Newfoundland

There are various reports as to how exactly the Newfoundland breed began. Some say the breed descended from the Vikings’ “bear dogs,” while others say they are related to the Labrador Retriever, since Newfoundland and Labrador are not far from each other. Still other stories say they were descended from Tibetan Mastiffs, St. John’s Water Dogs or Great Pyrenees.

Newfoundlands – also called Newfs or Newfies – were First Dogs to U.S. Presidents James Buchanan, Ulysses S. Grant and Rutherford B. Hayes.

Nowadays, these gentle giants prefer family life to working in the shipyards. Their sweet natures and even temperaments make them happy, if very large, additions to many types of homes.

Personality

Sweet natured and gentle
Loyal
Calm and patient
Playful and sociable
Protective and brave when they need to be
Steadfast and trustworthy

Size

100-150 pounds
25-30 inches at the withers (shoulders)

Lifestyle

Terrific family companions
Get along well with other animals and children (although because of their size, children should learn respect for the dog)
Can be a tad lazy if allowed to lie around, so make sure they get plenty of exercise
Some can live in apartments if given the opportunity to walk and exercise daily
Newfs are natural water dogs and enjoy swimming
Better suited to living in cooler climates than hot locales

Exercise

Daily walks are essential

Training

Requires consistent, firm but gentle training
Sensitive to the tone of voice

Coat

Black (most common), gray or brown
Black-and-white Newfoundlands are called “Landseers” after artist Sir Edwin Henry Landseer, who featured many of these dogs in his work
Flat double coats
Outer coat is coarse and somewhat long, with natural oils that repel water
Undercoat is soft and dense; much of it is shed during warmer months

Care

Require regular combing and brushing
Bathe only when necessary to avoid stripping coat of natural oils
They should always have access to shade and cool water when in a warm area

Health

Prone to hip dysplasia and subaortic stenosis (SAS)

Lifespan

8-13 years

Rescue

To adopt a Newfoundland, visit Newf Rescue

PHOTO: SKern

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