Other names/Nicknames:
- Newfie
Country/Date of origin:
- Canada
- 1700′s
Height:
- 26 to 28 inches
Weight:
- Females: 100 to 120 pounds
- Males: 130 to 150 pounds
Personality:
- A lovable bear.
- A Newfoundland named Nana, owned by James Barrie, was the model for the nursemaid dog in his Peter Pan story.
- Moderately intelligent with a strong desire to please.
History:
Developed in the Newfoundland province of Canada, this dog looks the part of a rugged northland worker. On land it pulled sleds and carried packs. At the shore it helped fishermen haul in nets and carried objects from ship-to-shore. In dire times, it carried rescue lines to shipwreck victims. The breed is both tireless and fearless—the stuff heroes are made of. Much of the refinement of the breed took place in England, where it was enormously popular in the 19th century. This admirable companion has been shown in the United States since dog shows began.
Body Type:
- A large, powerful dog that has a massive head and webbed feet.
- The tail is long, bushy, and carried low. It is not altered.
- The ears are small and hang close to the head. They are never altered.
- Feet are webbed to assist in swimming.
Coat:
- The heavy, double coat is flat, coarse, and dense.
- Its oily nature makes it highly water-resistant.
- In the United States three solid colors are permitted: black, bronze, and blue.
- Only one parti-color pattern is allowed. It is called Landseer and consists of a white body with cleanly delineated black patches. The head should be black with or without a white blaze. It is difficult to find a properly marked Landseer.
- Needs regular brushing.
- Seasonal shedding is considerable.
Health and Wellness:
- Hip dysplasia.
- Elbow dysplasia.
- Gastric dilatation and volvulus syndrome (GDV, also commonly called bloat).
- Osteochondritis dissecans (OCD).
- Sub-aortic stenosis.
- Ectopic ureter.
- Metabolic bone disease.
- Pemphigus foliaceus.
- Bacterial folliculitis.
- Pyoderma.
What you should know:
- Short-lived.
- This dog can drool. Owners tend to carry bibs and wiping towels around with them.
- For a family with a country way of life, this is an ideal pet.
- A Newfie was chosen to accompany Lewis and Clark on their historic cross country expedition.
