Origin: Newfoundland
Height: 26-28 inches at
the shoulder
Weight: 100-150 pounds
Exercise Needs: Moderate
Grooming Needs: Medium
Life Expectancy: 9-10
years
Good With Kids: Yes
Trainability: Easy
Common Misspellings:
Alternate Names: Newfie, Newfies
Often referred to as the “teddy bears of the
dog world,” the Newfoundland is a gentle giant
who is known for his calm and easy-going
mannerism. Unfortunately, due to the sheer size
of these dogs, many people turn away from them
and tend to favor the smaller breeds. Does a
bigger dog mean more work? Afraid that they will
eat you out of house and home? Surprisingly, a
fit and healthy Newfoundland requires no more
food than any other large breed. Here are a few
more things that might interest you about this
fascinating breed:
Like many breeds of modern dog, the true
origins of the Newfoundland are uncertain. Some
claim that he may be related to the Great
Pyrenees dogs that were so popular with the
Basque fisherman while others believe that he is
an ancestor of the French Boarhound. Others yet
have suggested that the Newfoundland has
bloodlines that trace back to the Siberian
Husky. Whoever his forefathers may be, however,
it’s universally agreed upon that this breed
developed on the island which he is now named
for. Through generation after generation of
select breeding on this island, he has developed
into a dog that is perfectly suited for his life
there and every aspect of the dog reflects this.
Originally used as a draft animal, the
Newfoundland is sturdily built, massive in size
and strong enough to pull carts that are heavily
laden with goods. Additionally, he was
frequently used to help pull in the heavy
fishing nets, as well as carrying packs whenever
this was asked of him. In fact, it is even said
that the Newfoundland commonly dragged the lines
clear out to capsized vessels and thereby saving
sailors who had become shipwrecked. Capable of
carrying a drowning man back from the sea, it’s
no wonder that this incredible dog endeared
himself in the hearts of most who met him.
The Newfoundland is a large and very
impressive-looking dog. With females averaging
about 100-120 pounds and standing an average of
26 inches at the shoulder, and males tipping the
scales at 130-150 pounds and 28 inches average,
they are quite intimidating to one who isn’t
very familiar with the Newfoundland breed.
Normally, the Newfoundland is thought to be a
large, black, fluffy-coated dog but, in truth,
they come in various colors such as black, gray,
brown, and white and black. They can appear in
the standard solid colors, with limited white
markings, or they can also come in a variety
known as “Landseer” - a white base with black
markings. Those who exhibit the Newfoundland,
however, place very little point value on the
Newfoundland‘s coloring, with the majority of
points going, instead, towards the dog’s being
built for the jobs that he was bred to do.
This large and powerfully-built dog is
deceptively calm and gentle when compared to
many of the smaller breeds. While one might
think him a capable guard dog, in truth, the
Newfoundland is open and friendly with most
people, even strangers so that he really isn‘t a
very successful at guarding anything. While
their booming voices hold some merit for them as
a watch dog, few people who know the
Newfoundland breed simply a gentle giant. In a
nutshell, most Newfoundlands are big puppies who
just want to please their owners and make people
happy. Nothing more. Newfoundland dogs are
generally well behaved, easy to train and get
along with both children and other animals,
their natural patience causing them to simply
relax and let the rest of the world scamper
about.
The Newfoundland is hardly a high energy dog,
considering his size. He does enjoy getting out
for several long walks a day or at least a
couple of rousing games of fetch, however, and
one must remember that such a big dog does
require some room to move around. For this
reason, it‘s always best to have a fenced in
yard if you plan to get a Newfoundland though,
if you don‘t have one, there are other options
too.
Dog parks provide a great deal of space for a
dog to get out and stretch his legs, while
exercising in a friendly and controlled
environment. Great for socializing as well as
exercising, most dogs enjoy a trip down to these
dog-friendly parks on a regular basis. Not only
will getting your dog out and exercising help
him and keep his weight down, but it’s a great
way for us humans to exercise too!
If you’re allergic to pet hair or if you’re
looking for a dog that doesn’t shed, the
Newfoundland might not be the pet for you. While
they aren’t as high maintenance as some of the
other longhaired breeds, their coat is very
dense and, when they do shed (twice a year),
it’s usually quite heavy. The best way to brush
your pet is gently use a wire slicker or stiff
bristled brush and to gently comb with the grain
of the hair.
During the shedding seasons of Spring and Fall,
it’s often advisable that you brush your dog
outside to remove dead hair, making for less
mess to clean up afterwards. Bathing will not
help much with the shedding, but can be done as
needed, to help keep your Newfoundland puppy
smelling nice and looking spiffy. Also remember
to keep an eye on your Newfoundland’s ears to
make sure they aren’t dirty and clip his
toenails regularly, to keep him happy and
healthy.
The Newfoundland puppy is a happy-go-lucky
individual who loves to learn and is eager to
earn praise. While surprisingly easy to train,
perhaps one of the biggest mistakes new
Newfoundland owners make is not starting their
puppies in obedience classes soon enough.
Quickly growing into giant puppies, it’s
important to get them started with the basic
commands and general behavior expectancies down
while they are a very young age. Trying to teach
it to a small puppy is much easier than trying
to teach it to one that weighs over 100 pounds.
Like any breed of dog, the Newfoundland Dog
is subject to a variety of health concerns. Your
best bet is, when deciding to choose a new
Newfoundland Dog puppy, check around with
several breeders and ask about the various
health issues that can affect these beautiful
little dogs. A reputable breeder should be
well-versed in the health concerns and should be
able to give you more details, as well as
showing you the sire and dam of your potential
puppy. Some of the health problems that can
affect Newfoundland Dogs include:
- Bloat
- Hip and elbow dysplasia
- Subvalvular aortic stenosis
- Cystinuria
- Cruciate ligament rupture
- Ectropion
- Entropion
- Von Willebrand’s Disease
- Cataracts
|
The Newfoundland is perhaps one of the
gentlest giants that you will ever meet.
Well-known for their kind disposition towards
children and other animals, they are a wonderful
addition to the family. If one has the room to
let a Newfoundland roam in their back yard or
doesn’t mind going for lengthy walks or swims,
if you don’t mind combing hair once or twice a
week and some heavy-duty shedding twice a year,
this web-footed giant may be just the dog for
you.
There are a wealth of resources online that can help you learn
more about the Newfoundland Dog breed. We've compiled a list of
Newfoundland Dog information sites to assist you in quickly locating
quality information about the Newfoundland Dog breed, while avoiding
the "garbage" sites that are nothing more than poor attempts to
capitalize on the popularity of dog breeds in general. If you know
of a Newfoundland Dog information site that offers unique, quality
information and photos of the Newfoundland Dog breed, please contact
us with the URL and a brief description so that our editors can
consider it for inclusion in our list below.
Newfoundland Dogs are a very photogenic dog breed. By looking at
Newfoundland Dog pictures, you can usually gain more insight into
what these dogs and puppies are like as a breed, and this can help
you decide if you really want to become a Newfoundland Dog owner.
The following sites below offer pictures of Newfoundland Dogs,
Newfoundland Dog puppy photos, funny Newfoundland Dog photos and
more. Enjoy!
 Now
that you have decided that the Newfoundland Dog is the right breed
for you, it's time to start the process of finding a responsible
Newfoundland Dog breeder from which to buy a healthy,
well-socialized puppy. Not all breeders are alike; there are good
breeders - and bad breeders. Don't be in a hurry to buy the first
Newfoundland Dog puppy you find at the cheapest price available! To
buy a puppy from a responsible Newfoundland Dog breeder, you may
need to pay more and wait longer. The additional money and waiting
time will be well worth it. Buy a puppy in haste from a newspaper
ad, pet store or "backyard breeder", and you'll likely also purchase
a great deal of additional expense and heartache, since you will
likely end up falling in love with a puppy with health and
behavioral problems that will likely need special care, plenty of
veterinary visits, regular medication - or even euthanasia. But do
your homework and find a responsible, caring Newfoundland Dog
breeder who home-raises their puppies with love, screens their
breeding dogs for health problems, offers a health guarantee and
post sale support. Choose a breeder who genuinely loves the
Newfoundland Dog breed and is in it for the love of the breed,
rather than profit, and you can be fairly well assured of getting a
healthy, happy, long lived and affectionate family companion that
will provide you and your family with many years of joy, laughter
and companionship.
Further information about choosing a responsible breeder...
Here are a few breeder directory sites that we very highly
recommend. These sites endeavor to screen advertisers to ensure that
the breeders listed are responsible and sell only healthy,
home-raised Newfoundland Dog puppies to carefully screened buyers.
There are many, many sites now online that advertise dog breeders -
many are a Mecca for puppy mills and backyard breeders. We recommend
that you steer clear of these resources in favor of sites that are
more selective in the breeders whom they allow to advertise.
We Highly Recommend:
Newfoundland Dog clubs and rescues web sites can help you learn
even more about the Newfoundland Dog breed, help you locate a
responsible Newfoundland Dog breeder, or help you find a
Newfoundland Dog or puppy from a rescue, in need of a second chance
for a loving, forever home. We've compiled the following list of
Newfoundland Dog clubs and
Newfoundland Dog
rescues web sites for your convenience:
Choosing a name for your Newfoundland Dog puppy can be a daunting
task! There are so many names to choose from that it can take a lot
of thought and research to find just the right name for your
Newfoundland Dog. Usually, it's best to get to know your puppy for a
few days or weeks. Often your puppy's personality will help you
decide on just the right name to choose. Does he have a sense of
humor? A serious side? A goofy way of cocking his head to one side?
A strange love of cantaloupe? By observing your new Newfoundland Dog
puppy over the first days or weeks, you should at least have a clue
about what type of name you want to give. There are a ton of dog
names and pet names web sites on the internet. Some are wonderful
information resources, while others, unfortunately, are just
"garbage" sites set up with the sole purpose of cashing in on
visitor hits for this popular subject.
We recommend the following sites to assist you in choosing a name
for your new Newfoundland Dog puppy. These sites offer inventive,
unique, original and creative pet names suggestions that have helped
thousands of new puppy owners in selecting just the right name for
their new baby!
The Newfoundland dog hails from - where else
- Newfoundland, where the people have a language
all their own. Although Newfoundlanders do speak
English, there are a number of charming
"Newfanese" sayings and words that may give you
inspiration for a unique name for your
Newfoundland dog. Here are a couple sites that
may be of help:
|
