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Newfoundland Dog Breed Introduction
Newfoundland Dog ( also known as Newfie or Newfs) is a large-sized working dog bred and used by Newfoundland Fishermen in Canada. It is known for its love of children, calm disposition, intelligence, giant size, and tremendous strength. Due to the partially webbed paws, muscular build, great swimming abilities, and a thick double coat, a Newfoundland excels at water lifesaving or rescue. Although, it is unsuitable as a pet for some households due to its great size as well as its fondness for water and mud. A Newfoundland dog is an ideal companion in the world of therapy and hence often referred to as nanny dogs.
Newfoundland Dog Origin | History
Originally from Newfoundland, a province in Canada, Newfoundland Dogs were used by fishermen to haul fishing nets to the shore and carting the day’s produce to the market. A Genome analysis indicates that Newfoundland are related to Labrador Retriever, Irish Water Spaniel, and Curly-Coated Retriever.
Even though this breed originates from Canada, the details of its history are sketchy. There are at least four theories that try to explain the origin of this breed:
- One of the theories states that the breed was created by crossing the the now-extinct American Black Wolf and Tibetan Mastiff.
- Another theory states that Vikings left their dogs in Newfoundland when they visited in 1000 A.D. These dogs interbred with native Eastern Canada wolves creating newfoundland Dogs.
- The third theory attributes the creation of Newfoundland dogs to the outcome of many European breeds cross bred around the 1400 and 1500, among them the Portuguese Water Dogs, Mastiffs, and Pyrenean Sheep Dogs.
- Explorers and fishermen from Ireland and England travelled to the Grand Banks of Newfoundland. At the Canadian province, they described two types of working dogs, large, heavy built, with a Longish coat and a medium-sized, smooth coated water dog. The medium-sized smooth coated breed was known as St. John’s water dog(progenitor breed of modern Retrievers) and the heavier breed was known as Greater Newfoundland. It was also suggested that the Newfoundland dog that lived in the island was smaller in theory. However, they were bred with Mastiffs to create the modern Newfoundland Dogs we know today.
One of the people attributed for popularizing the breed is Sir Edwin Landseer who featured black and white colored Newfoundland in his paintings. In his honor, these dogs are known as Landseer. In Continental Europe, it is recognized as a separate breed. Newfoundland Dogs were registered with AKC in 1879.
Newfoundland Dog | Newfoundland Lifespan
Many sources cite the life expectancy of a Newfoundland dog as 8 to 10 years. According to AKC, Newfoundlands have a lifespan of 9 to 10 years. Although some live up to the age of 15 years. The commonly cited lifespan for this breed is 10 years.
Newfoundland Grooming
A Newfoundland has a thick double-layered resistant coat that requires at least weekly thorough brushing. Although, neutered and spayed Newfoundlands shed all-year round. The coat should, therefore, be brushed three times a week. Use a slicker brush and long-toothed comb to prevent mats formation and remove loose hair. Brush the coat on a daily basis during the heavy shedding season in Spring and/or Fall. Regular brushing helps to maintain a healthy coat and confines the lose hair in the brush that would otherwise spread around the house.
A Newfoundland should be bathed every 4 to 6 weeks. Although, they may be bathe every other week depending on the lifestyle of the dog. Before bathing your pet, brush the coat to remove mats and dirt. Mats tend to get tighter and messier when wet. Newfoundlands love to swim. They are fond of water and mud which makes the coat dirty. Use a hypoallergenic shampoo and conditioner to wash the coat. After a bath, thoroughly rinse of the grooming products from the coat using lukewarm water to avoid skin irritation. Wipe the face using a clean damp washcloth or canine friendly wipes. Soapy water makes the eyes irritated.
Trim the nails using nail clippers once every two weeks if they don’t worn out naturally. Overly grown nails are painful for your dog while walking and running. Clean the ears on a weekly using an ear cleanser solution and cotton balls to remove dirt, wax, or debris. Remember to check out for odor, dark discharge, and redness since they are signs of dog’s ear infection. Brush the teeth twice a week if not daily using a tasty canine toothpaste and toothbrush to remove tartar buildup and promote a good oral breathe.
Newfoundland Grooming Tools
To fully groom a newfoundland dog, use the following grooming tools; a grooming table, slicker brush, long-toothed comb, hypoallergenic shampoo and conditioner, water, nail clippers, damp washcloth or canine wipes, tooth brush, dog-formulated toothpaste, ear cleanser solution, and cotton balls.
Newfoundland Grooming Styles
A Newfoundland has a thick double coat that acts as an insulator against extreme heat and cold. Therefore, the coat should never be shaved. However, pet parents may trim the fur on the paws and rear end for sanitary purposes. Avoid trimming the whiskers.
Newfoundland Dog Shedding | Newfoundland Shedding
A Newfoundland dog sheds at minimal to moderate levels all-year round. Shedding is more noticeable during Spring and Fall due to seasonal change when this breed blows off its coats. A spayed and Neutered Newfoundland sheds all-year round at moderate levels and require thorough brushing of the coat several times a week.
Newfoundland Dog Coat | Newfoundland Coat
An adult Newfoundland has a double-layered water resistant coat made up of an outer coat and undercoat. The outer coat is moderately long, coarse, and may either be straight or wavy. Whereas, an undercoat is soft and dense. It is often lighter during summer months or in warmer climates.
Newfoundland Dog Hypoallergenic | Newfoundland Hypoallergenic
A Newfoundland dog is not regarded hypoallergenic. It sheds all-year round at low to moderate levels and heavily during seasonal change. Shedding allows the spread of dander and hair around the house. Dog’s hair, saliva, dander, urine, and mucus have a protein allergen that triggers allergic reactions in people who suffer from dog allergies. Newfoundland dogs are known for excessive drooling especially during summer months or in warm climates. Drooling spreads saliva on different surfaces and wall which will also trigger inflammation.
Newfoundland Dog Training | Are Newfoundlands Easy To Train
It is relatively easy to train a Newfoundland. These dogs are extremely smart, complaisant, curious, and eager to please. Make an effort of understanding the breed to set up for a successful training. Newfoundland dogs take significantly longer to physically and emotionally mature as compared with smaller breeds. This means there are particular training considerations for this breed. Puppies tend to have a short attention span and may easily get distracted. Keep the training sessions short and fun for a period of 5 to 10 minutes.
The attention span may increase as the dog matures to 15 minutes probably from the age of 2 to 3 years. Newfoundlands also respond well to positive reinforcement methods such as treats, toys, and verbal praise since they are affectionate and trusting. However, they don’t respond well to harsh correction methods and may shut down during training. In order to raise a well-mannered, adjusted, and friendly dog, socialization training is recommended. This training will start when the dog is with the breeder probably from the age of 3 weeks until the age of 8 months when the dog is with the owner. Therefore, it is important to adopt a pet from a responsible breeder.
Newfoundland puppies go home with the owners from the age of 12 weeks unlike other breeds which go home at the age of 8 weeks. This is because Newfoundland puppies receive a preliminary heart condition screening between the age of 10 to 12 weeks. To socialize your dog, expose it to a wide range of situations, people, animals, surfaces, sight, smell, and sounds like baby crying, sirens, vacuum cleaners, washing machine, whistles, and lawn mowers. Pet parents should be cautious of tiled or hardwood floors that may be slippery, which can cause joint strain in puppies as they grow. It is recommended to use area rugs for such surfaces which offer traction.
Enrolling a Newfoundland dog pup in a puppy class also serve as a form of socialization. Puppy classes create an environment where dogs can interact in a controlled setting. It also helps pet parents to correct undesirable habits such as growling when someone approaches the food bowl. Pooch training should also start at an early age. If a pet parent doesn’t want the dog to sit on the coach or bed. He or she should train the dog to sleep on the surface or crate from the first day it comes home. Training a more than 100 pound dog to stay off the coach and bed may not be easy. From the age of 12 to 18 weeks, start teaching a Newfoundland the obedience words such as come, sit, down, heel, leave it, drop, give, etc.
Teach one basic command at a time until the dog understands before proceeding to the next command word. Clicker training may be used as a form of reward when teaching obedience skills. This training uses a clicking sound immediately the dog completes the command in question. It is immediately followed with a treat. Avoid giving a command while too excited or frustrated since it does not sound the same for your pet. Obedience training is also recommended for Newfoundlands to assist them to learn not to jump on people, steal food on the table, knock into small children or even otherwise take advantage of their body size.
For effective housebreaking, creating a feeding schedule, potty training, and crate training is recommended. Patience, consistency, and firmness is key to positive outcomes. A crate is an indispensable tool while potty training since it helps the pet parents to watch out for signs that the dog wants to eliminate such as whining, circling, squatting, and trying to lift a leg against the furniture. By choice, dogs avoid soiling where they sleep. A crate is also a safe place where a Newfound can retreat to. It also teaches the dog to be confident in staying alone for a few hours reducing the severity of separation anxiety.
To get positive outcomes during potty training, take the Newfoundland dog to the designated elimination spot immediately it wakes up, after meals, following an exciting activity such as playtime and car ride, before bedtime, and every 2 to 3 hours. The toilet spot should be far from the BBQ spot and patio deck. Between the age of 12 to 24 months, Newfoundland dogs are still developing physically and mentally. During this period, they have a mind of their own. Some days it may feel like they have forgotten everything that you taught them. Consistency and patience are key to training at this stage.
Newfoundland Dog Temperament | Traits
- Loyal.
- Calm.
- Docile.
- Sweet-natured.
- Patient.
- Gentle.
- Watchful.
- Intelligent.
- Trustworthy.
Newfoundland Exercise Needs | Energy Level
A Newfoundland needs at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise daily to stay healthy and happy. They are indoor dogs that enjoy to participate in outdoor activities such as swimming and make great companions on hikes or long walks. From the age of 18 months, Newfoundland Dogs may participate in drafting and caring competitions, dock jumping, agility, tracking, obedience, dock jumping, flyball, rally, and tracking.
Pet parents should be thoughtful on the amount of exercise that the puppies get at home and when going for socialization outings. They should limit the amount of exercise to protect the growing joints of the pet. If the social outings will involve a lot of walking, they are advised to invest in a large dog stroller or plan to carry the pup.
Newfoundland Dog Barking | Barking
A Newfoundland has a deep loud bark. However, when compared to other breeds, they are not vocal dogs. Although, barking may depend on the individual dog. Some Newfoundlands may bark to alert of an intruder, when they want something, excited, or in pain.
Newfoundland Dog | Newfoundland Height
Male Newfoundlands have a height of 28 inches ( approx. 71 cm) while the female counterpart has a height of 26 inches ( approx. 66 cm ).
Newfoundland Dog | Newfoundland Weight
According to AKC, a female Newfoundland has a weight of 130 to 150 pounds ( approx. 59 to 68 kg ) while its female counterpart has a weight of 100 to 120 pounds ( approx. 45 to 54 kg ). However, some Newfoundlands have been known to weight more than 200 pounds ( approx. 90 kg).
Newfoundland Dog | Newfoundland Size
This is a large-sized dog that weighs at least 100 pounds( approx. 45 kg). However, a Male Newfoundland is slightly bigger in size as compared to its female counterpart in terms of height and weight. A Female Newfoundland has a height of 26 inches ( approx. 66 cm ) and a weight of 100 to 120 pounds ( approx. 45 to 54 kg ) while the male Newfoundland has a height of 28 inches ( approx. 71 cm) and a weight of 130 to 150 pounds ( approx. 59 to 68 kg ). The largest Newfoundland on record weighed 260 pounds ( approx. 120 kg ).
Newfoundland Dog Aggressive
A Newfoundland dog is a non-aggressive dog that is sweet natured, calm, loyal, affectionate, patient, and docile. Although, Newfoundlands may be aggressive if they were poorly bred, trained, and socialized.
Newfoundland Dog Bite Force
A Newfoundland has a bite force of above 400 PSI. This is because it has a massive head and subsequent large jaws.
Newfoundland Dog Behavior Problems
Newfoundland dogs are reputable as gentle giants, sweet-natured, loving, affectionate, trustworthy, patient, loyal, calm and docile. However, these dogs take significantly longer to mature mentally and physically as compared to smaller breeds. Keeping this in mind for the first couple of years of life will help to minimize your frustration with behavior issues and short attentions spans and give your pooch a successful start to life. Although, some pet parents have a vast experience of training dogs themselves, it is important to enroll Newfoundland puppies in a good puppy class from the age of 12 weeks so that a puppy may learn to ignore distractions like other puppies.
Puppy classes also offer a chance for dogs to cement more of those good behaviors that will be important when they grow into giant dogs. However, Newfoundland puppies may spend part of each puppy class napping since they are mentally and physically immature even though the experience is still valuable. Pet owners should try to take their puppies to class when they are well-rested. Between the age of 4 to 8 months, a Newfoundland puppy may develop behavior issues like jumping and mouthing which will not be fun after they mature into large-sized dogs weighing more than 100 pounds( approx. 45 kg).
During this period, owners should ensure they support their puppies with good behaviors by rewarding positive behavior and ignoring undesired behavior. For mouthy dogs, pet parents may redirect their attention to toys. They should immediately reward the habits so that a pet understands the reason behind the reward. This also goes to correcting bad habits. From the age of 8 to 12 months, a Newfoundland pup has grown into a large-dog shaped puppy. At this stage, Newfoundlands do not necessarily have a sense of their body size. They may jump at you, which may keep you off balance or clear an entire coffee table when happily wagging the tail.
In this stage, many dogs also go through fear period, and when combined with the changing body sizes and shapes, owners should be prepared for a Newfoundland puppy that is frightened. At 12 to 24 months, most dogs are fully grown grown at this age, however, a Newfoundland dog will still be maturing mentally and physically. The pet will have a mind of his own and somedays it may feel that they have forgotten everything that you taught them. They are teenagers that are going through the adolescence stage. At this phase, they may develop behavior issues like leash pulling, separation anxiety, mouthing, growling when someone approaches the food bowl and toys, digging, selective hearing, counter-surfing, prey drive, mouthing, and jumping.
Patience and consistency are key when training Newfoundlands in their adolescence. From the age of 2 to 3 years, a Newfoundland dog is almost an adult. Most days you will also note this. Although, there are moments of mischievous teenage behaviors with your pet, but by this time all the patience and consistency with training manners will be paying off. The boisterous pet will now be acting as a more like a well-behaved and responsible adult.
Apart from Newfoundland Dog, other breeds of dogs include:
Pug.
Newfoundland Dog Attack
A Newfoundland dog is a protective dog but not in the traditional sense where it will attack any intruder that walks in the door. However, it will put itself between the family and the impeding danger.
Newfoundland Eye Problems
A Newfoundland dog is predisposed to certain eye problems including:
Glaucoma – This is an eye disease that occurs due to an imbalance in the production and drainage of the aqueous fluid that causes a buildup that increases eye pressure to unhealthy levels.
Entropion – This is an eye condition that makes the eyelid to roll inward causing the eyelashes to rub against the surface of the eyeball. It results to pain and bacterial eye infection due to injury to the cornea.
Ectropion – This eye issue makes the eyelid to droop away from the eye and turns outwards.
Newfoundland | Newfoundland Dog Health Issues
A Newfoundland is a relatively healthy breed that is susceptible to subvalvular aortic stenosis (SAS), a common heart defect that involves defective heart valves similarly to having a heart attack. This heart condition can cause sudden death at an early age. Puppies are supposed to be screened for this health issue between the age of 10 to 12 weeks before leaving for their new homes. Other health issues that affect Newfoundland Dogs include hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, bloat, cystinuria, allergies, and eye problems like entropion.
Newfoundland Dog | Newfoundland Names
Pet parents may decide to get names for their Newfoundland puppies before they get them from the breeder or after living with them for a few days to understand their personality better. Dog’s names may be inspired by the coat color, origin, personality, celebrity Newfoundlands, book, food, songs, historical figures, nature, and movies. Regardless of where you get your inspiration, ensure that the name freely roll off your tongue. It should also not make you embarrassed when uttered out loud in parks or malls.
Get a name that has vowels since it is better understood by Newfoundlands and other dog breeds. If you settle with a long name, ensure you find a cute nickname for the gentle giant. A pet that has a name that rhymes with the command words may be confused most of the time when you call out his or her name. A Newfoundland should not share a name with a family member or a guest who frequent your household since it will create confusion.
Male Newfoundland Names
- Buddy.
- Murray.
- Chase.
- Cooper.
- Ernie.
- Chewie.
- Alfie.
- Lou.
- Beau.
- Rascal.
- Murphy, etc.
Newfoundland Dog | Newfoundland Colors
The acceptable coat colors for a Newfoundland dog is gray, brown, and black as well as white and black.
Newfoundland Names Female
- Lily.
- Nana.
- Sadie.
- Mabel.
- Macy.
- Coco.
- Chloe.
- Bailey.
- Harper.
- Raven.
- Ella.
- Lexy.
- Valda, etc.
Newfoundland Heat Cycle
A Newfoundland is a large-sized breed that may go into heat every 6 months. However, don’t be surprised if some go into heat every 12 to 18 months. This process lasts for a period of 2 to 3 weeks. A Newfoundland puppy may go into the first heat season between the age of 6 to 12 months. Pet owners are urged to spay their dogs if they have no intention of breeding. Dogs also experience the estrus cycle throughout their lives, however, the time between the cycles will get longer. For this reason, a Newfoundland Dam may get pregnant at the age of 8 years while a senior dog.
Some of the signs that Newfoundlands exhibit while on a heat cycle include increased licking of the genital area, bloody discharge, increased urination, change in eating habits, nesting behavior, increased urination, swollen vulva, mood swings, and tail flagging. Before breeding potential Newfoundland dam and sire, ensure they are screened for cystinuria, subvalvular aortic stenosis, elbow dysplasia, and hip dysplasia. Newfoundland puppies take a little longer to mature mentally and physically as compared to other breeds. They should be bred from the age of 3 years. If a dam is bred earlier than 2 years, it is likely to reject the puppies.
Newfoundland Litter Size
After conception, a Newfoundland dog has a gestation period of about 63 days before whelping a liter size of 4 to 12 puppies.
Newfoundland Harness | Collar
Depending on the individual behavior and health issue of a Newfoundland, a pet parent may decide whether to use a collar or harness. A dog that has neck and spine issue should use a harness while on leash. A pooch that also tends to pull while walking should also use a harness. Although, owners may both use a harness and a collar to walk their dogs. A harness will attach the leash while the collar will attach the ID and Rabies tag.
Newfoundland Feeding Chart
The amount of food that a Newfoundland feeds on depends on its metabolism, age, activity level, size, and body build. During the first year of life, Newfoundland puppies have rapid growth. However, pet parents should ensure they feed the puppy with the right amount of food to avoid damage in the growth plates in the joints. A Puppy also tends to have a high metabolism rate as compared to adult dogs. Therefore it will feed a total of 3 to 4 times a day while adult Newfoundland dogs feed twice a day. Consult your trusted Vet on the amount of food that you should feed your dog according to the development and the specific needs of the pooch.
Newfoundland Dog Food
A Newfoundland is a large-sized dog that has a deep chest. Therefore, it is susceptible to bloat or gastric torsion. Therefore, it should not feed one large meal a day, drink large amounts of water after eating, and exercise vigorously one hour after or before a meal. This is a life-threatening condition that can claim the life of your pet. It is recommended to familiarize with signs of bloat and what to do in such circumstances.
Newfoundlands may feed on dry food, wet food, home made, or a raw diet depending on the budget and time of the pet parent. Regardless of the food type, pet parents should ensure that the dog feeds on a balanced diet to maintain good health and to allow the dog to develop cognitively and physically. If the Newfoundland parent decide to feed a pet on the commercial dry or wet food, he or she should ensure the first three ingredients are proteins from a known source.
The commercial dog food should not contain fillers, chemicals, additives, and preservatives. The same goes to the snacks. Dry or wet food should also be formulated for large-sized puppies, adults, and seniors depending on the age of your pet. The best way to know whether you are overfeeding or underfeeding your Newfoundland is to take it to the vet to be informed about its weight and health. However, you can also tell by checking the physique of your dog. If you can see a Newfoundland’s ribs, chances are they are being underfed. If the parent cannot feel the ribs of the pet under the coat, then chances are that it is being overfeed.
When you get a Newfoundland from a responsible breeder, chances are that you will want to switch to another quality of food than the one it was previous feeding on. Gradually do this by mixing 3/4 old food with a 1/4 new food for the first week. During the second week, feed your dog with the same amount of the new food and old food. On the third week feed your Newfoundland with 3/4 of the new food and 1/4 of old food. During the fourth week, totally switch to new food.
Newfoundland Dog Allergies
As a breed, Newfoundland dogs are susceptible to various forms of allergies as discussed below:
Food allergies – Although rare, Newfoundlands are also affected by food allergies that are accompanied with a wide range of symptoms including skin issues and gastrointestinal stress. A legit food allergy causes an immune response. Some of the signs of food allergies include hives, facial swelling, crusting lesions, dermatitis, pruritus, sores, acute vomiting and diarrhea as well as weight loss. Apart from food allergies, this bred is also affected by food sensitivity(intolerance). This results due to a gradual response to an offending ingredient in the diet of the pooch. Some of the food ingredients that cause food intolerance include fillers, soy, corn, wheat, chemicals, preservatives, additives, beef, lamb, chicken, turkey, pork, lamb, etc.
Contact allergies – This inflammation occurs once the skin of Newfoundland comes in contact with an allergen. Some of the contact allergies that affect Newfoundlands include plastics, bed linens, lawn chemicals, grooming products like conditioner and shampoo, latex, medication, certain clothes, and carpet cleaning detergents. Commonly affected body parts include paws, feet, and around the muzzle. Contact allergies cause excess scratching, licking, and biting which may lead to secondary skin infections.
Skin allergies – Newfoundland dogs are predisposed to skin allergies due to food, contact, and environmental allergies. Food allergies cause skin issues symptoms such as crusting lesions, hives, hot spots, dermatitis, facial swelling, and pruritus. On the other hand, environmental allergies cause atopic dermatitis. This is inflammation to the skin which causes redness, lesions, rash, and itchiness. Commonly affected body parts by skin allergies include paws, belly sides, ears, eyes, groin, and feet. Signs of skin allergies in Newfoundlands include dry flaky skin, hair loss, itchiness, redness, lesions, and hot spots.
Environmental allergies – One of the environmental allergens that affect a Newfoundland include fleas. The saliva of this insect cause flea allergy dermatitis on the back legs and underneath the tail. This makes the dog to bite, lick, and scratch these areas until the skin around the bite area is raw. If the wound is left untreated, it may result to yeast and bacterial skin infections. Other environmental allergens include ragweed, grass, trees, pollen, house molds as well as dust and dust mites. Signs of environmental allergies congestion, nasal discharge, and itchiness on various body parts including paws, groin, muzzle, belly sides, feet, underarms, around the eyes, and between the toes.
Newfoundland Eyes
A Newfoundland has dark brown eyes that are relatively small and spaced wide-apart.
Newfoundland Dog Tail
A Newfoundland has a large tail that is broad and strong at the base. When excited, the tail is carried out. However, it never curls over the back.
Newfoundland Dog Teeth
At birth, Newfoundland puppies are whelped with no teeth. At the age of 2 to 3 weeks, deciduous teeth starts growing until the dog has a total of 28 teeth at the age of 6 to 8 weeks. From the age of 12 weeks, a Newfoundland dog starts loosing its milk teeth. Permanent teeth starts erupting until the dog has a total of 42 teeth at the age of 6 to 8 months. Once the permanent teeth starts growing in, pet parents should ensure that they brush the teeth of the pup at least twice a week if not daily using a dog-formulated toothpaste and toothbrush to prevent gum inflammation and tooth loss.
Are Newfoundlands Hypoallergenic
No. Newfoundlands are not regarded hypoallergenic. This is because they shed all-year round at moderate levels and heavily during seasonal change in Spring and Fall. Dog’s dander, hair, saliva, urine, and mucus have a protein allergen that triggers allergic reactions in people who suffer from dog allergies. A Newfoundland also has droopy lips and jowls that make the dog to drool especially in high heat. Drooling spreads saliva on the surface triggering an allergic reaction.
Are Newfoundlands Aggressive
No. Newfoundlands are sweet-natured, docile, loyal, calm, loyal, patient, and trustworthy dogs. However, some may be aggressive if poorly trained and socialized.
Are Newfoundlands Protective
Yes. Newfoundlands are protective of their family members. Although, not in the traditional sense of attacking an intruder. This dog will stay between the owner and the impeding danger.
Are Newfoundlands Smart
Yes. A Newfound dog is a smart dog that is easily trainable if the training starts when the dog is a puppy.
Are Newfoundlands Good Family Dogs
Yes. They are loyal, affectionate, loyal, protective, and docile. Newfoundland dogs are also wonderful with children. However, small children can easily get accidentally get knocked down and leaned on.
Newfoundlands Quick Facts
- They are great swimmers that excel in water rescue because of their partly webbed paws, muscular build, and thick waterproof coat.
- Unlike other dog breeds, Newfoundlands move their limbs in a down-and-out motion giving more power to each stroke.
- When measured from the withers to the point of buttocks and from the ground to the withers, it is slightly longer than tall.
