If you ever have the opportunity to meet a Newfoundland dog in person, you will never be able to forget those soft brown eyes, that lovable expression, and the distinct feeling that a gentle giant is watching over you. These dog can be wonderfully clownish companions when the mood calls for it, but don't underestimate them. They have a heroic streak that runs a mile wide and they are well known for their natural rescue instincts. If that means jumping into the water to save someone that fell in, so much the better! If you have room to keep a very big dog, one that displays a good deal of common sense as well as affection, the Newfoundland might just be your ideal companion.

THE NEWFOUNDLAND DOG 

The Newfoundland, a gentle giant among canines, is a striking dog bound to elicit admiring comments wherever he accompanies his owner. A sweet, devoted companion, the Newfoundland  will protect children, haul leaves and firewood, save drowning people, and compete successfully in obedience and tracking trials.

History

Born as a canine seaman, the Newfoundland was a standard piece of equipment on every fishing boat in Canada's maritime province that gave the breed its name. Fishing has always been Newfoundland's chief industry; the dogs hauled fishing nets out to sea and back to the boat and retrieved objects or people who fell into the sea. Equally at home in water or on land, the Newfoundland was large enough to pull in a drowning man or to break the ice as he dove into the frigid northern ocean. His lung capacity allowed him to swim great distances and fight ocean currents.

• At the end of a day's fishing, the day's catch was loaded into a cart, and the dog was hitched up to haul the load into town. Other Newfoundlands pulled wagons to deliver milk and mail throughout the island.
• There are many legends of Newfoundlands saving drowning victims by carrying lifelines to sinking ships. The dogs were kept in the "dog walk" on early sailing ships. If the sea was too choppy when land was sighted, the dog carried a line to land.
• The origin of this working breed is disputed. Vikings and Basque fishermen visited Newfoundland as early as 1000 AD and wrote accounts of the natives working side by side with these retrieving dogs. The breed as we know it today was developed in England, while the island of Newfoundland nearly legislated the native breed to extinction in 1780.
• The Newfoundland has a stiff, oily outer coat of moderate length and a fleecy undercoat to adapt to the harsh climate of its home island. The oil repels water. A Newfoundland can swim for hours, yet remain completely dry and warm at the skin. The breed has completely webbed feet and swims with a breast stroke instead of a dog paddle.

The AKC Standard

The Newfoundland is a sweet-dispositioned dog that acts neither dull nor ill-tempered. He is a devoted companion. A multipurpose dog, at home on land and in water, the Newfoundland is capable of draft work and possesses natural lifesaving abilities.

The Newfoundland is a large, heavily coated, well balanced dog that is deep-bodied, heavily boned, muscular, and strong. A good specimen of the breed has dignity and proud head carriage.

The following description is that of the ideal Newfoundland. Any deviation from this ideal is to be penalized to the extent of the deviation. Structural and movement faults common to all working dogs are as undesirable in the Newfoundland as in any other breed, even though they are not specifically mentioned herein.

Size, Proportion, Substance

Average height for adult dogs is 28 inches, for adult ***, 26 inches. Approximate weight of adult dogs ranges from 130 to 150 pounds, adult *** from 100 to 120 pounds. The dog's appearance is more massive throughout than the ***'s. Large size is desirable, but never at the expense of balance, structure, and correct gait. The Newfoundland is slightly longer than tall when measured from the point of shoulder to point of buttocks and from withers to ground. He is a dog of considerable substance which is determined by spring of rib, strong muscle, and heavy bone.

Head

The head is massive, with a broad skull, slightly arched crown, and strongly developed occipital bone. Cheeks are well developed. Eyes are dark brown. (Browns and Grays may have lighter eyes and should be penalized only to the extent that color affects expression.) They are relatively small, deep-set, and spaced wide apart. Eyelids fit closely with no inversion. Ears are relatively small and triangular with rounded tips. They are set on the skull level with, or slightly above, the brow and lie close to the head. When the ear is brought forward, it reaches to the inner corner of the eye on the same side. Expression is soft and reflects the characteristics of the breed: benevolence, intelligence, and dignity.

Forehead and face are smooth and free of wrinkles. Slope of the stop is moderate but, because of the well developed brow, it may appear abrupt in profile. The muzzle is clean-cut, broad throughout its length, and deep. Depth and length are approximately equal, the length from tip of nose to stop being less than that from stop to occiput. The top of the muzzle is rounded, and the bridge, in profile, is straight or only slightly arched. Teeth meet in a scissors or level bite. Dropped lower incisors, in an otherwise normal bite, are not indicative of a skeletal malocclusion and should be considered only a minor deviation.

Neck, Topline, Body

The neck is strong and well set on the shoulders and is long enough for proud head carriage. The back is strong, broad, and muscular and is level from just behind the withers to the croup. The chest is full and deep with the brisket reaching at least down to the elbows. Ribs are well sprung, with the anterior third of the rib cage tapered to allow elbow clearance. The flank is deep. The croup is broad and slopes slightly. Tail-Tail set follows the natural line of the croup. The tail is broad at the base and strong. It has no kinks, and the distal bone reaches to the hock. When the dog is standing relaxed, its tail hangs straight or with a slight curve at the end. When the dog is in motion or excited, the tail is carried out, but it does not curl over the back.

Forequarters

Shoulders are muscular and well laid back. Elbows lie directly below the highest point of the withers. Forelegs are muscular, heavily boned, straight, and parallel to each other, and the elbows point directly to the rear. The distance from elbow to ground equals about half the dog's height. Pasterns are strong and slightly sloping. Feet are proportionate to the body in size, webbed, and cat foot in type. Dewclaws may be removed.

Hindquarters

The rear assembly is powerful, muscular, and heavily boned. Viewed from the rear, the legs are straight and parallel. Viewed from the side, the thighs are broad and fairly long. Stifles and hocks are well bent and the line from hock to ground is perpendicular. Hocks are well let down. Hind feet are similar to the front feet. Dewclaws should be removed.

Coat

The adult Newfoundland has a flat, water-resistant, double coat that tends to fall back into place when rubbed against the nap. The outer coat is coarse, moderately long, and full, either straight or with a wave. The undercoat is soft and dense, although it is often less dense during the summer months or in warmer climates. Hair on the face and muzzle is short and fine. The backs of the legs are feathered all the way down. The tail is covered with long dense hair.

Excess hair may be trimmed for neatness. Whiskers need not be trimmed.

Color

Color is secondary to type, structure, and soundness.

Recognized Newfoundland colors are black, brown, gray, and white and black.

Solid Colors-Blacks, Browns, and Grays may appear as solid colors or solid colors with white at any, some, or all, of the following locations: chin, chest, toes, and tip of tail. Any amount of white found at these locations is typical and is not penalized. Also typical are a tinge of bronze on a black or gray coat and lighter furnishings on a brown or gray coat.

Landseer-White base coat with black markings. Typically, the head is solid black, or black with white on the muzzle, with or without a blaze. There is a separate black saddle and black on the rump extending onto a white tail.

Markings, on either Solid Colors or Landseers, might deviate considerably from those described and should be penalized only to the extent of the deviation. Clear white or white with minimal ticking is preferred.

Beauty of markings should be considered only when comparing dogs of otherwise comparable quality and never at the expense of type, structure and soundness.

Disqualifications

Any colors or combinations of colors not specifically described are disqualified.

Gait

The Newfoundland in motion has good reach, strong drive, and gives the impression of effortless power. His gait is smooth and rhythmic, covering the maximum amount of ground with the minimum number of steps. Forelegs and hind legs travel straight forward. As the dog's speed increases, the legs tend toward single tracking. When moving, a slight roll of the skin is characteristic of the breed. Essential to good movement is the balance of correct front and rear assemblies.

Temperament

Sweetness of temperament is the hallmark of the Newfoundland; this is the most important single characteristic of the breed.

Disqualifications

Any colors or combinations of colors not specifically described are disqualified.

Approved May 8, 1990

Effective June 28, 1990

NEWFS are indeed exceedingly gentle creatures. That is not to say that they are not normal dogs. They will need to be supervised with small children, as you would any breed. But you can probably safely say that most Newfoundlands will tolerate many indignities that other breeds might be less willing to do...things that small children and uninformed adults do....hugging them while they eat...removing articles from their cavernous mouths, or generally being pushy or overactive around them, usually do not set Newfies into frenzies of growling or "attack mode". Neither will a Newfoundland act as a noisily protective or aggressive dog. They will quietly place their large bodies between you and perceived danger...but usually they do not care if someone comes onto your property while you are away. They are not a "yard dog"...they are not bred to protect property and are seldom territorial...but they do and will protect all people, even strangers they do not know, from what they perceive to be harm. They NEED to be with people. A Newf left to its own devices and not fenced in will often wander to people...they willingly go up to strangers and generally are very friendly dogs.

NEWFOUNDLANDS are slobbery, goobery, messy, generally fairly destructive as puppies and on into the age of 2 years. (and sometimes longer!) No, not all Newfoundlands "slobber". but nearly all Newfoundlands do stick their entire head into the water bucket to drink, then lift that wet muzzle up, dripping wet, and amble across the floor to you, where they will wipe their chin off on your pant leg. I keep towels across the backs of my kitchen chairs to wipe wet newfy faces on. Newfs like to chew wood. Newfs like to carry things in their mouths...especially socks and shoes. Newfs like to thoroughly INVESTIGATE articles which have ? interest? to them...things like boxes of Christmas ornaments, video remote controls, underwear from the clothes hamper...t-bone steaks on the ledge...you name it, somewhere in the world a newfy has investigated it and probably eaten it! A Newfoundland is not the dog for the "neatnik." Unless you want to spend a LOT of your time scrubbing boogers off walls (they stick TIGHT and must be scraped off), or vacuuming TONS of hair. Yes, of course they shed. Yes, of course, their coats need daily, or at least weekly care. They collect burrs and weeds and sticks in their long coats if allowed to wander in the woods...they will be almost continually wet if they have access to a creek or a pond.