Newfoundland
Breed Group: Working Group
Size Group: Large Dog Breeds
Origin: Canada
Height: 26”-28” (male) 25”-26” (female)
Weight: 130-150lbs (male) 100-120lbs (female)
Color: Black, Brown, Grey, White & black
Lifespan: 9-10 years
Temperament: Loving, loyal, gentle, patient, brave
Set Your Pup Up For Success
Overview
Newfoundland or Newfies, are the dog world’s gentle giant. They are known for their massive size and sweet temperament. Named after a small coastal island off Canada, their early history saw them as working dogs on fishing boats. In addition to helping with the day’s haul, they performed daring rescues in impossibly rough waters. A Newfie hunted, guarded camp, and saved lives on Lewis & Clark’s famed exploration. These pups are truly great at everything they do, and like most Canadians, have a sweet and helpful disposition.
Newfies require a moderate amount of exercise and lots of brushing to keep their hair under control. They make unparalleled family pets and are truly wonderful with children.
Smartest Dog Breeds
- If you need someone to take the SATs for you, we have you covered
- Intelligence is something you're born with. And these ones were.
EXPLORE SMARTEST DOG BREEDS
Celebrity Owners
Shania Twain, George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Bing Crosby, Franklin D Roosevelt, Harrison Ford, Sting, Charles Dickens, John Madden, Emily Dickinson, Willie Nelson, Lewis & Clark
Fun Facts
Nana from Peter Pan was written about the author J.M. Barrie’s Newfoundland, Luath. Disney went a different direction, but we know Barrie had it right. No one would make a better nanny than a Newfie.
Health
Newfies are very healthy pups. Some health concerns to be aware of include hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, pulmonic stenosis, subvalvular aortic stenosis, entropion, cataracts, osteochondritis dissecans, cystinuria, ear infections and bloat.
While you always hope your pet will live a long and healthy life, it is always a good idea to invest in pet health insurance.
Keeping your dog’s mouth clean and problem free goes a long way to your pup’s overall health. Dental hygiene can be the cause or can be the byproduct of other serious health issues.
Visual inspections can be performed to keep track of the signs of potentially waning oral health. These signs can be anything from bad breath to abnormal chewing to loss of appetite.
Keeping ahead of these warning signs can pay dividends. A preventative approach can delay and stop many of the common dental problems from arising.
Oral health can be tackled in five basic steps:
- Brushing your dog’s teeth to prevent an undesirable buildup of plaque
- Feed your dog a diet where the high quality dog food has dental benefits
- Regularly give your dog dental toys and treats
- Use mouthwash, to help where brushing misses
- At the sign of any abnormalities, consult a vet. You can even do it virtually, from the convenience of your home.
Dogs are just like humans in that they can experience anxiety. The degree to which they are susceptible to anxiety and how they deal with anxiety is breed specific. Left unchecked, initial signs of anxiety could give way to an anxiety disorder. The symptoms of anxiety disorders can lead to a myriad of behavior issues.
Knowing the signs and symptoms will best equip you to keep ahead of it and to nip it in the bud at the earliest signs. There are options available to help with anxiety.
Family Dog Breeds
- They have the right patience and temperament for your family
- Vigilant and loyal, these dogs will protect their own
EXPLORE FAMILY DOG BREEDS
Grooming
While your puppy will not really need much grooming, it is advisable to introduce your pup to the process early. This way when you fully grown pup is expected to be still for a session, he will enjoy it rather than begin a power struggle.
Newfies have long thick double coats.
They require a minimum of brushing out the coat once per week to remove any matts and tangles. Matts and tangles can lead to skin irritation or even hair loss. Do not allow your Newfie to go more than a week between brushings, more frequent brushing is recommended. Using a detangler spray before brushing will help the process. During the spring and sometimes the fall, you will need to increase your brushing to daily to combat the full coat shed that occurs. You will need a comb during this time to help pull away the lose under coat. With Newfies, many owners suggest using a grooming table to have a designated area for grooming so your pup knows what to expect.
These pups also tend to drool, use a damp towel to clean your pup’s face every day.
Bathing should be done as needed, around every 6-8 weeks. You pup’s protective coat has naturally occurring oils, frequent bathing will disrupt them. The type of shampoo you will use on your dog will vary depending on the color of the coat. After washing your pup, use a high-power fan to help dry the thick coat. Damp patches can lead to skin irritation and hot spots.
You Newfie’s nails will need to be trimmed monthly. Keep your pup’s ears and eyes clean and clear of debris. Brush your pup’s teeth several times per week.
Cost
$2,000 – $3,000
Exercise
Newfie’s need at least a half hour of exercise per day. Their dense coat does lead them to overheat in extreme heat, during summer months find cool ways for your pup to exercise. This breed loves water, so swimming might just be the perfect answer. After swimming always make sure your pup’s coat completely dries. Newfies also enjoy long walks, hiking and drafting.
Nutrition
Your full-sized Newfie will eat around 4 cups of food per day over 2 meals. This breed is prone to bloat which is an immediately life-threatening condition where the stomach overfills and flips in the torso. You can help avoid this situation by monitoring the rate at which your pup eats. The exact amount of food your dog will need will vary depending on age and activity level.
We’ve taken a look at some premium dog foods, high in nutrition here.
Hypoallergenic Dog Breeds
- Low shedding dogs that will attack the allergies less
- These dogs come in all shapes, sizes and temperaments
EXPLORE HYPOALLERGENIC DOG BREEDS
Training
As with all dogs, early socialization with humans and other pups is essential. Newfies are best suited for positive reinforcement training. Harsh reprimands will not lead to positive results with these pups. Given the size and power of a full grown Newfoundland, it is tantamount to begin training early, so you can be in control.
Proper training is essential to ensuring the safety of your dog and those around you. Having your dog come when they should, and in general having them listen is something you want to address early in your pup’s life, as it will pay dividends down the line. There are many tried and true training programs to accomplish this training – faster and better than you might think!
Unless you’re living on a farm, or have the space, a yipping dog, or one that barks all day when you are gone could be an issue with the neighbors and/or landlord. Historically, dogs would bark to communicate with the rest of the pack when hunting and bark as a warning shot to predators eyeing up their flock. Barking is deep rooted in dogs and manifests itself in many ways and for a variety of reasons.
Just like any habit or instinct, there are effective ways you can train this issue away.
Cute Dog Breeds
- I mean, come on. These dogs will have you wanting one.
- Guaranteed to make you instagram famous (or at least your pup!)
EXPLORE CUTE DOG BREEDS
Supplements
A solid Glucosamine Supplement for hips and joints will go a long way to helping your furry friend.
Other helpful supplements include full-spectrum hemp oil or CBD oil. Fish oil skin and coat supplement.
Ensuring a comprehensive preventative vitamin and mineral plan is essential to keeping your dog healthy. Truth is, there are vitamins and minerals that your dog needs, but doesn’t produce naturally. While many of these vitamins and minerals can be found in your dog’s current diet and dog food, the question becomes, are there enough vitamins to ensure they aren’t deficient.
Poor nutrition can lead to some of the most common health issues, such as weak joints, compromised immunity, increased allergies, and low energy.
Vitamins play a vital role in your pet’s health and overall life expectancy. Here are some multivitamin and joint relief options.
As regulations around marijuana have eased, the emergence of CBD oils for humans and dogs have sprung up.
Just to begin to dispel the negative stigma, CBD extract comes from Hemp, marijuana’s cousin. Unlike its cousin, there are no psychoactive qualities in CBD oil. An emerging number of clinical and institutional studies have shown the wide variety of healing qualities in CBD, including pain management, and the containment of seizures and epileptic episodes.
Explore this remedy further to see all the health benefits that have transformed the lives of so many dogs to date.
Hunting Dog Breeds
- Energy and a willingness to get the job done, these dogs love outside
- Their traits and unique skillsets have them separated from the pack
EXPLORE HUNTING DOG BREEDS
The Good
Wonderful with children
Can perform many jobs
The "Ruff"
High shedding – lots of grooming
Needs lots of space
Companion Breeds
- Their loving and caring spirit makes them great compadres
- A passion for giving back to their owner is in their DNA
EXPLORE COMPANION DOG BREEDS
All Dog Breeds Lists
- From family to hairless to sled dogs, we have you covered
- All breeds from the ones you know, to the ones you don't
EXPLORE DOG BREEDS