What is the Personality of the Newfoundland?
A noble dog that is calm, gentle, loyal and trustworthy with a sweet temperament. Newfoundlands are dignified and peaceable, as well as very devoted to their family. A Newf can become so attached to his owners that he cannot adapt to a new home. These dogs are good, brave and intelligent enough to act on his own when needed. Newfs are protective, but tends to place himself between the intruder and his family, rather than bark or growl. They can recognize a dangerous situation and will generally act if the family is threatened. They are patient, playful and loving with children — a born baby-sitter. Newfs tend to be very sociable and enjoys the out of doors. They do require companionship and are generally good with other animals. This dog's huge body tends to move rather slowly. Be sure to take this into account during training.
What is the Behavior?
Children: Excellent with children.
Friendliness: Fairly friendly with strangers.
Independence: Not particularly dependent or independent.
Dominance: Low.
Other Pets: Generally good with other pets.
Combativeness: Friendly with other dogs.
Is Exercise needed?
Exercise: Moderate exercise needed.
Jogging: An excellent jogging companion.
Indoors: Relatively inactive indoors.
Apartments: Will be OK in an apartment if sufficiently exercised.
Outdoor Space: A small yard is sufficient.
Climate: Prefers cool climates.
Owner: Good for novice owners.
What is the Longevity?
Newfs tend to live an average of up to 10 years. There are some exceptions, of course and some can last up to several more years.
What are their talents?
A Newfoundland makes a great watchdog, and excels at guarding, water rescue, carting, weight pulling, and competitive obedience.
Is it true that the Newfoundlands have webbed feet?
The answer is yes, the Newfoundland does have webs between the toes. The webbed feet have developed to give the dog a stronger swimming stroke. In addition, the Newfoundland's outer coat is oily and rather flat, making it very water repellant. Then, this breed has a good undercoat that may be lost if they spend all their time indoors. Interestingly, the Newfoundland is one dog that seems to be just as much at home in the water as on land.
How much food does this big dog need?
The Newfoundland needs a sufficient amount of food for their size, but surprisingly many owners find they do not eat much more than a slightly smaller dog like the German Shepherd, or Retriever.
More Information
The Health Glossary from the Newfoundland Health and Rescue provides a great deal of information on Newfoundlands. This glossary will help to educate you, a potential Newfoundland owner, about the various health problems that are common in the breed. You can find the glossary at NewfHealthandRescue.org