Group

Mastiff, Working Dogs

Origins

To this day we are still unsure of the origins of the Newfoundland.

Some say that the breed could be a descendent of the Indians Wolf type dogs living on the Newfoundland Island in Canada during the 15th century. These dogs were used for hunting, fetching and carrying. When the white settlers invaded the island they hunted down the Indians and their wolf dogs. Only the most useful and obedient dogs were kept alive, and started breeding with Tibetan Mastiffs that were introduced to the island by British or European fisherman and with other local dogs that were introduced by the traders from the rest of the world, in the 1700's.

Others think that the Newfoundland is a relative of the Labrador breed because of the closeness of the two islands and also because of the similarity of the two breeds.

In both case, This gentle large dog was used by fisherman off the coast of Newfoundland, Canada, for hauling in nets, carrying boat lines to shore, retrieving anything which fell overboard and rescuing shipwrecked and drowning victims.

The Newfoundland was introduced to Europe in the 18th sanctuary. Poor people who couldn't afford horses to transport goods from the ports to their homes purchased Newfounlands. They were used to haul lumber, pull mail sheds, and deliver milk.

The Newfoundland is a very good water rescue dog. They have saved many people, and in 1919 a gold medal was awarded to a Newfoundland that saved twenty shipwrecked people from a lifeboat. The Newfoundland is also called the St. Bernard of the water. The Newfoundland was also used during World War II, to drag supplies and ammunition for the Armed Forces in snowstorm conditions in Alaska and the Aleutian Islands. They are nowadays used for water trials, competitive obedience, weight pulling, carting, backpacking, and as a watchdog and guarding dog.

Description

These gentle giants are large and heavy in both bone and coat. They have a broad heavy head with a short, squared muzzle. Their ears are small and triangular and are pending on each side. Their eyes are small and dark brown, and their nose is generally black except on bronze-coloured dogs, which have brown noses. They have webbed feet, which help them with the swimming. Their long tail hangs down.

Their outer coat is water repellent, oily and slightly wavy. Their undercoat is thick and oily. As puppies they look like a cuddly teddy bear, however this stage does not last long as they grow very quickly. The colour of the coat is black (sometimes with a bit of white on their feet and/or end of tail and chest), brown, or bronze sometimes also in gray and Landseer (Black and White). In the USA and Great Britain the Landseer is considered the same breed as the Newfoundland, but in some European countries the Landseer is a totally different breed than the Newfoundland).

The height for a dog varies from 27-29 inches (69-74cm) and 25-27 inches (63-69cm) for a bitch. They can weight between 130-150 pounds (59-68 kg) for a dog and 100-120 pounds (45-54kg) for a bitch.

Temperament

The Newfoundland is a very docile dog with an outstanding sweet temperament. He is courageous, generous, intelligent, a very patient dog.

He loves his master and is very loyal towards him. They can become so attached to their owners that they can find it really hard to adapt to a new home. The Newfoundland is calm and gentle. They are very protective and tend to place themselves between the intruder and his family rather than bark or growl. Very devoted, good and brave.

Newfoundlands can recognize a dangerous situation and will generally act if the family is threatened. They will give a friendly welcome to any dog, animal, child, or visitor who have no evil intention, however some males can be aggressive with other male dogs. He is patient, playful, and loving with children. He is very sociable. They enjoy the outdoors, but also need companionship. They tend to drool, but not as much as some other giant breeds. Puppies require a lot of food but an adult Newfoundland eats only about as much as a retriever.

They are very outgoing and live life to the full, said to be one of the friendliest breeds.

Living conditions

They are not very suitable for apartment because of their size and their need of exercise but they will do okay if sufficiently exercised. They are relatively inactive indoors and a small garden would be required. They are sensitive to heat and you need to provide them plenty of shade and cool water in warmer weather. These dogs prefer cool climates.

Exercise

They require at least 40 to 60 minutes a day of exercise. The young puppies should have all exercise monitored while it is still growing to ensure that no damage occurs to the bones and joints. They love water, and swimming is their favourite forms of exercise.

Health Problems

They are prone to hip dysplasia. They are also prone to a hereditary heart disease called sub-aortic stenosis (SAS). Breeders should have puppy's hearts checked by a veterinary cardiologist at 8-12 weeks of age. It is important not to overfeed a Newfoundland.

Grooming

Regular brushing is needed to maintain the coat, extra care is needed when they shed (twice a year in the spring and fall). Particular attention needs to be paid to the feathering on the legs, which can become entangled.

Bathing needs to be avoided unless absolutely necessary, as this strips away the coat's natural oils. Instead, dry shampoo from time to time.

Life Expectancy

On average the Newfoundland lives to around 10 years, some are reported to live into their teens.