Dog breed
The Newfoundland is a large breed of working dog. They can be black, grey, brown, or black and white. However, in the Dominion of Newfoundland, before it became part of Canada, only black and Landseer (white-and-black) coloured dogs were considered to be proper members of the breed. They were originally bred and used as working dogs for fishermen in Newfoundland.
They excel at water rescue/lifesaving because of their muscular build, thick double coat, webbed paws, and swimming abilities.
Appearance: Newfoundlands ('Newfs' or 'Newfies') have webbed paws and a double coat that consists of dense soft fur that keeps them warm, and a water-resistant, coarse, moderately long, outer coat. Males normally weigh 65–[dose — ask your vet] (143–176 lb), and females 55–[dose — ask your vet] (121–143 lb), placing them in the "Giant" weight range; but some Newfoundlands have been known to weigh over [dose — ask your vet] (200 lb) — and the largest on record weighed [dose — ask your vet] (260 lb) and measured over 1.8 m (6 ft) from nose to tail, ranking it among the largest of dog breeds. They may grow up to 56–76 cm (22–30 in) tall at the shoulder.
The American Kennel Club (AKC) standard colours of the Newfoundland are black, brown, grey, and white-and-black (sometimes referred to as a Landseer). Other colours are possible but are not considered rare or more valuable. The Kennel Club (KC) and FCI permit only black, brown, and white/black; the Canadian Kennel Club (CKC) permits only black and white/black, though recessive brown and white/brown also occur but cannot be shown. The "Landseer" pattern is named after the artist Sir Edwin Henry Landseer, who featured them in many of his paintings. The Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) ECT Landseer ("European Continental Type") is a separate breed created in Germany and Switzerland from cross-breeding Landseer-coloured Newfoundlands with livestock guardian breeds. It is a taller, more narrow white dog with black markings bred as a companion and guard dog.
The Newfoundland's extremely large bones give it mass, while its large musculature gives it the power it needs to take on rough ocean waves and powerful tides. These dogs have huge lung capacity, which enables them to swim extremely long distances, and a thick, oily, and waterproof double coat which protects them from the chill of icy waters.
Health: A 2024 UK study found a life expectancy of 11 years for the breed compared to an average of 12.7 for purebreeds and 12 for crossbreeds. A 2005 Swedish study of insurance data found 62% of Newfoundland dogs died by the age of 10, higher than the overall rate of 35% of dogs dying by the age of 10.
Several conditions the Newfoundland is predisposed to include: acral lick dermatitis, allergic skin disease, hypothyroidism, ichthyosis, and primary seborrhoea.
A study of referrals to a veterinary clinic in the US found the Newfoundland to be predisposed to dilated cardiomyopathy, with 1.3% of dogs having the condition. A Swedish study found 16% of Newfoundlands with DCM to have ventricular ectopy. An English study found 77% of Newfoundlands with DCM to have atrial fibrillation.
An American study reviewing over a million cases presented to 27 veterinary teaching hospitals in North America found the Newfoundland to be the most prediposed to canine hip dysplasia, with 17.16% of dogs having the condition compared to 3.52% overall. This same study found the Newfoundland to also have the highest prevalence of cranial cruciate ligament deficiency (CCLD) with 8.9% of dogs having the condition compared to an overall rate of 2.55%. For dogs diagnosed with both conditions the Newfoundland once again had the highest prevalence with 2.86% having both hip dysplasia and CCLD compared to 0.3% overall. Another American study of over a million and a quarter of a million hip and elbow evaluation records in dogs over the age of 2 years found a prevalence of 24.8% for hip dysplasia — the highest in the study — and 22.7% for elbow dysplasia.
The Newfoundland is predisposed to gastric dilation volvulus (GDV). In a survey of breed club members in the UK it was found that 10% of Newfoundland deaths were due to GDV compared to the overall rate of 2.5%, although the study reported bias due to its voluntary nature and small sample size.
Origin: Genomic analysis indicates that Newfoundlands are related to the Irish water spaniel, Labrador Retriever, and Curly-Coated Retriever.
The Newfoundland was originally bred and used as a working dog for fishermen in Newfoundland. The Oxford English Dictionary attests "Newfoundland dog" to as early as 1766, when the breed is mentioned in the journal of Joseph Banks.
In the early 1880s, fishermen and explorers from Ireland and England travelled to the Grand Banks of Newfoundland, where they described two types of working dogs. One was heavily built, large with a longish coat, and the other medium-sized in build – an active, smooth-coated water dog. The heavier breed was known as the greater Newfoundland, or Newfoundland. The smaller breed was known as the lesser Newfoundland, or St. John's water dog. The St. John's water dog became the founding breed of modern retrievers. Both breeds were used as working dogs to pull fishnets, with the Greater Newfoundland also being used to haul carts and other equipment.
