"You’ll love my snuggly spirit and slobbery kisses!"
This sweet dog was well-represented in the movie Peter Pan and is the definition of “man’s best friend.” Newfoundlands are sweet, gentle, and devoted to their families. They love exercising (including swimming with their webbed feet), but their favorite activity is snuggling up next to you at the end of the day.
Newfoundland dogs are good-humored and gentle yet protective. They have affectionate, devoted personalities and are known for being friendly to all people and animals. In contrast to their sweet nature, the Newfoundland has a deep bark and could actually be a decent watchdog, although they may wag their tails and roll over once the stranger enters. These dogs tend to slobber and create a mess when drinking, so keep a stack of towels handy.
The Newfoundland has a dense, greasy coat that is medium length or long and resistant to water. They can be black or black and white (called “Landseer’”after Edwin Landseer, an English artist whose paintings made this variety popular). You also may see Newfoundlands that are brown or gray, but those varieties are less common. Because of their flowing hair, these dogs need weekly grooming with a brush and comb to prevent tangles, with even more frequent brushing during shedding season.
Newfoundland dogs are about as sweet and friendly as they come. This breed will be a good companion to any dog, animal, child, or visitor. Despite their gentle nature, it’s wise to watch them around kids because, at well over 100 pounds, they’re quite large. Newfoundlands don’t enjoy outdoor life or warm climates, so keep them indoors where they can stay cool and comfortable. Speaking of comfort, they’re known to grow attached to their home and don’t adapt easily to new environments.
Newfoundlands are active pups that need to get their blood flowing often. They enjoy lots of exercise, particularly if it involves swimming, pulling, or playing in cold weather. The Landseer Newfoundlands may need even more activity than the other varieties. Regardless of the type, all of the breed’s puppies should take it easy and avoid over exercising. They need to save their energy for growing strong bones and putting on weight.