NEWFOUNDLAND
Life expectancy: 8 - 10 years
Origin: Newfoundland and Labrador, Newfoundland
Temperament: Sweet-Tempered, Trainable, Gentle
Height: Male: 27–29 inches (69–74 cm), Female: 25–27 inches (63–69 cm)
Weight: Male: 130–150 lbs (60–70 kg), Female: 99–120 lbs (45–55 kg)
Colors: Black, Black & White, Grey, Brown
Hypoallergenic: No
HISTORY / ORIGIN:
Canadian fisherman long relied on Newfoundlands as peerless shipboard working dogs who specialized in dramatic water rescues. Newfs are born swimmers, complete with partially webbed feet, and strong enough to save a grown man from drowning. Their prowess as rescuers is the stuff of legend: What the Saint Bernard is to the Alps, the Newfoundland is to the icy waters of the North Atlantic. Newfs also earned their keep by hauling fishing nets to shore and carting the day’s catch to market. Although the Newfoundland’s career as a seagoing deckhand is mostly a thing of the past, the breed is still considered the premium water-rescue dog and is employed in that role the world over.
The Newf is one of the world’s most beloved breeds, and history is rife with examples of their dedication to humankind. In 1802, when Lewis and Clark began their historic 8,000-mile trek across the American continent, a Newfoundland named Seaman was part of the expedition. He was useful as a hunter and guard dog, once saving lives by running off a rogue buffalo that was charging the camp. Today, Seaman is depicted in 10 different Lewis and Clark monuments across the country.
A well-visited tourist attraction in England, where Newfoundlands have always been a great favorite, is a monument erected by Lord Byron at Newstead Abbey for his cherished Newf, Boatswain. The monument’s inscription, devised by the great poet himself, eulogizes Boatswain, “Who possessed Beauty without Vanity/Strength without Insolence/Courage without Ferocity/And all the Virtues of Man without his Vices.” Such was Byron’s regard for his Newfoundland that Boatswain’s tomb at the abbey is larger than his own.
DESCRIPTION:
The Newfoundland is a strong, massive dog. The head is broad and heavy with a slightly arched crown. The neck and back are strong. The wide muzzle is about as broad as it is deep, and rather short. The stop is moderate. The nose is generally black except on bronze-colored dogs, which have brown noses. The teeth meet in a level or scissors bite. The deep-set, dark brown eyes are relatively small and spaced wide apart. The triangular shaped ears have rounded tips and are relatively small. The legs are well muscled, straight and parallel. The cat-like feet are webbed. Dewclaws can be removed. The tail is strong and broad at the base, hanging down. The double coat is flat and water-resistant. The oily outer coat is coarse and moderately long, either straight or wavy. The undercoat is oily, dense and soft. Dogs that live indoors tend to lose their undercoats. Coat colors include black (most common), black with blue highlights, black with white markings, brown, gray, and white with black markings known as a Landseer. Note: in the USA and Great Britain the Landseer is considered the same breed as the Newfoundland, however in some European countries the Landseer is a totally different breed than the Newfoundland. Landseers in Europe have longer legs than Newfies; Landseers are not so massive, they are more sporty dogs. In shows, they compete separately.
TEMPERAMENT:
The Newfoundland is a dog with an outstanding, sweet temperament, courageous, generous, peaceable and intelligent. A calm, patient dog that is mild with guests and obedient with its master. They are very devoted, loyal and trustworthy. Its huge body tends to move rather slowly. They rarely bark, but are protective and brave when they need to be. When an intruder is caught they are more likely to hold them at bay, either by trapping them in a corner or placing themselves in between the burglar and the family rather than an all-out attack. They are smart enough to know who is a threat to the pack and who is not. Very sociable and gentle. Any dog, other animal, child, or visitor who has no evil intention will receive a friendly welcome. The Newfoundland usually gets along with other dogs, but should be socialize well with them, giving a correction at any sign of aggressiveness to insure this behavior. Generally good with other animals. Patient, playful and loving with children. Enjoys the outdoors, but also needs to be with their family. The Newfoundland tends to be very messy when drinking water and often drinks a lot. They do drool, especially after getting a drink, but generally are not one of the worst offenders compared to some other giant breeds. They love to swim, and will lie in water if they get the chance. This breed may be slightly difficult to train. Training must be conducted in a calm and balanced manner. In order to achieve a well balanced dog one must be calm, but firm, confident and consistent with the dog. Give the dog rules he must follow and stick to them, along with a daily pack walk where the dog must heel beside or behind you. No pulling ahead. Teach the dog to enter and exit door and gateways after the human. These dogs are very sensitive to the tone of your voice. Take this into account during training; one needs to be calm, but firm. Adult Newfoundlands eat only about as much as a Labrador, but puppies eat more.
HEALTH PROBLEMS:
Prone to a hereditary heart disease called sub-aortic stenosis (SAS) and hip dysplasia. Be cautious that the Newfoundland does not get fat.