlanders.
Every country uses terms differently. In the US, people call the dogs newfies and has nothing to do with putting down the heritage of a group of people. Sure, it’s great to be informed, but when it’s an American talking to an American, the distinction has almost no relevance. What may be derogatory for some, it’s not the case for others. Sorry I’m just tired of everyone getting offended over everything.
Why not just accept what Navi said, and be gracious about it? When people from certain countries say “I had no idea what black face meant” “we use the ni–a here and no one is ever offended”, we are all outraged by it, why can’t we extend the same courtesy?
It’s degress of upset and insult, I suppose.
Her jammypants, not just Americans here.
Is it really so tiring to learn not to offend people?
I’m fine with accepting what Zavi said, but I also want to point out that not everyone knows every cultural context ever in existence. So am I suddenly not allowed to refer to a cute fuzzy black dog as a Newfie because in some far off country I will never visit will get offended I refered to said dog as a newfie to my fellow American friend? There’s no ill will or intent.
Foreigners sometimes refer to all Americans as Yanks and not give a crap. THAT is pretty bad. But you know what? I’m not offended and I’m from the south.
Jammypants, you and me both. I’m on your side here. So, so sick of the word police.
Maybe in eastern Canada but most of us in the western US refer to to Newfoundland dogs as Newfies. No insult intended to the inhabitants if Newfoundland.
In the UK they are certainly not called newfs, it’s newfies
I’m in Canada, and the term Newfie is used in both cases. Neither one of them derogatory… and yes, I’ve known people from Newfoundland who refer to themselves as Newfies (proudly!) and are not offended with being referred to as such. Zavi’s comment really confuses me actually.
My friends from Newfoundland do not like to be called Newfies. At all. They think it’s the negative connotation of drunken, uneducated and unsophisticated people.
Granted, they now live in Toronto, so it may be just their mentality.
I can see where that could come from for sure. I guess it has to do with context and the people involved.
Actually I’m from Newfoundland and we don’t mind being called a Newfie.
Newfie isn’t derogatory, they call themselves that.
Way too much pc nowadays pretty soon we won’t be able to talk about anything.
Omg…of course there are still Americans that think of Canada as a “far off land”… Newfoundland is a province in Canada. Get a map and get a clue about the world outside your own country…
I’m glad it’s going to a place with lots of room to run. However, a quick google search would have told her that she was getting a big ol mook of a dog. Secondly, when you have a big energetic dog, you have to spend time training and exercising it so that it will be obedient. I have a big hunting dog and a tiny Chihuahua so I have the spectrum covered on size. The big dog needs LOTS of exercise, walks, and training to make sure he’s not dislocating our shoulder and/or being destructive. The little dog has had the same training, but being so tiny, he really can’t pull us down and such. Again, at least she didn’t just dump it somewhere, but it just irks me when people don’t do research then get tired of an animal because it’s not what they expected.
I’m like you, I have a little Chi for indoors and two big doggies that are mostly outdoors. when I lived in the city I had them all in a tiny house and man that was terrible for the big dogs. now we live in the country is is a much better fit for the big dogs to run off energy.
Yeah our big dog is a big ol baby. Sleeps in the bed and everything. BUT he gets hunted on weekends and takes a lot of walks and does structured play during the week. A tired dog is a good dog. The tiny dog does a lot of stuff too, but I’m not sure anything will curb his Hitler-esque personality.
Ugh. That’s actually my favourite dog. She doesn’t sound that bright but at least the dog is still in the family and has lots of space (Newfoundland dogs actually don’t need lots of space because they are lazy and running wild is not their thing). But it shows these people don’t see dogs has part of the family and that’s what really upsets me I guess:/
That dog is SOOOOO effin cute. The boyfriend and I really want a Bernese but we’re both too busy with our jobs to take on that responsibility right now.
We had a Bernese. She was the best. A big old lovable bundle of fluff called Lola. She passed away 2 years ago.
Aw I’m sorry for your loss 🙁 They are my absolute favorite. Sigh.
Some people view pets merely as property, not as family.
My Great Pyr was abandoned and in bad shape when I took him in. It took nearly a year for him to understand he did not have to worry about being smacked when someone extends a hand. It just infuriates me that someone will dump an animal. She did not need a dog if she did not understand the responsibility, but at least the big dog ended up (presumably) with a good home.
There’s big dog and then there’s Newfie big. Those guys are like bears or horses. It’s possible she didn’t realize how physically difficult they are to deal with day to day; I couldn’t imagine if my dog literally pulled me over as we walked. At least she took proper arrangements for the pup.
I actually wanted to be understanding, but this is a dog that falls into the giants breeds, there’s no way she didn’t know this. She probably did and just didn’t care:/
I’ve been a large breed owner my whole life….. and it’s called training. It’s that simple.
From the time the dog comes into your house, you start. Day in, day out.
If you choose to take on the responsibility of a ANY DOG, it’s part of the deal.
There is nothing worse than a poorly mannered dog. No matter what size. However, there really is NO EXCUSE for not realising the potential size and strength of a adolescent/full grown Newfoundland. It’s called research BEFORE you become a dog owner.
And I bet she could hire trainers to help her if it was important for her and her family:/
It looks like she got the dog right before she got pregnant (which was likely an unexpected pregnancy) and that’s a major life change. I dislike it when people are ill-prepared for a dog, but sometimes people make miscalculations. It happens. You’d be amazed how many people consider themselves ‘dog people’ and have been around dogs their whole lives but don’t do things like obedience classes are hire a trainer.
Giant breed dog owner here, and consistent training is key. They won’t pull, jump or whatever if you train them properly.
She’s stupid for not researching the dogs breed in the first place. Before you get a dog do the reseach about the breed ur getting cus it might has some traits the you won’t like.
Stupid shallow woman
She’s an idiot.
Eh she gave it to her stepmother not to a pound, and it seems like she got the dog before she had the baby. Maybe her daughter can’t handle playing with the dog and she didn’t have a choice.
Meh. She should have done more research on the breed before she got one, but she took responsibility and found it a new home. Who knows what the dog was like with her daughter, I’m sure it wasn’t violent but big dogs don’t always seem to understand their own size, so there could have been just too many knocks and bumps to be compatible with a toddler in the house.
I would be amazed if that dog had a behavioural problem with her daughter. Two breeds you can trust implicitly with children are Newfoundlands and Black Labrador dogs. This is of course based on the presumption the dog had some basic training.
Like I said, the problem may not have been behavioural, just the dog not knowing its own size. That plus a toddler can be a bit of a disaster. I just don’t get the hate, she didn’t dump the dog, she re-homed it (with a family member) where it would be happier. Everyone wins.
My aunt’s pure bred black lab is pretty vicious. She got it as a puppy and has trained it the same as her past dogs. You can never tell a dog’s temperament based on breed alone.
Whops cross-post.
Yes, Gretchen, I think people are being a little harsh. I had a friend who had always had Rottweilers and loved the breed. But she adopted one who just had an overly enthusiastic personality, and she couldn’t control him. She tried several trainers, and spent lots of time with him, but he would just lunge at people he wanted to greet. He was being playful, but when a Rottweiler lunges at you, it doesn’t seem playful. He also lunged at strollers with babies in them. She was very petite, and he would pull her to ground. She had to re-home him to a man she worked with who was twice her size. She was heartbroken, but I don’t think it was her fault. She knew the breed, but this particular dog was just not right for her.
I love my dog and he’s a member of the family. But I’ve known multiple people who had kids and found that it was too much to balance – even if the dog was well behaved. I couldn’t imagine slinging the kind of judgement at them that I’m seeing here.
Agreed. I think people are coming down really hard on the “OMG GOOGLE IT” thing. It’s not like the dog went somewhere terrible, he stayed in the family and still can be visited and has a giant space to roam. If anything, it’s probably better for the big guy.
i doubt it was violent or difficult ,there is Vogue diary video of hers ;where she is hanging out with big Nana ,taking it to the park ,rolling around with it ,looked like the dog had great relationship with her ,suprised she gave her away !!
http://video.vogue.com/watch/sienna-miller-day-in-life-january-2015-cover?c=series
its good to hear that the dog went to a home where there is room for it to live.
but it’s a bummer that she wanted this particular dog to turn out a particular way and it didn’t work out for her, so she dumped it…
however, not everybody is able to give their newly-unwanted pets such a great home as Nana seemed to have gotten, so it kind of makes me think somebody will see this ending to the story and justify getting a dog they’ve always wanted ‘knowing’ they can just send it to live on a farm if they decide they can’t handle it anymore…
Then end up in shelters with half-filled-out information cards that make them look like they’ve done something wrong in their past to land themselves at a shelter when really, it’s usually just them having been owned by somebody who shouldn’t have had them in the first place. 🙁
Haven’t we all gotten in over our heads on something we thought we could handle? Knowing it and living it are two different things. At least she realized it wasnt working and rehomed the dog before something bad happened.
That’s my thought as well. She at least took the time to find a decent place for the dog to live. I work in animal rescue, and that’s more than a lot of people do…
I’ve always disliked her, and here’s one more reason. At best, she’s stupid.
Newfoundlands are GREAT dogs – and I’m NOT an animal lover. If you have a pool, they are essential imo. They are phenomenal water rescue dogs – with a little one you would think she would be grateful to have one around…
I have no tolerance for dorks who get dogs they no longer want when they aren’t cute puppies any longer. If you don’t have a large area for bigger breeds to run and burn energy, and you don’t take the time to train them, you have no business owning a large dog. Even if you have a dog trained, but they don’t have the opportunity to stretch their legs and really move around, they are still going to act manic bc they have pent up energy and stress with no means to outlet.
On the bright side, at least the dog went to someone she knows. That’s all I got.
I think she did the right thing. She probably travels a lot for work, and now has a child to care for. The dog is probably much happier on a spawling estate with lot’s of room. I really don’t think we should judge too harshly on this one. It’s not like she dumped the dog off somewhere random!
And this is why I have chihuahuas. 😂 I love all dogs but I am well aware of my limitations and know that I can’t have a big sweetheart right now so I stick with my small little ones. It’s not hard to research a breed and find the one that suits your needs, like temperament, size and so forth. Some people get so caught up in the puppy stage or the idea of a pet and they forget that those puppies will grow into full grown dogs and that dogs are a life long commitment. They are part of your family. Just like you would plan for a child you plan for a dog. I understand if there is the rare personality difference , not all dogs and owners get along but to give a dog up on size alone is terrible. Research, research and research! Pets are just too disposable in our society and it breaks my heart.
Do not adopt a pet if you have not done proper research on the breed and know what is coming into your home. There are some breeders who will only sell an animal after they have researched the buyer and the buyer’s living situation.
I agree 100%!!!
Years ago my husband brought home a Neopolitan Mastiff puppy that a co-worker claimed he couldn’t keep bc it was more work than he thought it would be. Meanwhile I had 3 young boys home but he figured it would be great for the kids. When I looked up how big it was going to get, I cried a little but did my research, made sure she was socialized and trained properly. When I walked her, she walked right next to me. Never pulled. She grew to over 100 lbs but was a love. Biggest drawback is she only lived til she was 8 which was heartbreaking to all of us. Guess my point is, I can see how u end up with a dog that you haven’t properly researched. Means you’re married to someone like my husband. 😉
Our current dog is a German Shepard mutt picked out by me. Couldn’t be without a dog and couldn’t get rid of one unless it was a temperament issue.
A dog is not a commodity you just discard when it is no longer convenient. If she didn’t want to take care of her and fulfill that responsibility then she shouldn’t have taken her on in the first place.
Even if the dog was a ‘handful’ as Kaiser suggests, there are some wonderful behaviorists who could have helped. Sounds to me like she just couldn’t be bothered to deal with the dog, particularly as Newfoundland’s are an intelligent breed that are not that difficult to train.
She’s not alone in this, I am involved with a local animal rescue and we have had dogs handed over to us as soon as they get past the cute puppy stage. One family bought one Rottweiler puppy after another, discarding them at nine months old when they got a bit ‘challenging’ because they thought a dog should be ‘fun and cute’. I’m sorry if this is a rant but I’ve seen too much of this attitude not to despise it.
UGH. There is always someone who pops up in these threads complaining about how people care about dogs too much, but this is exactly why. They are helpless to these morons who buy them without doing any research, and then get treated like they are disposable when they don’t quite meet the expectations their owner wants them to meet. Barring something like an unforseen allergy to the animal, or a situation where the animal is a really poor fit with the kids or something, when YOU take an animal, YOU are committed for life. Just like with your human children, you don’t get to pick their characteristics and pawn them off to someone else because you didn’t like what you got. You love them anyway. Idiots like this make me see red. How stupid do you have to be to buy a puppy from a gigantic breed, and then get mad because it grew up?
She supposedly gave the dog away because it was affecting her child. As in the child could not handle her large dog. I don’t understand what’s so bad about what she did. I feel like Sienna is a dog person and she loves her dogs. She gave her dog to someone she knew I figured she wants to see Nana again. She seems fairly close with her step mother and it sounds like she wanted to keep Nana in her life.
If you read in another article (because it isn’t mentioned on this page) her child was having a problem with the dog, I MAY feel a bit more charitable. Maybe. Sometimes bad fits happen, in which case it is better for the animal and the humans to rehome, and no amount of training will correct the problem. But she doesn’t get a pass from me for adopting a gigantic animal she can’t handle (she chose to adopt a dog who weighs about as much as she does), requiring it to be rehomed. I volunteer with animal rescues to clean up people’s mistakes and loss of interest in their pets. It’s extremely common for people to just give up on their dog, rather than give the dog the training or attention it needs. I hope she at least tried professional training before giving her dog away.
Kaiser mentions it right there. She prioritized her daughter. Read on the daily mail article which is literally the ONLY article saying she gave it away because of the size of the dog and how it affects her child with no quote from her at all. In the end it’s all mere speculation based on one flimsy article. Which is fine it’s a gossip site, but my goodness she’s being torn a new one when you don’t even know the circumstances.
She got her dog before she had the kid. Life happens. I get you that people can be awful to their pets, but this seems like a situation where the original owner did in fact try to do best for her dog. I don’t understand the outrage over what she did, especially since it seems like the dog has gone to a close family member and a huge backyard.
I’m not nuts about this chick. But that being said, there’s no guarantee that every dog of a certain breed will act just exactly as described. My aunts had collies that were litter mates. One loved and adored everyone, the other could only be petted or walked by my uncle. We had a Dalmatian before I came along and he was fine with my older brother, but incredibly jealous of baby me. The second time he lunged at me while I was nursing, we had to re-home him. Not all Dalmations are bad with little ones. Maybe her Newf was too rough with the little one?
Actually Dalmatians are well known for being bad with kids. They were popular briefly with families after 101 Dalmatians came out to disastrous effect. Ironically, given Lady and the Tramp, cocker spaniels are notoriously jealous of small children and are also only for a 8+ type of home.
Big dogs like Newfoundlands tend to be great with kids. Their instinct is to protect, not to compete. I would side eye Sienna if size was a problem: did she really think she wasn’t going to have a baby or be working a lot over the ten year life of the dog? If the dog was bad with the kid, though, I give her a complete pass. I’ve just never heard or read about a big dog like that being anything but sweet with kids.
She gave the dog to someone who could care for it and provide it with a home where it could run. No shade. It’s unfortunate she couldn’t keep it, but…it’s better than her abandoning it or mistreating it. I’ve seen far too many abused animals to shade someone who went to the trouble of finding one a home and not leaving it at a pound or in the streets to fend for itself.
I agree. Nana will be very happy now that’s she’s able to run around free and be with a person who lives her. That said people should research the breed before getting one. I thought everyone knew that Newfies are HUGE when fully grown.
Yeah, I think she should have researched more before getting the dog, but she did good by the dog in finding a suitable home. The dog’s probably happier now, too.
Eh, I can’t shade her too much. She had the dog first, and then she had a baby. If it were the other way around, she’d be royally stupid, but she’s not the first person to underestimate the effect a child can have on your life.
Being dragged through the mud by a large dog builds character. I was knocked off a porch by a dog’s butt – it taught me to respect my surroundings and that is invaluable.
You know what..things change in ways you can’t imagine when you have kids. Dogs are not children and if she found the dog a great home that is probably better for the dog and her family then I think that’s very responsible. She didn’t drop it off on the side of the road or anything….geez.
I had a Newfie as a child and those dogs are extremely sweet-tempered, and ridiculously smart. We hardly had to train her once before she understood what to do. She was so, so smart, I can’t stress their intelligence enough! And even though they are huge–and think they’re giant lapdogs, they do have NO idea how big they are–they’re very good and loving with children (at least, most Newfies are). Hence “Nana” in Peter Pan is actually a Newfie in the original book! Besides size, they really are a great breed for kids! This is such a sad story to hear, but at least she gave the dog away to her mother where she has space to roam.
I agree with you. I have a friend whose two Newfie’s protected my Collie in the park when he was a puppy and being rouged up by a much bigger, rather aggressive dog. They just got either side of him and stood there until the other dog went away. Their owner was amazed by their response, I just cried when I saw what they’d done, naturally and with no prompting. They are a fabulous breed and I find it really difficult to believe they would be ‘difficult’ around a child, given that their natural instinct and breeding is to rescue and protect. As I said up thread, it sounds to me like there was a training issue.
I think the indignation should be saved for someone else who actually sounds cruel and awful to their pets/animals (like hayek with tigers). She seems to care a great deal for the dog and gave it a home in a sprawling estate with someone she knows. Plus she got the dog before she had her daughter so she unknowingly jumped into something that she didn’t realize she could handle a few years down the road.
She realized she couldn’t meet the needs of her dog and of her child. So she tried the best she could to make sure his needs were being met. My god. She’s not on twitter asking some stranger to take her dog. Maybe she left the dog with her stepmother for a while and will in the future take Nana home again.
Is it not Chris Pratt who used Twitter to find a new owner for his pet ( a cat I think) when his wife was pregnant?
Who says she didn’t know how big Nana would get? That’s just speculation on the Daily Mail’s part. What she probably didn’t know was that she’s have a baby, who would become a priority, and sometimes dogs and kids don’t work out together, despite the best of intentions.
She didn’t dump it in an alleyway, she gave it to a family member. I really don’t get the outrage.
People just really seem to hate her. I don’t get the outrage at all. It honestly sounds like she’s close with her stepmother and the dog is on a huge sprawling estate. Isn’t that better than what Sienna can give Nana? She can’t prioritize a huge dog over the three other living beings that are in her life. Nana has different needs. Sounds like she took them into account.
Exactly. I’m not her biggest fan, but she did nothing wrong that I can see.
She could easily have kept the dog, and just separated her from the family (she’s got the money for a dog minder and it would save her this public scorn) but in my opinion that would have been much worse.
She gave it to her stepmother, not a stranger. Obviously she still cares for her, and will see her. I doubt this was a whim, but she obviously can’t keep a (probably) boisterous, 100 pound animal, if it makes her uneasy when around her toddler.
My mum considered getting rid of our mutt, who was the sweetest thing, but was terrible with kids. She was a rescue who’d been abused, and she snapped at my nephew a few times (his fault, but he was a baby and in love with her = no respect for personal space). Fortunately, she adjusted to him, but it was very stressful trying to figure out the right thing to do.
People are so quick to judge without knowing all the facts
Or it could be that she has to travel a lot more for work. Which was probably an even bigger consideration, and one I don’t think anyone expected – her career seemed pretty dead a few years ago.
no. this pisses me off to no end. i truly dont understand people that get animals, grow to love them and care for them then give them away. there are extenuating circumstances, of course, but as a whole i just cant with people like this. im currently looking for an apt in nyc and bc i have a cat there are so fewer options for me, esp with roommates, and so many people have told me to find a good home for my cat and i would truly rather be homeless and live with her in a cardboard box or move back to my small town. she is family, she will remain with me foreva!
Do you have kids? What would you do if you had a child who was allergic? Or what if you had a kid and your cat was aggressive towards it? People sometimes have to make hard decisions that are the best for their children.
First of all, cats are almost never “aggressive” with children unless the children have mishandled them and caused the animal to become fearful.
Second of all, you would just get rid of your cat if it was aggressive with your child? Really? Even though there are at least 10 other possible solutions that you could try first?
Sorry but I can’t hang with that mentality.
One of the simplest solutions is to recondition the cat by having the child only interact with the cat via food, treats, etc. Supervised interactions between the child and cat and possibly separating the cat are also options. Children should avoid putting their face in the cat’s face or rubbing their belly until the relationship is mended and both cats and children feel safe again.
But this is kind of my issue with people who are on this board making it seem like giving an animal away is the “best thing for the animal and the kids”. Sorry, rehoming a pet is almost NEVER the better solution for the pet–you’re taking away everything they know and love, everything that is familiar to them.
Also, kids can learn a great deal about patience, restraint, and tenderness by building trust with a timid/aggressive pet. It takes time, energy, and a ton of patience but again, this is the commitment you make when you adopt a pet–that you will do anything and everything within your power to provide a loving and safe, PERMANENT home.
This is why shelters are overcrowded–because people see pets as something that they’ll “try out” instead of a lifetime commitment.
Yes, there are extenuating circumstances and exceptions to this (as some commenters have stated here) but giving a dog up because it “got too big” (and I’m simply going by the DM story) is not a great reason to shirk your responsibility as a pet owner. I will reiterate that at least that beautiful dog is going to a person that she knows and trusts-that is certainly better than abandonment, but ideal would be that Sienna would find a way to make it work with the dog she took on.
@Kitten: I disagree with your first statement. Cats are unpredictable, it’s their nature.
Nah, I know my cats inside and out and nothing they do is surprising to me – cats are all about cause and effect. Even the ‘unpredictability’ you might see in some cats is generally not surprising to its owner. My cats aren’t violent so if they were so towards a child – or anyone – I would know it was because they were provoked and afraid.
I’d like to think there actually is another reason that the dog was given away and this is just tabloid clickbait of the sort at which the Daily Fail excels. I’ve never got the impression that Sienna Miller was exactly a genius, but I find it very unlikely that she would be all, “Oh, I’ll get a puppy of the biggest, foofiest, most bear-like breed of dog EVAR!” and then freak out a couple of years later when the dog got big. That would require her not only to not be able to read, but also to have absolutely no people in her life who knew how big these dogs get and to remark on it to her. On the Daily Fail Believability Scale, this barely wobbles the needle.
Named Nana after the dog in Peter Pan? I think that was the dog’s name.
I have never cared for Sienna Miller, something about her is irritating. I guess at least she gave the dog to a good home, but the “dog got too big” isn’t a good reason to re-home. I suspect she’s just a shallow idiot, based on past stuff she’s done.
I love Newfies, and big dogs in general, especially big black dogs.
Okay I went back to reread that daily mail article. In all honesty it sounds like the mail is speculating on the reasons for giving the dog away. There is no direct quote there is no reason from her side given at all.
Sienna is ridiculously busy this year. She has a ton of movies premiering and filming two or three right now with another two in pre production. It’s possible she’s left Nana in the care of her step mother in a good home so she can keep Nana in her life while she’s busy with her child and her career.
Yes all these things are possibilities. I think most of us here are basing our opinion on the only information we have available–which is the DM article.
The thing is, she didn’t get rid of her other dog so to me that says she either should never have gotten a second dog in the first place, or she should have gotten a smaller dog that was more conducive to her lifestyle. It just doesn’t sound like she thought things through and pets should never be adopted on a whim.
Well, I hope she visits the dog at least. I wish I could adopt him–he’s a beauty! 🙂
Her dog is freaking beautiful. I read it as her evaluating what she could handle and whether the needs of her dogs were being met. I don’t disagree that maybe she should try training if she hasn’t (I mean she could totally afford it), but I’m not down for calling her a bitch and all these awful things when it seems more like she made at least a responsible choice. I don’t think she gave it away because she didn’t realize how big it would get, because I’m with the posters who believe that she named her newfie Nana after the dog in Peter Pan. She just didn’t realize her life would be in the state it is now.
I would be a little more indignant had I not googled and saw that Sienna seems to have a fairly close relationship with her stepmother. Seems being the key word though.
I’m not trying to suggest to anyone that taking in a pet is something you try out because you can just give it away to a new home. Or that adoption is not a serious thing. Not at all. If that’s what people are getting from my posts, then I’m sorry. I’m of the camp that believes that people should really research and plan whether or not THEY can fit into a animal’s life and whether an animal will fit in theirs. Not just one or the other. I mean I’m planning my life around having cats. At minimum I have to wait two years before I can get one. When someone told me I’d have to get rid of the cat if I ever got pregnant, I told them, “Well I guess I’m never getting pregnant. Phew, was struggling with that one.” I just think some of the criticism leveled at her is ridiculously OTT.
I agree that some of the criticism is very OTT, but I think it’s great to see impassioned people like yourself and others here who value animals and understand the responsibility that is involved in caring for one. I think Sienna might have done the best she could in a not-great situation, but I only hope she learns from it and is maybe more discerning in the future when it comes to getting another pet.
Dogs aren’t fashion accessories! Good heavens, people. Do some research before you take on an animal. If she had approached her decision with even an ounce of practicality, she would have known exactly how big Newfies get!! I love dogs and I really would love to have one but the breed I love isn’t compatible with condo living, so I do not have a dog.
Celebs really irritate me with crap like this
I don’t understand the outrage. She gave the dog to her stepmother. She didn’t have the dog put to sleep.
You can’t just give a dog away! The dog loves its pack and will be miserable without them thinking she did something bad. And who knows if this step mom really has time for the dog. If the dog was used to living in a house with her family she won’t be happy living outside no matter how big and nice the property is.
The step mom is apparently an interior designer so would she really let a massive dog run around her home or sit on her fancy sofa?
Wow. And everyone says cat people are crazy. I love animals, but it’s a DOG. She’s doing what’s best for her HUMAN family. Humans > dogs. End of.
Dogs > Jay.
End of.
Cats > Jay > Dogs.
Fixed it.
You are too reasonable .Apparently many here think to give her kid at adoption was a better solution
You are putting words in people’s mouths, nobody here is saying that except you.
I don’t understand all the vitriol. She gave the dog to a family member with tons of land. Sounds like a win, win scenario to me.
….the dog is in the care of a family member, right? And in a place where she has lots and lots of space to roam and be free? I’m not her biggest fan but this is not like she just dumped Nana with any old owner to re-home, it’s her family.
I don’t blame her, because she found a new home. I adopted one of the best dogs I ever had–a shepherd mix–because, at the age of 8 months, she was 60 pounds and growing, and her owner was unhappy with such a big dog. My good luck! And I hope the good luck of the person who has now adopted this dog.
Yeah I tend to think the daily mail makes up a significant part of what they print. It sounds more like grandma is keeping the doggy with her in the country where it can run around and be free. And Sienna can still visit. I really want a Newfoundland for my kids. I have a ten acre farm so I def have the space for a big dog. And I have read they are so good with kids. My hubs won’t let me…maybe someday
My husband and I rescued a pitbull earlier in the year and we have a cat that’s ancient. The dog was the friendliest, most adorable, gentle animal ever…until it came to the cat. She almost killed her (punctured a lung, broke her ribs) one day when we dropped the leash on accident trying to put on shoes for a walk. It wasn’t either of their fault and we called in trainers that cost over $2k, did shock collar work (much to my chagrin, I didn’t like the idea) for 3 months, but another vet visit for both animals after she broke down a door to try to kill the cat again, we gave her up to a no kill pit adoption agency. She was adopted this past week and I’m couldn’t be happier for her.
I had pits before, mellow, older, chill and I cast no shade at the breed at all. This big-ish girl (60lbs) was just too much for me (a female football player) and my 6’5/280lb husband to handle. $5,000 later, we’re just going to wait until Sauro-mama the cat passes away so she can live out her life calmly.
So I guess understanding that a dog might not be fore you after everything hits home for me. I cried like a baby for weeks afterwards even though I knew it was the right thing to do. At least this big Newfoundland has room to roam like a big boy/gal should.
I’m sorry, MonicaQ, that must have been sad and stressful. It sounds like you did what was right.
I’m in the process of rehoming one of my cats to my parents’ house. I’m moving and have yet to find a place that will take 3 cats, not to mention that I have doubts on how she’d handle the 12-hour drive. I fully admit that it was probably not the best idea to get 3 cats, but I own my place here and it wasn’t an issue until I got a new job out of state.
I used to be terribly offended by people who gave up pets when it became too much responsibility or whatever, but I’ve changed my tune somewhat. If you can rehome your pet, sometimes that is the best answer for everyone. I think it’s totally wrong to dump a pet somewhere just because you don’t want to take care of it anymore, but responsible rehoming can be a good answer.
@ MonicaQ-This is what I’m talking about though. You tried every single possible thing you could before you decided to give the dog back. That’s not the same thing as suddenly deciding the dog was too big or too wild and “returning” it like a sweater that didn’t fit properly.
I’m sorry you had to deal with that but you can sleep well knowing that you exhausted every possible solution. Also, it’s great to hear that the pittie was adopted.
Fact: I once dated a dude that purchased a Great Dane puppy, only to give her away when she outgrew his convertible. He was as big of a douche as you could possibly imagine.
I used to have a Great Dane and this makes me sad.
the fact that I dated that d’bag for any length of time makes me sad. :/
Heh, good point.
So I’m assuming you all would’ve preferred she give away her child instead? Woooooow
Probably when I read some commentaries
Jesus, the most judgmental people. She lives in London, a busy city, and her dog got very big. He’s probably rough around the kid. She travels for work and gone often. At the age of three, that dog needs a lot of room to romp and exercise. She gave him to a family member that obviously knows the dog and where she can see him again. The dog will be far happier out on a big piece of land. I have a dog I adore to the sky and back, and I can’t imagine life without her. I will have to, though. She’s coming to the end of her life. She’s my sweety. But I won’t judge anybody that does this, rehoming their dog, the right way. She gave him to someone who knew him and loved him.
My dad died and he had a big Australian shephard mix, that had a yard, but dad wasn’t able to do much with him. He would just lay around with dad. When he died, a neighbor came up and asked could he have the dog. They were childless and had two big dogs and one died a while back and said they would love to take Benji. Some people judged us kids for not taking our parents’ dog, but it wasn’t conducive for any of us for varying reason, but we were made to feel guilty for giving him to someone that didn’t really know Benji. But he assured us he would be spoiled rotten. We went to visit him about a month later, and to see the life he had with this couple, who were devoted to the dogs, made me realize it was the best thing for him. The dogs had their own chairs, had everything. The husband would take them for runs and walks around the park and lake giving them plenty of exercise. He played catch and all kinds of chase games with him in the backyard. He loved the other dog. He was spoiled rotten and had a better life.
Maybe the family member not only has lots of wide-open space but also lots of time to devote to the dog exercisewise, playwise, and give it a great life.
So she should have thought it through. I didn’t research my dog and had many meltdowns. I’m not evil because I had my sister take one -third custody for a couple of months because my dog was terrorizing my two cats and they needed relief from my wild puppy for a few days a week. Actually, I did too. LOL She was wild beyond belief and I worked a lot, half out of my home, and so hard to get my work done or be worried when I was gone. Sure, I should have thought about it before I got my puppy, but I didn’t, like a lot of people. My puppy is now a senior of 16, has lived beyond her life expectancy.
She did the right thing for the dynamics of her household, and some of the hateful comments on here astound me.
Thank you, Jayna. The level of OTT bile and judgement on this thread is truly horrible to read.
Yes, I know it’s cele’bitchy’ but Christ on a cracker, a bit of perspective would be nice.
That’s a great story. So happy for Benji!
Sorry about your father.
I have to agree with you here. I’m sure that other posters will vilify me too after I tell this little story ( shame on family who won’t take in dogs of dead relatives)….
My mother in law had a mastiff that she over fed and didn’t train. This dog was 245 pounds and didn’t listen to commands. She didn’t even have a collar or know how to walk on leash. When that day came everyone in the family wanted us to take the mastiff, who already had a history of attacking other family dogs! We had a mini dachshund and an elderly, toothless cocker spaniel–we rent our house. Our backyard isn’t fenced. (We take our dogs on leash.) we refused to take the dog, but so did everyone else. Turns out no one wants a dog that big that has never been trained. Who would have thought?? His sister tried to get the local mastiff rescue to take her–no dice. She put up free notices, no one wanted a dog that big who was aggressive towards other dogs. The mastiff was eventually given up to an animal rescue, where I am sure we ( the family) was judged as viciously as what has been going on in this thread. But my dog’s safety comes first, and I am not putting them in a dangerous situation.
You did the right thing..you owe it to the dogs that you already have to keep them safe. How could you put your two in harm’s way by bringing a dog into your home who was likely to hurt them? It is sad for the mastiff that it wasn’t trained, but that is in no way your fault.
As for Sienna, we don’t really know anything, so it is good that the dog has a nice home. Maybe the dog was aggressive toward her child, maybe her little girl is very allergic or has asthma (which can be triggered by animals). We just don’t know so it is a bit hard to have an opinion.
As a mother of two wonderful Great Danes & an 11 month old..this makes me angry.
This isn’t even a discussion… daughter came first. Also, she gave the dog away to her stepmom. Not a stranger or left on the street. Let’s reign in the dramatics. Who knows, when her daughters older maybe Nana can come back. Lots of circumstances not filled in to judge how extensive care for Nana was in regards to her or her daughter. Three years ago she didn’t have a daughter.
In this sort of instance, it’s hard to know whether she HAD to give the dog up (she’s quoted commenting on walking the dog before this came up), or whether she thought the dog might be happier on a large estate, and perhaps her stepmother really wanted him. I think doing what’s best for an animal is important. It bothers me to no end when people say “oh, I’m moving, I can’t keep my animal,” because it’s like, well how hard did you try, but in this instance, it sounds like maybe she was just making a mature and reasonable decision for the dog’s wellbeing.
“It bothers me to no end when people say ‘oh, I’m moving, I can’t keep my animal,'”
This! That’s how I got my little doxie. Her family decided to give her away because they were moving into rental property that didn’t take animals. I was floored, but happy to take her. She’s my little snuggle bunny. My entire family loves her so much. She’s the sweetest. I found out later that the wife wanted a chiweenie. I was pissed on Lulu’s behalf. But I would also cut a B if someone tried to take her from me.
Sienna did what was best for her dog. She put her with someone Nana is familiar with, in a setting where she can bound around without a care in the world.
I don’t really feel sympathy for her. I mean, do your research on the kind of dog it is before you get it. If you can’t handle a big dog, then don’t get one. If you can’t handle a dog with special needs, then don’t get one etc. If it’s a behavorial issue, well she can afford to have her dog professionally trained.
+1 Sienna should undo her carelessness by giving at least $100k to a group that provides free or low-cost spay/neuter to low-income pet owners.
Why would a woman who travels a lot for her work who also lives in crowded London get a Newfoundland? Regardless, she had the money to follow through on making Nana her lifelong pet in spite of Nana’s size, her own travel requirements and urban space constraints. But Sienna chose not to follow through.
The 4-part formula for a well-behaved dog is 1. temperament (hire an expert for guidance in selecting the right temperament) + 2. ongoing training + 3. daily appropriate exercise + 4. daily interaction with owner(s) or other consistent care-giver.
The good news is that most dogs adjust to a loving new home very quickly. I speak from experience as I have fostered several rescue dogs including a few that came to me directly from horrible conditions.
The dog is living in the countryside with a family who loves it. Sienna can visit. What’s the big deal? Sienna was stupid not to think the dog would grow to be a bear but she’s stupid about a lot of things.
I think when you get a pet, the intention should always be that it’s for life, you should do everything possible to try to make it work, and research so you know what you’re getting into. But there are some instances when there is a better home for the pet, and it sounds like she did do that here. If she’d takenthe dog to a shelter I would’ve been furious, but a family member who has a wonderful home for the dog is ok I think.
I have a Newfoundland who is presently 168 lbs of love. He is very sweet and I was sad to see this post. They are very sensitive animals that get extremely emotionally attached to individuals, so it can be distressing to them if they are relocated or shipped off to another family. (But I doubt that she was around all that much for the dog in any case. ) However, getting a Newfoundland dog is a big responsibility. They are huge and need careful training to keep them manageable since they are so incredibly large. The things that little dogs do that people think are adorable are not so much when the dog is over 160 lbs. But they are worth the trouble for someone who can appreciate the breed. I wish I had 10 of them!!
At least this story has a happy ending. It’s a good lesson for her . She is kind of whimsical, but I don’t think she’s a bad person.
A friend of mine found a runaway Labrador last month. Her boys hoped they could keep him, my friend too. She always wanted a big dog, unfortunately they don’t have enough space. The owner saw her ad a week later and was very grateful. The boys were so sad and begged for a new one. It broke her heart to say no, because now she knew for a fact, they really don’t have enough room.
No one can predict life and changes. But commitment is commitment, no matter if it’s a dog or a person.
Some people are allergic to dogs
Some dogs are aggressive
Some people don’t feel comfortable with dogs around their children
She didn’t abuse the dog, she knew she couldn’t give it the best care for whatever reason. She gave it to someone who could.
“Some people are allergic to dogs”
“Some people don’t feel comfortable with dogs around their children”
If that’s the case she would have got rid of her other dog as well.
“Some dogs are aggressive”
And if that was the case it wouldn’t be living with a family member I assume. Let’s not pretend these reasons are applicable here.
It’s not optimal, but she have it to a relative she trusted rather than a stranger or pound. People really need to do more research on dog breeds when they get them, though.
My mother had to seriously consider giving up our big dog when she realized he was strong and hyper enough to bowl her over. Thankfully, we were able to reign in the excitable behavior, but she’s an older woman, so I got why his strength made her nervous. (Would have been a sad day to lose him, since he’s definitely the child she wished she’d had at this point!)
My husband and I were in Paris for our honeymoon 13 years ago (almost exactly!) and ran across what must have been a Newfie convention near the Eiffel Tower — about 10 Newfies and their owners! They were adorable.
she gave the dog up to her stepmother with whom she is very close. the dog is probably going to have a better life running around the countryside rather than in a flat in the city. Either way, SIenna will still be able to see the dog.
She’s stupid for not researching the breed before buying one. All she had to do was call some local breeders and then go meet the dogs to see how big they get, and that’s what responsible dog owners do.
Responsible dog owners also train their pets, so that they aren’t “pulled into the mud.” What else did she expect from a large dog? They all have their stages.
The only thing that makes me not hate her is that instead of dropping the dog off at the pound – as so many do – she placed her in a good home.
Perhaps she should refrain from buying another pet until she understands that they aren’t “things,” but are actual, live beings who want love, and who need guidance to be good members of the family.
Um..she gave the dog to her stepmom.
That’s hardly getting “rid” of it.
I’ve done dog rescue for ten years. Miller is a total douchebag. If your dog pulls you, you spend some time training him. Jerk.
I think that the best solution was to give her daughter at adoption
Honestly, this sounds like a better set up for the dog. I imagine life with Sienna would be either a lot of travel or a lot of getting used to different dog sitters. If the dog is happy and well-cared for with Sienna’s stepmother, this seems like a great outcome. Like it or not, people are not always going to really know what they are getting into with a dog (like, maybe Sienna knew about the size and thought it wouldn’t be a big deal, but knowing a dog will get to X size is not the same as actually HAVING a dog of X size). If it turns out the dog is not what they expected, then it’s better for everyone for them to responsibly re-home the dog (as Sienna has done).
While it would have been nice if Sienna did more research on the breed before purchasing the newfie puppy, it’s still a breed that is easier to rehome (assuming Nana didn’t have aggression issues) than other breeds that inundate the shelters in california. As long as she found a loving home able to give Nana the exercise, housing, food, training, and love, I’m not going to bash her for it. Newfies typically are good with kids, but who knows, perhaps hers was not. Prioritizing her child over her dog isn’t wrong. If the dog isn’t good with kids, and there’s a child in the home, the responsible thing to do is to find a home without kids for that dog.
I do dog rescue work and have evaluated dogs offered to the rescue, and if we got Nana, there would be a ton of adoption applications for her. Again assuming no aggression. In rescue work, we get offered so many pit bulls and chihuahuas and their mixes. There’s been a lessening of chihuahuas lately but in their place are so many german shepherds and their mixes.
I really can’t slam her for this. Yes, she purchased a dog and realized she bit off a bit more than she can chew. If she has never owned a dog, this is entirely possible and I say this as am avid dog and animal lover. However, she did find a proper home for the dog with adequate space and fresh air. It isn’t like she dropped it off at the shelter as soon as he hit one year old.
Agreed.
She found the dog another home. It was probably hard for her to do but her daughter comes first. My brother and his wife had to find a home for their Labrador so he asked my mom and I and we accepted the dog because their reason was the same as Sienna Miller’s: their children were too small and the dog became too large, hyper, and could’ve accidentally hurt the kids.
That she got rid of the dog because of it’s size isn’t confirmed anywhere, so people are calling her stupid and I’ll-informed based on some random gossip writers best guess.
People’s lives change. One of my dogs is a Blue Heeler that used to belong to a friend. She lived on a big country property, but then her husband died and she had to sell the property and move to the city to find work. What was she supposed to do, keep an insanely energetic working dog in a cramped 2 bed apartment because it’s ‘part of the family’? That wouldn’t have been in the best interests of the dog. I used to have another dog that also came from a friend. She’d had the dog for 12 years (he lived to be 15) but she also had two children with severe autism and thus no time or energy left for the dog. Should she have not had children just in case they had issues that took up too much of her time?
You can’t predict everything in life. Even if you think you have a completely settled life, plenty of money for pet expenses etc. things change. What’s worse, finding an animal a new home where it will be properly cared for, or keeping an animal in far from ideal conditions in order to feel good about yourself.
Giving away a dog to a good home doesn’t make you a bad person. However, giving away a dog to a BAD home does. I adopted a dog from a rescue and I think the home I have given this little boy is better than anything anyone else could give him. Is my home and love inferior because it came second? Because he wasn’t mine from the start? Everyone who says you shouldn’t give away a dog would assume so. Meanwhile I bet my dog thought he was given away to heaven on earth when he came to me!
I’m a big dog lover too, zero interest in the little guys (no offense to anyone that does). The upside of this story is that it sounds like the dog has a better home now, and that’s what’s important.
She was a neglectful owner in that she obviously did not get the dog the training it needed. I don’t care how big your dog is, if he pulls you off your feet, that is YOUR fault, not his (or hers). Also, I wonder how her daughter feels about losing a dog she probably loved to death. I still remember how awful AWFUL it felt as a child when my father gave away our german shepherd because he couldn’t stop her digging up his garden.
Having said that, the dog is probably better off now. At least she didn’t dump her at a shelter, and her daughter can still visit Nana.
True. I also thought that it could be more of a trauma for her daughter than for the dog. Hopefully it wasn’t.
Knee jerk reaction aside, it really sounds like it was the best thing for ALL of them. I love reading about Newfies on the FB group Big Fluffy Dog Rescue~they are always funny & entertaining, even while showing the heartbreak of being a rescue group.
Everyone is so judgey today, the dog has a great new home better than in cramped NY, it’s still in the family . The dog is probably jumping for joy. Win win for everyone.
Actually, good for the dog. Pets are like small children and require a lot of care and Sienna doesn’t strike me as a super caring type, plus she works all the time lately and has a child.
It is good she recognized that she can’t handle a dog and found her a better place,