The Newfoundland originated in Newfoundland and was developed from dogs that the Basque fisherman brought to the eastern Canadian coast during the 1700s. The working dogs were used for hauling carts, pulling fishermen’s nets from the waters and saving drowning victims. In 1886, the American Kennel Club recognized the Newfoundland as a member of the working group. Today, the Newfoundland remains a popular and beloved family pet and a dedicated working dog.
The Newfie is a large, heavy dog that was bred as an all-purpose dog. It’s strong, able to pull heavy loads, and is also a great swimmer. It has a double coat with a soft undercoat and a long, flat outer coat. It has minimal needs when it comes to grooming, but drools a lot.
Personality
The Newfoundland is gentle, calm and mellow dog breed, which makes it very affectionate and kid friendly. It has moderate exercise needs that can be met in the form of long walks. It’s nice with other dogs and friendly with strangers. It can get very protective though, if it feels its family is threatened.
Breed Characteristics
| Family: | Mastiff |
| Life Span: | 8-10 years |
| Nicknames: | Newfie, Newf |
Newfoundland Build Information
The giant Newfoundland stands 26 to 28 inches tall at the shoulders and weighs between 100 and 150 pounds. The overall structure is massive. The Newfoundland has a fairly long double coat that may be wavy or straight. Although many people envision the coat in black, it may also be black and white, brown, gray or black and blue. The triangular ears are rounded at the tips and hang downward, and the tail also hangs downward. The Newfie is a large, heavy dog that was bred as an all-purpose dog. It’s strong, able to pull heavy loads, and is also a great swimmer. It has a double coat with a soft undercoat and a long, flat outer coat. It has minimal needs when it comes to grooming, but drools a lot.
| Size: | Giant |
| Length (Male): | 22-27 in. |
| Weight: | > 65 lbs |
Behaviour and Personality
The gentle giant demeanor of the Newfoundland makes it a lovable companion for households with children. The dog is content to assume the role of couch potato on movie or video game nights. It is essential to take a Newfoundland for walk each day in an ongoing effort to curb obesity. Newfoundlands love the water, which opens the opportunity for supervised swimming as an alternate exercise outlet. The Newfoundland is calm and sweet, but it can be a brave and efficient watchdog if intruders encroach on the property. They are intelligent and easily trained. One drawback of the breed is its sloppy eating and drinking habits and the puddles of drool that the dog leaves behind. The Newfoundland is gentle, calm and mellow dog breed, which makes it very affectionate and kid friendly. It has moderate exercise needs that can be met in the form of long walks. It’s nice with other dogs and friendly with strangers. It can get very protective though, if it feels its family is threatened.
| Activity Level: | Not very active |
| Affection Level: | Very affectionate |
| Kid Friendliness: | Very friendly |
Appearance
The thick coat of a Newfoundland needs to be brushed or combed out two to three times a week to remove dead hair. During the spring and fall shedding seasons, this will need to be performed on a daily basis. The ears need to be inspected weekly, and they should be cleaned and dried if they appear dirty to prevent the development of ear infections. To prevent periodontal disease, the teeth should be brushed every other day. This will also play a role in maintaining good overall health.
| Shedding: | Seasonal |
| Grooming: | Medium Maintenance |
Newfoundland Common Health Conditions
Newfoundlands live short lifespans of 8 to 10 years. They are prone to a number of health problems, including elbow dysplasia, hip dysplasia, entropion, ectropion, von Willebrand’s disease, sub-aortic stenosis, dilated cardiomyopathy and bladder stones. Newfoundlands are also prone to gastric torsion and to anterior cruciate ligament tears. The breed has a propensity for becoming obese if owners are not mindful of the dog’s weight.
Newfoundland Pet Insurance
When adding a dog or cat to your family you want to make sure your pet is happy, healthy and protected. During its lifetime your pet is exposed to many illnesses and diseases and some breeds are affected by a congenital disease which is a condition existing at birth. At these moments when your pet is ill or maybe needs surgery, you want to be protected for the unexpected and high veterinarian costs.
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Breed Talents and Facts
One of the most beloved family companions can be found in the Newfoundland. The breed’s personality is brimming with loyalty and patience. The Newfoundland originated in Newfoundland. The Newfoundland is also called a Newfie or a Newf. The Newfoundland is a gentle giant that loves children and makes a loyal watchdog. The Newfoundland stands 26 to 28 inches tall and weighs 100 to 150 pounds. Newfoundlands have moderate energy levels. Newfoundlands require moderate grooming. The average lifespan for a Newfoundland is 8 to 10 years.
| Training: | Moderately easy |
