What do newfoundland dogs look like

He does, however, need considerable yard space for exercise and ideally should have safe access to water. The breed is watchful and trustworthy, and tolerant of the behavior of children. It is said that author J. Barrie based the "Nana" in Peter Pan on his own Newfoundland.

Newfoundlands are protective, known to put themselves physically between their family and any stranger. They are not barkers but will show themselves to be watchful and willing to protect. An intelligent breed, the guardians of Newfoundlands often tell of their dogs alerting them to fire in the home as well as rescuing them from their own swimming pools.

The Newfoundland has a sweet disposition and is at home on land or in the water. The dog is an ideal companion for one person or a family, but the size of the Newfoundland should be taken into consideration. The adult Newfoundland does not require a great deal of exercise but can easily become a couch potato. He should be allowed daily walks, a run in the yard or especially a swim to keep fit.

Extra weight can shorten the already short life span of a Newfoundland, usually 8 to 10 years. As with any large breed, a Newfoundland requires plenty of food during the first year of growth. They literally gain pounds in the first year!

After that, however, their metabolism slows down, and they do not require nearly so many daily calories. A lean Newfoundland is definitely healthier than one with extra weight.

Newfoundlands are friendly dogs who love to keep you company. However, they do shed and are prone to drool on occasion. Grooming is important for this breed, both for their comfort and health. The coat needs to be brushed regularly to remove dead hairs, and nails should be kept to a short length.

Regular nail trims will help to keep the feet from splaying, since they do have to support a heavy load. Developed on the island of Newfoundland, this breed is a remarkable swimmer with a history of performing incredible water rescues. The specific ancestors of this breed remain unknown, although it may be related to the Pyrenean mountain dogs that accompanied fisherman in the area. In the 18th century, the Newfoundland was sent into Britain and France and quickly became popular with the English sailors as a ship dog.

The breed became so renowned for its ability to perform water rescue that two Newfoundland dogs were a required part of the "equipment" on lifeguard stations along the coast of England. As a ship dog, the Newfoundland's job was to swim ashore with the line from the ship, establishing a connection with the help on shore. The Newfoundland was such a powerful swimmer that he could also haul a small boat to land. One Newfoundland ship dog is credited with diving off the deck of a boat in the dark and rescuing Napoleon Bonaparte after he had fallen into the water!

Select Your Region. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Instagram Youtube. As used herein, denotes registered trademark status in the U. Your use of this site is subject to the terms of our Legal Statement. The Newfoundland was taken to England where he became popular and was bred extensively. Newfies are portrayed as lifesavers in art and literature for good reasons: they are life savers. A Newfoundland named Rigel went down with the Titanic and swam next to a lifeboat for three hours in the icy water, apparently looking for his owner, who had gone down with the ship.

The Newfie is moderately popular today. He ranks 44 th among the breeds registered by the American Kennel Club, up from 53 rd in The Newfie is known for his intelligence, loyalty, and sweetness.

Even though he is a terrific guard dog, his gentle and docile disposition makes him an excellent choice for as a family dog. The Newfie is a natural lifesaver and can be a good assistant for parents who have a swimming pool or enjoy taking the kids to the lake or ocean, although he should never be solely responsible for their safety.

Any dog, no matter how nice, can develop obnoxious levels of barking, digging, countersurfing and other undesirable behaviors if he is bored, untrained or unsupervised. And any dog can be a trial to live with during adolescence.

Start training your puppy the day you bring him home. Even at eight weeks old, he is capable of soaking up everything you can teach him. If possible, get him into puppy kindergarten class by the time he is 10 to 12 weeks old, and socialize, socialize, socialize.

However, be aware that many puppy training classes require certain vaccines like kennel cough to be up to date, and many veterinarians recommend limited exposure to other dogs and public places until puppy vaccines including rabies, distemper and parvovirus have been completed.

In lieu of formal training, you can begin training your puppy at home and socializing him among family and friends until puppy vaccines are completed. Breeders see the puppies daily and can make uncannily accurate recommendations once they know something about your lifestyle and personality.

Whatever you want from a Newfie, look for one whose parents have nice personalities and who has been well socialized from early puppyhood. All dogs have the potential to develop genetic health problems, just as all people have the potential to inherit a particular disease. A reputable breeder will be honest and open about health problems in the breed and the incidence with which they occur in her lines.

The Newfie is prone to a host of health problems. As might be predicted, given their large size, Newfies can suffer from a number of joint and structural problems. It's important that young, growing dogs be kept lean and not allowed to exercise too strenuously or eat too much, as this will lead to injuries and problems that can be crippling down the road. In fact, all Newfoundlands need to be kept lean, as obesity increases the chances they'll develop structural problems and makes them more painful when they do occur.

One such structural problem is the genetic hip deformity known as hip dysplasia. The head of the thigh bone doesn't fit properly into the hip socket; over time the joint cartilage wears away and the underlying bone suffers damage. Severe arthritis results, often affecting very young dogs.

In some cases, expensive surgery is required, including total hip replacement surgery. Untreated, the dog will suffer pain and poor quality of life. Elbow dysplasia is another inherited joint problem, resulting from abnormal formation of the elbow. The possibility of a Newfie developing hip or elbow dysplasia can not be ruled out entirely just because the parents were free of the condition, although it reduces the chances.

And while a puppy's bones are still growing, it can sometimes be difficult to confirm a diagnosis, depending on which tests are performed and how severe the condition is. Each Newfoundland owner should have his dog's hips and elbows x-rayed at two years of age, regardless of whether or not he shows symptoms of lameness or stiffness. For dogs that show lameness before that age i.

Newfoundlands are at risk for heart disease, including dilated cardiomyopathy and subaortic stenosis SAS. There is currently no genetic test for SAS, which has a complex inheritance, making it difficult to develop a test. Breeders should not breed Newfoundlands with any signs of SAS and should screen puppies with a board-certified veterinary cardiologist. The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals keeps a cardiac registry for the Newfoundland breed.

Cystinuria is a genetic kidney defect that leads to the formation of bladder stones that are very difficult to manage with diet or medication and often requires surgery both to remove the stones from the bladder and to repair urinary blockages. There may be no advance signs that the dog is forming cystine stones, which can create a life-threatening emergency if they cause an obstruction.

Fortunately, there is a genetic test for cystinuria. Given the availability of the genetic test, there is no need for a breeder ever to produce a dog with the disorder. Many breeders register the test findings with the OFA. Not all of these conditions are detectable in a growing puppy, and it can be hard to predict whether an animal will be free of these maladies, which is why you must find a reputable breeder who is committed to breeding the healthiest animals possible.

They should be able to produce independent certification that the parents of the dog and grandparents, etc. Breeders must agree to have all test results, positive or negative, published in the CHIC database. If the breeder tells you she doesn't need to do those tests because she's never had problems in her lines and her dogs have been "vet checked," then you should go find a breeder who is more rigorous about genetic testing.

A good breeder will be able to discuss the prevalence of all health problems in her dogs' lines, those with and without genetic screening tests, and help puppy buyers make an informed decision about health risks to their dog. Careful breeders screen their breeding dogs for genetic disease and breed only the healthiest and best-looking specimens, but sometimes Mother Nature has other ideas and a puppy develops one of these diseases despite good breeding practices.

Advances in veterinary medicine mean that in most cases the dogs can still live a good life. Not every Newfie visit to the vet is for a genetic problem. Newfies are known to experience ruptured cruciate ligaments. They are also among the deep-chested breeds predisposed to bloat, a condition in which the stomach distends with gas and can twist on itself called gastric torsion , cutting off blood flow.

Bloat and torsion strikes very suddenly, and a dog who was fine one minute can be dead a few hours later.

Watch for symptoms like restlessness and pacing, drooling, pale gums, lip licking, trying unsuccessfully to vomit, and signs of pain.

Bloat requires immediate veterinary intervention, and surgery is necessary in many cases. Unfortunately, dogs that have bloated can bloat again, so most veterinarians offer a procedure known as gastropexy or "stomach tacking," which anchors the stomach to the body wall to help keep it from twisting in the future. This procedure can also be done as a preventive measure. Keeping a Newfie at an appropriate weight is one of the easiest ways to extend his life.

Make the most of your preventive abilities to help ensure a healthier dog for life. The Newfoundland has a water-resistant double coat of black, brown, gray or Landseer white with black markings. Using a steel comb and wire slicker brush, groom the coat at least a couple times a week to prevent mats and remove dead hair. Newfies shed, and regular brushing will help reduce the amount of hair floating around your house. The rest is basic care. Trim the nails as needed, usually every week or two.

Brush the teeth frequently with a vet-approved pet toothpaste for good overall health and fresh breath. Whether you want to go with a breeder or get your dog from a shelter or rescue, here are some things to keep in mind. Finding a good breeder is a great way to find the right puppy. A good breeder will match you with the right puppy, and will without question have done all the health certifications necessary to screen out health problems as much as is possible.

He or she is more interested in placing pups in the right homes than in making big bucks. A good breeder can tell you about the history of the breed, explain why one puppy is considered pet quality while another is not, and discuss what health problems affect the breed and the steps she takes take to avoid those problems.

Find a breeder who is a member in good standing of the Newfoundland Club of America NCA and who has agreed to abide by its Ethics Guide , which prohibits selling puppies to or through pet stores and selling only with a written contract. The NCA has guidelines on how to interview and select a Newfie breeder. It is a source of some hilarity to native "Newfunlanders" to hear such variations as the one you suggest. Many, many times we hear the name of our province, and the beautiful dog mispronounced.

Please, it's not "Newfinnlund" or Newfundlind or Newfoundlind. It is spoken as it is spelled. If it helps: New-found-land. The Newfoundland is a strong, massive dog. The head is broad and heavy with a slightly arched crown. The neck and back are strong. The wide muzzle is about as broad as it is deep, and rather short.

The stop is moderate. The nose is generally black except on bronze-colored dogs, which have brown noses. The teeth meet in a level or scissors bite. The deep-set, dark brown eyes are relatively small and spaced wide apart. The triangular shaped ears have rounded tips and are relatively small.

The legs are well muscled, straight and parallel. The cat-like feet are webbed. Dewclaws can be removed. The tail is strong and broad at the base, hanging down. The double coat is flat and water-resistant. The oily outer coat is coarse and moderately long, either straight or wavy. The undercoat is oily, dense and soft.

Dogs that live indoors tend to lose their undercoats. Coat colors include black most common , black with blue highlights, black with white markings, brown, gray, and white with black markings known as a Landseer.

Note: in the USA and Great Britain the Landseer is considered the same breed as the Newfoundland, however in some European countries the Landseer is a totally different breed than the Newfoundland. Landseers in Europe have longer legs than Newfies; Landseers are not so massive, they are more sporty dogs. In shows, they compete separately. The Newfoundland is a dog with an outstanding, sweet temperament, courageous, generous, peaceable and intelligent. A calm, patient dog that is mild with guests and obedient with its master.

They are very devoted, loyal and trustworthy. Its huge body tends to move rather slowly. They rarely bark, but are protective and brave when they need to be. When an intruder is caught they are more likely to hold them at bay, either by trapping them in a corner or placing themselves in between the burglar and the family rather than an all-out attack. They are smart enough to know who is a threat to the pack and who is not. Very sociable and gentle.

Any dog, other animal, child, or visitor who has no evil intention will receive a friendly welcome.