Dog breed

Newfoundland

The Newfoundland is a giant dog from Canada, bred to work in water and haul heavy loads. Under the FCI standard, a male averages 71 cm at the shoulder and weighs about 68 kg. It is famous for its gentleness, patience with children and instinct to rescue people from water. It needs space, regular brushing of its thick coat and tolerance for the drool that hangs from its lips.

FCI Group II · Molossers, pinschers and schnauzers · standard no. 50

Weight: 45–68 kg
Height: 66–71 cm
Lifespan: 9–11 years
Origin: Canada

How much food for this breed?Compare with another breed

Photo: Pleple2000, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

Temperament

The Newfoundland is a gentle giant in the best sense. The FCI standard emphasizes its sweet nature and calm, and the AKC gives the breed top marks with children, other dogs and strangers. In practice, it's a dog that will happily lie down next to a crawling baby and patiently put up with having its fur pulled, though of course it shouldn't be made to. It rarely barks, but its sheer size deters uninvited guests, and if it decides the family is in danger, it can step between them and a stranger. It is sensitive to tone of voice: yelling and physical punishment shut it down, while calm, consistent training gets good results. It has a strong need to be close to people and does poorly living in a kennel run. Water draws it like a magnet, so a walk by the lake usually ends with a wet dog.

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 Newfoundland for?

The Newfoundland suits a family with children living in a house with a yard, ideally near water, who can accept hair and drool in every corner. It fits calm people who enjoy long walks at a moderate pace. We don't recommend it for a small walk-up apartment, neat freaks, people looking for a running dog, or anyone who can't keep it cool on hot days.

Pros

exceptionally gentle and patient with children
friendly with other animals
rarely barks
loves water and swimming

Challenges

drools heavily
lots of coat to brush
doesn't handle heat well
short lifespan and the high costs of a giant dog

Size and looks

Size and looks: Newfoundland
Height at the withers	males 71 cm, females 66 cm
Weight	males 59–68 kg, females 45–54 kg
Lifespan	9–11 years
Coat	medium
Colors	black, white and black (Landseer), brown
Country of origin	Canada
Classification	Group II: Pinscher and Schnauzer, Molossoid and Swiss Mountain and Cattledogs
Also known as	Newfie, Newf, nowofundland

Care and exercise

30–60minof exercise a day

2/5grooming needs

3/5shedding

A Newfoundland doesn't need hours of training. The AKC recommends at least half an hour of moderate exercise a day and the Kennel Club up to an hour, ideally as relaxed walks and swimming. Avoid running alongside a bike and jumping, especially with puppies, which grow very fast and put a lot of strain on their joints. The thick, oily coat with an undercoat needs a thorough going-over with a slicker brush and a comb at least once a week, and even daily during shedding. A neglected coat mats behind the ears and on the britches. The breed drools a lot, especially after drinking and in hot weather, so a towel by the water bowl is standard. It handles heat poorly: in summer, walk in the morning and evening and provide shade and a cool surface to lie on. Feed a giant-breed food split into two meals.

How much should the Newfoundland eat?The calculator starts from this breed’s typical weight: calories and grams a day.

Health and breed-related conditions

Like most giant breeds, the Newfoundland doesn't live long. The AKC gives 9–10 years, the Kennel Club under 10, and the McMillan et al. (2024) study found a median of 11 years. Breeders mainly screen for hip and elbow dysplasia, heart disease and cystinuria, which causes stones in the bladder and urethra and for which there is a DNA test. Because of the drop ears and frequent swimming, check the ear canals regularly. Extra weight quickly takes a toll on the joints and heart of such a heavy dog, so keep it lean.

hip and elbow dysplasiaCommon in giant breeds; the basics are parental X-rays and controlled puppy growth.
heart disease (including subaortic stenosis)The AKC lists heart disease among the conditions breeding dogs are screened for.
cystinuriaAn inherited disorder that leads to urinary stones; a DNA test is available.
otitis externa (outer ear infection)Drop ears and frequent swimming encourage infections, so check the ears regularly.

Health tests to ask the breeder about

hip and elbow X-rays (HD/ED)
heart exam (echocardiogram)
cystinuria DNA test

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

Breed history

The breed developed on Newfoundland, off Canada's east coast. The UK Kennel Club notes that its ancestors most likely arrived with European fishermen, and on the island dogs were selected for strong ribs, an oily, water-resistant coat and webbed feet. Newfoundlands hauled nets, pulled carts of fish and firewood from the forest, and rescued people from the icy Atlantic. One of them, Seaman, accompanied Lewis and Clark across North America, and Lord Byron built a monument to his dog Boatswain at Newstead Abbey. The FCI gave the breed final recognition in 1954.

Fun facts

The Newfoundland has partly webbed toes that help it swim.
The FCI standard describes the breed as a draft dog for heavy loads and a water dog.
The FCI standard allows three colors: black, white and black, and brown; the white-and-black dogs are traditionally called Landseers.
In water rescue services, Newfoundlands jump into the water even from boats and helicopters.

Frequently asked questions

Do Newfoundlands drool?

Yes, a lot. The AKC rates the breed's drooling 5 on a 1–5 scale, the maximum. Most drool comes after drinking, eating and in hot weather. Many owners carry a towel and wash the walls at dog-head height. If you can't accept that, choose another breed.

How much does a Newfoundland weigh?

The FCI standard gives an average of about 68 kg for males and 54 kg for females. The AKC gives a range of 59–68 kg for males and 45–54 kg for females. Puppies grow very fast, so diet and exercise in the first year are hugely important for the joints.

How long do Newfoundlands live?

On average about 9–11 years. The AKC gives 9–10 years, and a large 2024 British study calculated a median of 11 years. That's a typical lifespan for a giant breed.

Can a Newfoundland live in an apartment?

You can live with one in a large ground-floor apartment or a building with an elevator, but it isn't the ideal setting. This dog needs room, a cool spot in summer and access to a yard. Climbing stairs strains the joints of puppies and older dogs.