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Newfoundland

General
Other Names		Newfie
Dog Group Kennel Club		Working
Breed Classification		The Newfoundland is a member of the working group. They were originally used for helping fishermen; today they are used in rescue work and as companions.
Cost of Ownership
Average Food Cost		£7.50-10 per week
Feeding Requirements		As puppies the Newfie should have a nutritious diet to ensure the proper formation of the bones and joints. Supplements should not be added to the diet unless absolutely necessary as they can do more harm than good.
		Try Royal Canin Breed Specific Dog Food
Other Expenses		The average price ranges from £850 to £1000.
Average Puppy Price		>£800
Lifespan		9 - 15 years On average the Newfie lives to around 10 years, some are reported to live into their teens.
Average Litter Size		8 Litters vary greatly in size; anything from 2 to 15 puppies can be born in any one litter.
General Physical Description		The Newfie is best described as being a gentle giant. They are large and heavy in both bone and coat. As puppies they look like a cuddly teddy bear, however this stage does not last long as they grow very quickly.
Height Min Max Bitch 66cm (26") 66cm (26") Dog 71cm (28") 71cm (28") Weight Min Max Bitch 50kg (110lbs) 34.5kg (76lbs) Dog 64kg (141lbs) 69kg (152lbs)
Size Category		Large
Weight Height Range		Ideally dogs should measure 71cms at the withers and weigh between 64–69kgs. Bitches should measure 66cms and weigh between 50–54.5kgs.
Ailments		The Newfie is in general a healthy breed. As long as they have the correct diet to allow their proper growth there should not be too many bone and joint problems. Many breeders are now screening their dogs for elbow, hip, heart and eye problems.
Common Ailments
Susceptibility To Illness		Low
Other
History		It seems almost certain that the Newfie did not originally inhabit Newfoundland. However the island was peopled by a race of peaceful Indians and their wolf type dogs during the 15th century. These dogs were used for hunting, fetching and carrying. When the white settlers started to occupy the island they hunted down the Indians and their dogs, only the most useful and obedient dogs were permitted to live. The surviving dogs more than likely bred with other dogs that were introduced to the island by traders from around the world. This meant that different varieties of dogs were mated; these dogs included hunters, water dogs and mastiffs. The resulting offspring were left to fend for themselves, the outcome being that only the largest and strongest survived. Over the years a dog resembling the Newfie of today started to emerge. By the early 18th century word of these extraordinary dogs that could haul heavy loads and help fishermen had reached Europe. To begin with poor people who couldn’t afford horses to transport goods from the ports to their homes purchased these dogs. Shortly after their introduction to Europe large breeding kennels appeared and some good quality dogs were produced. The Newfoundland Club was formed in 1886 and is one of the oldest in Britain. Not long after the Club was formed a breed standard was created and has remained largely unchanged since.
Intelligence		The Newfie is an intelligent dog that requires consistent training in a relaxed manner.
Show Characteristics		The Newfoundland should have a broad head with a short and rather square muzzle that is covered with short hair. They have a soft mouth, which is well covered by the lips, and the jaws have a complete scissor bite. The eyes should be wide and deep set, small in size and dark brown in colour. The ears should be small, set well back, lie close to the head and be covered with short hair. The neck should be strong and well set onto the shoulders. The chest should be deep and broad. The back should be broad with a level topline. The front legs should be perfectly straight and well muscled; the back legs should be muscular and strong. The feet should be large and webbed. The tail should be of moderate length and well covered with hair. At rest the tail should hand down and be slightly curved at the end, when on the move it should be carried slightly up. It should never be carried over the back or have a kink. Their movement should be free with a slight rolling gait. The double coat should be dense, flat, coarse to the touch, oily and water resistant. The front legs should have more feathering than the back. The colours desired are black, brown and landseer (white with certain black markings).
Country Of Origin		Canada
Famous Examples		Nana the Newfoundland nursemaid in J. M. Barrie’s Peter Pan.
Records Held
Characteristics
Energy		Medium
Overall Exercise		40 - 60 minutes per day. The young dog should have all exercise monitored while it is still growing to ensure that no damage occurs to the bones and joints. They love water, swimming being one of their favourite forms of exercise.
Distress Caused if Left Alone		Medium
Personal Protection		Low
Suitability As Guard Dog		Low
Risk of Sheep Worrying		Low
Tendency to Bark		Low
Ease of Transportation		Low
Level of Aggression		Low
Compatibility With Other Animals		High
Suitable For Children		High
General Character And Temperament		Newfies are very docile, gentle and make great family pets. They have a natural life-saving instinct, which makes them unsuitable to go swimming with, as they would continually try to drag you out of the water. Generally the Newfoundland has a superb temperament and will get on well with both people and other animals. They are very outgoing and live life to the full, said to be one of the friendliest breeds.
Grooming
Coat Length		Medium/Long
Grooming Requirement		> Once a week
Trimming
Requires Professional Groomer
Grooming		The grooming needs of this dog are fairly demanding. They should be brushed regularly with particular attention being paid to the feathering on the legs, which can become entangled.
Colour		They can be black, brown or white and black (landseer) in colour.
Shedding		Moderate
Suffers From Allergies
Tendency to Cause Allergies

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