Newfoundland Dogs
The Newfoundland is a gentle giant, a protector of children and family that gets on well with other animals and makes a thoroughly reliable companion and guard. It is slow to attack unless provoked.
Origin and history
The Newfoundland is the traditional life-saving dog, an animal with the overpowering instinct to carry anything in the water safely ashore. It originates from the northeast of Canada, into whose protective harbours fishing boats of other nations have habitually come to avoid bad weather. It is believed that ships' dogs mated with the local working dogs, whose ancestors probably included American Indian dogs and Basque sheepdogs, to produce the Newfoundland. Particularly famous is the Landseer variety, with black and white markings; it is so named because of its portrayal by the British painter Sir Edward Landseer (1802-73).
Newfoundland Puppies
Good points
- Excellent guard, but fierce only when provoked
- Fine swimmer
- Marvellous with other animals and children
Take heed
- No drawbacks known
Size
Average height at shoulders: dog 28in (71cm); bitch 26in (66cm). Weight: dog 140-1501b (63.5-68kg); bitch 110-1201b (49.9-54.5kg).
Exercise
Regular exercise on hard ground will keep the Newfoundland fit.
Newfoundland Dogs Information
General appearance
The dog should impress the eye with its strength and great activity. It should move freely on its legs with the body swung loosely between them, so a slight roll in gait should not be objectionable. Bone is massive throughout but not to give a heavy, inactive appearance.
Colour
These are the only permitted colours: (1) Dull jet black - a slight tinge of bronze or a splash of white on chest and toes is acceptable; black dogs having only white toes, white chest and white top of tail should be exhibited in classes for blacks. (2) Brown - can be chocolate or bronze; should in all other respects follow the black; a splash of white on chest and toes is acceptable; brown dogs to be exhibited in classes for blacks. (3) White with black markings only (Landseers) - for preference a black head with a narrow blaze, an evenly marked saddle and a black rump extending on to the tail; beauty in markings to be taken greatly into consideration; ticking is not desirable.
Head and skull>
Head should be broad and massive, the occipital bone well developed; there should be no decided stop; the muzzle should be short, clean cut, rather square in shape and covered with short, fine hair.
Body
The topline is level from the withers to the croup, and the back is broad, strong and well muscled along the same line. The chest is full and deep, and the brisket reaches down at least to the elbows. The layback of the shoulder blade is the same as in the much smaller Pug - 45 deg.
Tail
Should be of moderate length, reaching down a little below the hocks. It should be of fair thickness and well covered with hair but not to form a flag. When the dog is standing still and not excited, the tail should hang downwards with a slight curve at the end; but when the dog is in motion, it should be carried up, and when excited, straight out with only a slight curve at the end. Tails with a kink are very objectionable.
Feet
Should be large and well shaped. Splayed or turned-out feet are objectionable.
Newfoundland Dogs Feeding & Grooming
Grooming
Regular brushing with a hard brush.
Feeding
Recommended would be 20-330z (587-936g) of a branded, meaty product with biscuit added, or 3-5 cupfuls of a dry food, complete diet, mixed in the proportion of 1 cup of feed to 1/2 cup of hot or cold water.