Newfoundland Dog Breed Facts
The Newfoundland dog breed originated in the Dominion
of Newfoundland, territory that is now a part of Canada.
in the 18th century. Newfoundlands are likely the product
of breeding the naturally occurring St. John's dog breed
with Portuguese mastiffs, and were bred to help fishermen
haul in nets. Newfoundlands are particularly well known
for their tendency to rescue people from water, often
without being prompted to do so by humans. Due to their
skill at and propensity for this task, they are often
employed in human-directed water rescues, as well.
The Newfoundland is a giant dog breed, weighing 100-150
lb and measuring 22-28 inches in height on average.
They have large bones and muscles; large, broad heads;
large, drooping jowls and lips; and massive paws with
webbed digits. Newfoundlands also have thick, oily,
water-resistant double coats comprised of a soft, dense
undercoat and a long, straight external coat. Newfoundlands
are usually black, brown, or white with black marks.
Newfoundlands are famous for their extremely pleasant
temperament, being calm, gentle, docile, and very loyal.
They are known to be friendly even to strangers and
other animals. Because of these qualities, Newfoundlands
are easily trained and fare well in a wide variety of
environments. Though their large size poses a potential
issue to dog-owners with small children or pets, they
can sometimes be trained to avoid behaviors that may
cause them to knock over or harm smaller individuals
by accident.
Newfoundlands require moderate exercise, and generally
love to swim. They tend not to be comfortable in hot
weather, and are known to drool excessively in hot climates.
Conversely, their thick coats allow them to thrive in
cooler climates and swim in frigid water. Because of
the size of the breed, Newfoundlands are also best suited
to environments in which large spaces are available
to them.
Because of the thickness and composition of their coats,
Newfoundlands should be groomed twice per week. Newfoundlands
shed seasonally and in a high volume, and therefore
require even more frequent grooming during annual shedding
seasons. They are also inclined to drool fairly often
due to their droopy lips and jowls. Because Newfoundlands
are fond of water and mud, their owners must take care
not to allow their dogs to bring mud and excessive dirt
and moisture into their home.
Though Newfoundlands may seem to be a somewhat high-maintenance
breed, many can attest that the rewards of owning a
dog so loyal and loving ultimately outweigh the extra
work they may require.
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