Newfoundland
A gentle giant from Canada with a heavy waterproof coat, a calm temperament and a real love of water.
At a glance
- Size
- Giant
- Height at the withers
- Males 69–74 cm · Females 63–69 cm
- Weight
- Males 60–70 kg · Females 45–55 kg
- Life expectancy
- 8–10 years
- Exercise
- 30–60 min a day
- Grooming
- A few times a week
- Coat
- Double coat, long
- Colours
- Black, Brown, Bicolour
- Bred for
- Water work, Rescue work, Draught work, Companionship
- Country of origin
- Canada
- FCI
- Group 2, no. 50 · Pinschers, molossers & mountain dogs
Breeders on Kuldo
No breeders on Kuldo have this breed yet.
Living with the breed
| Affectionate with family | 5/5 – Very high |
|---|---|
| Good with children | 5/5 – Very high |
| Good with other dogs | 4/5 – High |
| Good with cats | 4/5 – High |
| Open to strangers | 4/5 – High |
| Energy | 2/5 – Low |
| Playfulness | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Needs mental stimulation | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Easy to train | 4/5 – High |
| Prey drive | 1/5 – Very low |
| Watchful and protective | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Barking | 1/5 – Very low |
| Shedding | 5/5 – Very high |
| Grooming effort | 4/5 – High |
| Drooling | 5/5 – Very high |
| Good for first-time owners | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Suits apartment living | 2/5 – Low |
| Adaptability | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Copes with being alone | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Copes with heat | 1/5 – Very low |
| Copes with cold | 5/5 – Very high |
Kuldo's own guidance from the breed's typical traits. Every dog is an individual, so talk to the breeder.
Is it the right breed for you?
Great if you …
- love swimming and water
- want a calm, gentle family dog
- live in a cool climate
Think twice if you …
- dislike drool and dog hair
- have limited space
- live in a hot climate
Care
Temperament
Sweet-natured, patient and calm. It is friendly with people and other animals and rarely aggressive. Its size and steady nature make it protective by presence rather than action.
Exercise
Moderate daily walks and, ideally, swimming. Water rescue training and carting suit it well; avoid hard exercise in heat.
Grooming
Brush the dense double coat a few times a week and daily when shedding. Expect hair and drool around the home.
Training
Learns willingly with gentle, positive training. Teach lead manners early, before it is fully grown.
Health
Hip and elbow dysplasia, subvalvular aortic stenosis (a heart condition) and cystinuria are known in the breed. Ask the breeder for the parents' hip, elbow, heart and DNA results.
Health tests breeders usually do
- Hips (HD)
- Elbows (ED)
- Heart
DNA tests
- Cystinuria (SLC3A1)
Ask the breeder to show you the parents' results.
About the breed
The Newfoundland developed on the Canadian island of the same name, where fishermen used large, strong dogs to haul nets, carry loads and pull people from the water. Its webbed feet, oily coat and powerful build make it a superb swimmer.
At home it is calm, patient and affectionate, and usually gentle with children. Its size, drool and heavy shedding are part of daily life, and it overheats easily. It needs moderate exercise, careful puppy development and space. For families who don't mind hair and wet floors, it is a devoted companion.
Did you know?
Newfoundlands have partly webbed feet and are still trained for water rescue in several European countries, including Italy.