Abbot Cove
Newfoundlands and Newfiedoodles
About Us
I have been an animal lover all my life and have owned a variety of pets. I currently own three Newfoundlands, two Newfiedoodles, a Standard Poodle, three miniature horses (Appaloosa, Pintaloosa, and Palomino) and a pony.
We are a large family, with six children, a one-year-old granddaughter, and a grandson on the way. Our family is spread between Pennsylvania and North Carolina, fortunately all within driving distance of each other.
I used to show and breed Great Danes, with one of my puppies earning a Conformation Title and being shown at Westminster. I then met two Newfoundland dogs at a park one day and fell in love with the breed. They had such a gentle, sweet nature. And so, my children and I went to “just look at” a litter of Newfoundland puppies. That began my journey into the Newfoundland breed. I started with my boy, Tyson, a beautiful black male Newfoundland. I then added Lucy, a landseer female Newfoundland. Lucy and Tyson were inseparable, best of friends. We bred several litters out of Lucy and Tyson (see Abbot Cove Newfoundland Facebook Page). My dear boy Tyson passed away last year at 11 years of age. I still have Lucy with me. She will be 12 years old in February 2025.​
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Lucy and I became a certified therapy team through Therapy Dogs International, working with children and youth at risk, and with children diagnosed on the autism spectrum. Lucy was born to do this type of work, and she loves it. The addition of an animal, especially one as loving and gentle as Lucy, into any setting has therapeutic benefits that are amazing and unparalleled. To see a struggling child’s reaction to the unconditional love and non-judgmental companionship of an animal is beyond words, a miraculous connection that is both astounding and humbling. For these children, an animal can be a conduit through which to express their own feelings and fears.
Lucy and two puppies from her first litter (Luna and Freckles, both almost 10 years old and still with me as well) were all in photo shoots in New York City as part of the Warner Bros. Pictures movie, Pan, partnering with Ralph Lauren to support and encourage childhood reading and literature. Lucy then was part of a Ralph Lauren children’s fashion show in Central Park, walking the runway with the main character from the movie Pan.
The Breeds
Along this journey, I discovered the incredible personality of the Standard Poodle, as seen in my two Newfiedoodles. I always admired the Standard Poodle as a breed. They are highly intelligent, friendly, and wonderfully athletic. London, my 4-year-old Newfiedoodle, has a “poodle brain.” She is incredibly smart, will play fetch all day long, and seems more like a human than a dog. Paris, my 3-year-old Newfiedoodle, has more of the Newfoundland temperament. Paris is bigger than London and is not so interested in playing fetch. Paris is calmer and slower in her being than London.
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The most recent addition to our dog family is Armando, a Standard Poodle. Armando is incredibly smart, seems to know what to do before I show him. Armando earned his CGC title (Canine Good Citizen) through AKC. Armando and I will be moving into advanced obedience classes, and agility classes in the near future.
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I would encourage anyone who is considering adding a dog to their family to research the breeds of origin. Most breeds today do not do the work for which they were bred. Our dogs are our companions, and because of that, we have moved away from the work that they are inherently hard-wired to do. However, each breed still retains certain tendencies and temperament traits that are unique to their breed. Researching breeds and what they were originally bred to do will help inform a better match between your dog and you and your lifestyle.
London (newfiedoodle)
Armando (standard poodle) and London (newfiedoodle)
Passionate Breeders
Our puppies are bred for health, temperament, and social/emotional connection with their humans. We assess our puppies at the age of 7 weeks using the Volhard Puppy Aptitude Test. This is a test that may be helpful in predicting a puppy’s behavioral tendencies as they develop into adulthood. Our puppies are raised and loved in our home and are a part of our family as we help them adapt to a new, forever family.
Please feel free to contact me. I love to meet others who share my interest in and love for the human-animal bond.
-Allison Dluzneski
