Landseer

Temperament

The Landseer has a gentle, even temperament. It is deeply attached to its family, loves cuddles and playing together, and is usually very patient with children, although given its size, accidentally knocking over a toddler is possible. It is self-confident and eager to learn and work, and it loves water just as much as the Newfoundland. Compared with the Newfoundland, though, it can be livelier and keener to run. It is naturally alert with strangers and may bark an alarm, but it isn't aggressive: the standard disqualifies aggressive and overly fearful dogs. It usually lives peacefully with other dogs and pets. It is unhappy in a kennel away from the family. It responds well to calm, reward-based training and is highly food-motivated.

Energy

calmvery energetic

Affection

independentvelcro pet

With children

not idealgreat

With other pets

difficultgreat

Trainability

stubborneager to learn

For first-time owners

for experienced ownersyes

With strangers

waryoutgoing

Playfulness

dignifiedeternal puppy

Shedding

minimalheavy

Grooming

easydemanding

Being left alone

strugglescopes well

Apartment living

needs a house and yardgreat in a flat

Barking

quietvocal

With other dogs

difficultgreat

Protectiveness

lowhigh

Drooling

hardly anya lot

Cold tolerance

feels the coldexcellent

Heat tolerance

strugglescopes well

Scores of 1–5 compare the breed with other breeds of the same species, based on the sources at the bottom of the page. Every animal is different. How we score traits

Who is the Landseer for?

The Landseer suits a calm, active family with a house and yard, ideally near a lake or river, that wants a gentle, devoted dog and accepts dog hair in the house. It's great with children, as long as adults keep an eye on play. Skip it if you live in a small apartment, can't handle the high cost of keeping a giant breed, or live somewhere very hot with no way to keep the dog cool.

Size and looks

Care and exercise

The Landseer doesn't need strenuous exercise: daily walks totaling about 40–60 minutes, plus room to move freely in a yard, are enough. It loves to swim, and water is ideal, joint-friendly exercise for it. Until it has finished growing, a puppy shouldn't run up and down stairs, jump or go on long hikes. The long, dense, slightly oily coat needs brushing once or twice a week, with a pin brush on the body and a comb on the trousers, tail and behind the ears, and more often during shedding. Landseers handle heat very badly, so in summer they need shade, a cool floor and walks at dawn. Feed two smaller meals and watch its weight, since extra weight quickly strains the joints.

Health and breed-related conditions

Like most giant breeds, the Landseer is relatively short-lived, usually 7–10 years. Reported problems include hip and elbow dysplasia, bloat, heart defects such as aortic stenosis, cystinuria leading to urinary stones, platelet disorders and abnormally positioned eyelids. Rapid growth and excess weight in puppies raise the risk of joint problems. The dense coat makes Landseers overheat easily, and damp ears encourage infections. Landseer breeders, like Newfoundland breeders, often screen the parents for dysplasia, heart defects and cystinuria: ask for these results before reserving a puppy.

• hip and elbow dysplasiaTypical of giant breeds; it leads to pain and arthritis.
• gastric dilatation-volvulus (bloat, GDV)An emergency in deep-chested dogs.
• aortic stenosisA congenital heart defect reported in Landseers and Newfoundlands.
• cystinuriaAn inherited disorder that leads to urinary stones.
• ectropion and entropionAbnormally positioned eyelids encourage eye irritation.

This is general breed information, not a diagnosis. If something worries you, talk to your veterinarian.

Breed history

The Landseer descends from Newfoundlands, working dogs brought to England in the 19th century. Sir Edwin Landseer painted black-and-white dogs of this type, and his name was given first to the color and later to the breed. The continental type was developed in the Netherlands, Switzerland and Germany, where Otto Walterspiel of Munich was a key figure. A studbook was established in 1933, and in 1960 the FCI recognized the Landseer as a breed separate from the Newfoundland; the FCI standard dates from August 24, 1960. In many countries, including the US and UK, black-and-white Newfoundlands are still called Landseers and treated as a color variety of the Newfoundland.

Fun facts

• The breed is named after the English painter Sir Edwin Landseer, who portrayed black-and-white water dogs.
• The FCI standard calls for a black head with a white, symmetrical blaze and a white muzzle.
• The FCI recognized the Landseer as a breed separate from the Newfoundland in 1960.
• The FCI standard considers a kinked tail the most serious tail fault.

Frequently asked questions

This breed also appears in

• Large dog breeds
• Best dogs for kids

Sources

1. 1FCI standard nr 226 – Landseer (European Continental Type)fci.be
2. 2Dogs NSW – Landseer (European Continental Type)dogsnsw.org.au
3. 3Wamiz – Landseerwamiz.co.uk

Last reviewed: November 12, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.