"Providing Quality Family Companions"
The Newfoundland Dog has the most gentle nature among dogs and is justifiably known as the Gentle Giant. The breed is wonderful with other animals in the household, and has a particular love for children. In Victorian times, wealthy people would keep a Newfoundland dog to protect their children and the original dog in Peter Pan was one of these magnificent creatures. These dogs will allow children to crawl all over them without complaint.
Newfoundlands originated in the fishing villages of Newfoundland, Canada from which they get their name. For generations, they assisted fishermen by hauling nets and fishing carts, rescuing shipwrecked sailors and providing companionship during long days at sea. Eventually making their way to Europe and the U.S., they became popular working dogs, show dogs and pets. Back in Newfoundland, however, you can still find them working hard with the fishermen. They are classed as working dogs and because of their intelligence and desire to please can be easily trained for pulling, packing, retrieving and water rescue. They provide great pack support for backpacking especially if one has small children. Bred to work long days in the intense wet and cold, Newfoundlands make dependable outdoor companions. Whether on long hikes in the woods or long days in the field, these dogs have the work ethic and durability to handle extreme weather and dirty jobs. They also love a good swim-no matter what the conditions.
The Newfoundland Dog was bred for water rescue and is still used for that very purpose in some parts of the world, where the dog will aid lifeguards by swimming out to sea and giving the distressed person its huge body to cling to. Then they will swim them back to shore or to the lifeboat that is waiting. They have even been trained to jump out of helicopters to rescue swimmers in distress. They have webbing between their toes and their double layer of slightly oily hair keeps them easily afloat while powerful muscles tirelessly propel them through the water.
The Newfoundland dog has a natural instinct to rescue and has been known to react on its own volition when someone is in trouble. One of these dogs gained a medal in Canada for climbing out of his kennel and digging a child out of a snowdrift, all on his own initiative. Newfoundlands have a reputation for saving lives. They have even been known to rescue scuba divers that didn't know that they needed rescuing. The dog saw them go down and responded instinctively. While they may not be the most intense guard dogs (although their size can be intimidating to strangers), they have been known for rescuing people, especially family members, from fires, drowning and other dangers. They are very good at keeping people out of harm's way. One of our males would place himself between my children and I if he felt I was getting too rough while playing with them.
This dog is very big and powerful. The females average weight ranges between 100 - 140 lbs., the males are larger between 120 - 160 lbs., though some can get over 200 lbs. Because Newfoundlands have such gentle natures they can make great house pets despite their size, spending much of their indoor time sleeping. There are five large Newfs sleeping around my desk as I write this (unless I get up to go to the kitchen to get a snack, in which case, I lead a parade through the house and back).
Newfoundlands need regular grooming. They have a long outer coat and a dense undercoat. A daily brushing outside will keep their coats looking great, but be warned that they may shed several times a year depending on the climate. They shed a tremendous amount of hair. There are many handy tools available that make grooming these dogs much easier than what it once was.
A healthy Newfoundland can live as long as 15 years, though the average age is around 10. Common health issues include hip dysplasia and heart disease. This is why it is especially important to get a puppy with good genetics and a written health guarantee. A good breeder will have enough confidence in their breeding dogs that they will offer this guarantee. These dogs do need to be exercised (though excessive exercise is not needed) and not over-fed. Keeping these dogs lean helps to keep them healthy and gives them more years of quality life.
One trait that some find objectionable is that Newfoundlands drool. This is especially true when they are hot and panting a lot. Our dogs don't drool much at all during the cooler weather of fall, winter and early spring. It may help to remember that dogs' drool is not harmful, just rather gross until you get used to it or learn to overlook it because you love the dog so much. Believe me, one can get used to it.
Their most common color is black, sometimes with a white blaze, but they can also be found in brown and silver. The Landseer color variation is bicolored: black and white or brown and white. Some claim that Landseers have a different temperament, but we have not found that to be true in our experience.
Famous Newfoundlands include Seaman, who accompanied the Lewis and Clark expedition across North America. Another well known Newfie was Gander, who saved the lives of several Canadian Soldiers during WWII. Nana from Peter Pan was J.M. Barrie's own dog, Luath, a Newfoundland Dog.
Newfoundlands love people and you should not consider this breed unless you plan to make them a part of the family. It is not good to leave these dogs by themselves for long periods of time or chain them up. We find that our dogs do best when they can spend time with us each day even if it is just grooming, training, hiking or being in the same room with us. I even take my dogs to school to socialize with my students and the students just love them. They are so low key that they are not a distraction while school is in session.
A pet quality puppy from a good breeder will cost around $1600 to $2600 depending on the color and pedigree. Given the selective breeding, the health tests that need to be carried out and the expensive care of one of these bred dogs and her puppies, it is a reasonable amount of money. Beware of much cheaper alternatives, they can end up costing you more in vet bills and heartache. It is worth it to be patient, do your research and get a great dog as an addition to your family. You will not regret being cautious. And after you have been owned by a Newfoundland dog for some time you will understand why we say - "If it's not a Newfoundland, it is just a dog."
