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Working group · Canada (Newfoundland)

Newfoundland

Also called Newfie, Newf

A gentle giant with webbed feet, a lifesaving instinct in water and a drool towel never far away.

Newfoundlands are enormous, calm working dogs from Canada's Atlantic coast, famous for hauling nets and pulling people out of the sea. Males often top 65 kg (143 lb), so everything from car size to vet bills scales up with them. In return you get one of the sweetest, most patient temperaments in the dog world.

Original AI-generated breed illustration

Weight

45 to 70 kg

99 to 154 lb

Height

63 to 74 cm

at the shoulder

Life expectancy

8 to 10 yrs

Activity estimate

30 to 60 min

editorial daily planning range

Adult-size estimate

24 months

approximate model input

Life with a Newfoundland

Size is the first thing everyone notices, and it should be the first thing you plan for. A mature male stands around 71 cm (28 in) at the shoulder and can outweigh many adults, while females are only a little smaller. That frame needs a big car boot, a sturdy bed, room to turn in the hallway and, eventually, help getting in and out of vehicles.

The breed took shape on the island of Newfoundland, where fishermen needed a dog that could haul carts of wood and nets, work in icy water and retrieve anything, or anyone, that went overboard. Settlers' dogs probably mixed with earlier working dogs on the island, and by the 1700s ships were carrying them to Britain. Stories of Newfies dragging sailors to shore are old and numerous, and water rescue trials are still held across Europe.

Temperament is the reason people accept the drool and the hair. Well-bred Newfies are placid, patient and famously tender with children, happier to lean against you than to race around the garden. They are not guard dogs in the usual sense, though their bulk and deep bark put off most unwanted visitors. Expect a slow, thoughtful dog that simply wants to be wherever you are.

What stands out

Puppy growth

5 lb) at birth to 45 kg (100 lb) or more by their first birthday, then keep filling out until 2 years or later. Many 10-week-old puppies already weigh 10 to 14 kg (22 to 31 lb), so the days of carrying them around end very quickly.

Read the full puppy growth guide

Illustrative model, not observed breed data or a healthy-weight standard. Use actual measurements and veterinary advice to assess growth.

A great match for

families with children of all ages
homes near lakes or the sea
cool or temperate climates
owners with a large car and plenty of indoor space

Think twice if

heavy drooling, especially after drinking
very high food, vet and boarding costs
short lifespan compared with smaller breeds
struggles in hot weather
sheds heavily all year

Personality and needs at a glance

Living together

Good with children

Good with other dogs

Open with strangers

Apartment friendly

Copes with alone time

Energy and character

Energy level

Playfulness

Easy to train

Barking

5 means very vocal

Care and climate

Grooming needs

Shedding

Drooling

Handles cold

Handles heat

How much a Newfoundland eats

Illustrative calculations for neutered adults at midpoint breed weights, with food at 370 kcal per 100 g and 100 g per cup. These are not measured breed requirements. Use actual weight, the food label and veterinary body-condition advice.

Dog	Weight	Calories	Dry food
Female, relaxed lifestyle	50 kg	1840 kcal	500 g (5 cups)
Female, typical pet	50 kg	2110 kcal	570 g (5.8 cups)
Male, typical pet	65 kg	2560 kcal	695 g (7 cups)
Male, very active	65 kg	3200 kcal	865 g (8.8 cups)

Full Newfoundland feeding guide Calculate for my dog

Care guides for the Newfoundland

FeedingAdults eat less than their size suggests, because they are not highly active. A 60 kg (132 lb) male might need around 500 to 700 g of dry food a day, roughly 5 to 7 cups, split into two or three meals, while a 50 kg (110 lb) female needs somewhat less.Read more ExerciseAround 45 to 60 minutes a day suits most adults, taken as two unhurried walks plus some play. Swimming is ideal because it builds muscle without pounding the joints, and many Newfies need no invitation to wade into any water they see.Read more GroomingExpect to brush two or three times a week with a slicker and a long-toothed comb, working right down to the skin, and daily during the spring and autumn molt. Tangles form fast behind the ears, in the armpits and on the trousers, and mats trap moisture against the skin.Read more TrainingNewfies are keen to please and sensitive to tone. Harsh corrections tend to make them shut down, whereas calm praise and food rewards bring steady progress.Read more HealthThe breed is predisposed to hip and elbow dysplasia, cruciate ligament injuries, a heart condition called subvalvular aortic stenosis (SAS), cystinuria (an inherited disorder that can lead to bladder stones) and bloat. A lifespan of roughly 8 to 10 years is shorter than that of smaller breeds.Read more

Things owners are often surprised by

1Webbed feet and a powerful swimming stroke that looks more like breaststroke than a doggy paddle
2The black and white Landseer color takes its name from painter Sir Edwin Landseer, who featured such dogs in 19th century paintings
3Italian water rescue schools train Newfoundlands to leap from boats and helicopters to reach swimmers
4Lord Byron wrote a famous epitaph for his Newfoundland, Boatswain, whose monument still stands at Newstead Abbey

Newfoundland questions

Do Newfoundlands really rescue people from water?

Many have a strong natural urge to swim out to people in the water and tow them back, often by an arm or clothing. That instinct is real, but trained water rescue dogs spend months learning specific skills, including towing a person by a float line and working from boats. An untrained family Newfie may also try to 'rescue' children who are happily swimming, so supervise at the lake.

How much does a Newfoundland drool?

A lot, particularly after drinking or eating, and when excited or warm. Strings of drool can land on walls and even ceilings when they shake their heads. Some lines have tighter lips and drool a little less, but no Newfie is dry-mouthed. Owners typically keep a towel in every room and one in the car. If daily slobber would bother you, look at a different breed.

Can a Newfoundland live in a flat?

Only in a large ground-floor flat with easy outdoor access, and even then it is hard work. Carrying a sick or elderly 60 kg dog up stairs is not realistic, lifts may be too small, and the dog needs room to stretch right out. A house with a garden, cool floors and space by the door for towels and coat drying suits them far better.

Are brown and gray Newfoundlands different from black ones?

Only in color. Black is most common, brown ranges from chocolate to bronze, and gray is a diluted black. Landseers are white with black markings; under FCI rules the Landseer (European Continental Type) is a separate, longer-legged breed, while in the UK and US black and white dogs are shown as Newfoundlands. Temperament and care are the same across all colors.

Why is the Newfoundland lifespan so short?

Very large dogs tend to age faster than small ones, a pattern seen across most giant breeds. Their bodies grow enormously in the first two years, and heart disease, joint problems and some cancers are more common in them. Many Newfies live 8 to 10 years, and a fair number reach 12. A lean body and parents screened for heart and joint problems give the best odds.

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Neapolitan Mastiff

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Once a hunter of wolves, the Irish Wolfhound is now a soft-natured giant that towers over every other hound.