Some passions aren’t discovered later in life. They’re planted in our hearts during childhood, growing alongside us until they become something far greater than we ever imagined.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For me, that passion has always been dogs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I was fortunate enough to grow up surrounded by the incredible experience of raising Bernese Mountain Dogs alongside my parents. From an early age, I witnessed firsthand the love, responsibility, dedication, and countless hours that go into raising these magnificent animals. It was more than simply having dogs around. It was a way of life, one that taught me the importance of thoughtful breeding, proper care, and the extraordinary bond between a dog and its family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bernese Mountain Dogs will forever hold a special place in my heart. They helped shape the person and breeder I would eventually become. But little did I know that another gentle giant would one day completely steal my heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As a young adult, I welcomed my very first Newfoundland into my life, and from that moment forward, everything changed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There was something about this breed that was unlike anything I had ever experienced. Their soulful eyes, gentle nature, unwavering loyalty, and remarkable devotion to their families captivated me. Beneath their enormous size was a tenderness that words could hardly describe. I didn’t simply fall in love with a dog. I fell in love with an entire breed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And that love only grew stronger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What began as a personal passion eventually became a dream: to build a breeding program dedicated to preserving the remarkable qualities that make Newfoundlands so extraordinary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In 2021, that dream became a reality with the establishment of Howell Family Farm Newfoundlands (HFF).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I took the invaluable knowledge and hands-on experience gained throughout my childhood and poured it into creating a program of my own. But I knew from the beginning that I wanted HFF to represent something meaningful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I never wanted to simply produce puppies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I wanted to raise Newfoundlands that embodied everything I had come to admire about this incredible breed: beautiful structure, sound health, dependable temperaments, and the unmistakable gentle spirit that makes a Newfoundland so special.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As a preservation-minded breeder, I believe that every breeding decision carries a responsibility, not only to the puppies we bring into this world, but to the future of the breed itself. Each pairing deserves careful consideration, each puppy deserves the very best beginning, and each family deserves a companion raised with genuine love and intention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Our dogs are not simply the foundation of a breeding program. They are deeply loved members of our family, each with their own personality, quirks, and special place in our hearts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Behind every litter are countless hours of preparation, sleepless nights, careful attention, and an overwhelming amount of love. There are moments of excitement, moments of worry, and moments of pure joy that remind me exactly why I chose this path.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Watching a newborn puppy take its first breath, seeing those tiny eyes open for the first time, witnessing personalities begin to blossom, and eventually placing that puppy into the arms of a loving family are experiences I will never take for granted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And while saying goodbye is never easy, knowing that a puppy we have loved from its very first moments will become someone else’s cherished family member is one of the greatest rewards of all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To me, being a breeder is not simply about the puppies we raise. It’s about the lives they will touch, the families they will complete, and the legacy we leave within the breed we love.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Today, HFF Newfoundlands remains a reflection of the same passion that began during my childhood. It is built upon family values, years of experience, a deep respect for the Newfoundland breed, and a commitment to continually learning and improving.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I am incredibly proud of how far this journey has brought me, but even more excited about the future of our program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
My hope is that when someone welcomes an HFF Newfoundland into their home, they receive more than a beautiful dog. They experience the loyalty, companionship, unconditional love, and extraordinary heart that made me fall in love with this breed all those years ago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Because for me, this has never been just a business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It’s my childhood, my passion, my family, and a piece of my heart in every puppy we raise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With love,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kristen Howell<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Founder, Howell Family Farm Newfoundlands<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Established 2021<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Some passions aren’t discovered later in life. They’re planted in our hearts during childhood, growing alongside us until they become something far greater than we ever imagined. For me, that passion has always been dogs. I was fortunate enough to grow up surrounded by the incredible experience of raising Bernese Mountain Dogs alongside my parents. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-36","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/hffnewfoundlands.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/36","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/hffnewfoundlands.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/hffnewfoundlands.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hffnewfoundlands.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hffnewfoundlands.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=36"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/hffnewfoundlands.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/36\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":37,"href":"https:\/\/hffnewfoundlands.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/36\/revisions\/37"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/hffnewfoundlands.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=36"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}