Newfoundland: all about the breed, description of the dog, character, photo

Characteristics

Brief information

1. Pros and cons of Newfoundlands
2. Newfoundland character
3. Description of the breed
4. Head
5. Eyes
6. Ears
7. Neck
8. Frame
9. Tail
10. limbs
11. Gait
12. wool cover
13. Color
14. Size and weight
15. Education and training of the Newfoundland
16. Care
17. How to feed a Newfoundland
18. Health and disease
19. History reference
20. Photo of Newfoundlands
21. Who is this breed for?
22. Tips for choosing a puppy
23. Photo of Newfoundland puppies
24. Newfoundland prices

Pros and cons of Newfoundlands

Newfoundland pros:

Cons of Newfoundland:

Newfoundland character

The Newfoundland is a big fluffy dog ​​with a truly amazing personality. It is woven from kindness, patience and calmness. Representatives of this breed are very devoted to the owner and love all family members. They are ready to do everything to please a person, the whole meaning of their life consists of serving him. That is why it is very easy to train a Newfoundland: an obedient character and a desire to please the owner make him a diligent student. At the same time, this dog has its own opinion regarding all the events taking place. Therefore, the owner should not be surprised if the dog suddenly refuses to bring the ball. Maybe he just didn’t see the need to do it.

It is believed that the Newfoundlands are absolutely devoid of aggression. All individuals showing similar qualities were rejected in the selection process. Therefore, today it is one of the kindest breeds: this dog cannot attack a person. Nevertheless, these dogs are able to stand up for the owner and can disarm the enemy: however, it is unlikely to be a bite, rather, the Newfoundland will simply knock him down.

The benevolence of the dog is also manifested in relation to other animals. And these are not only dogs, but also cats, and small rodents the Newfoundland gets along well with everyone. However, experts still recommend socializing a puppy.

Particular attention should be paid to the Newfoundland’s relationship with children. The best four-legged nanny is impossible to find. Dogs of this breed show amazing patience and love for children of all ages. This dog will not be jealous of family members for the child, on the contrary, he will allow you to do with him whatever the baby wants. Often in families where a Newfoundland lives, one can observe a picture when a dog acts as a pony or a living toy.

No wonder this breed is called dogs with a golden character. These are kind giants who do not know what aggression is. If you need another family member that is safe for children, animals and others, then Newfoundland is the perfect choice. At one glance at this dog, you feel yourself in an atmosphere of comfort, coziness and safety.

Representatives of this breed boast the highest level of socialization. These dogs are literally created to serve for the benefit of mankind. Their heroic deeds are legendary. Newfoundland is ready to help, even sacrificing itself.

Whatever this dog does, he devotes himself entirely to the occupation. He can work in the police or accompany the military, be a guide for the blind and other people with disabilities.

Divers, as the Newfoundlands are also called, show all their positive character traits from childhood. Even as a puppy, they have strong empathy, so they never bother their owner and are not capricious for no reason. Unreasonable barking and whining is also not characteristic of this breed.

When the puppy begins to grow up, he shows analytical skills. Divers are very observant, so they can draw conclusions and have their own opinion on a particular issue. Therefore, do not rely on the fact that the dog will thoughtlessly fulfill your requests. If he considers the command unnecessary and meaningless, then he simply will not execute it. Or do it as he sees fit.

An exception would be to help a person in a life-threatening situation. If the dog hears a cry for help or notices the victim, he will rush to him without delay. In such cases, the Newfoundlands act clearly, literally “on the machine”. Accelerating the process of making the right decision allows their innate quick wit and outstanding intelligence.

These dogs can subtly feel the mood of the owner and even distinguish intonations in his voice. If a Newfoundland notices that a person is angry or annoyed, then he will not show himself in front of him again. Realizing that the owner is in a good mood, be sure to come to chat or play with him.

But this sensitivity also works the other way. If you yell at an animal, then the dog may be offended and withdraw into itself. The dog will ignore the person, his requests and commands until his heart thaws. If you regularly raise your voice to your pet, then there is a big risk of completely losing his trust.

If you need a watchman or guard, then this breed will not be the best choice. By nature, divers are very friendly and trust strangers. They willingly make contact with those who offer play or affection.

Newfoundlands are happy to go out of town with their families, love to swim in open water. These dogs are monogamous. They get used to one owner. And if for some reason they have to change their family, then they are very sad and bored.

Description of the breed

Newfoundland is a large dog breed. This is a powerful dog with a rich coat on an athletic body. But the impressive size does not affect the grace of the animal. These dogs are beautifully built and move very gracefully, if enough attention is paid to physical activity and not overfed.

Head

Massive, but bitches are smaller than males. The skull is wide, the vault is slightly convex, the occiput is clearly visible. Stop is not sharp, but clearly visible.

The nose is large, with large developed nostrils. Has a rich black color in black and white dogs. Brown nose is allowed in brown dogs.

The muzzle is square, not long and deep. There are no wrinkles, the coat is short and soft. The corners of the mouth are well defined.

The bite can be straight or scissor.

Eyes

Small in size, sit deep in the skull, set wide apart. Eyelids tightly frame the eyeball, should not sag. The color of the iris is saturated, almost black. In dogs with a brown color, a lighter, hazel shade is allowed.

Ears

Small in size, have the shape of a triangle, and at the end are slightly rounded. Located in the back of the skull, the tips are adjacent to the cheekbones. If an adult dog’s ear is stretched, then its tip will reach the eye, which is located on the same side of the head.

Neck

Strong, well muscled. Has enough length to make the fit look noble and attractive. Neck dewlap is acceptable but should not be pronounced.

Frame

Length from shoulder to buttock is greater than height at withers. Compact, well muscled. Movements are well coordinated. In males, the body is less stretched than in females, and more massive. The skeleton is well developed. If you look at the dog from the side, the body looks deep.

The back is broad, the topline is straight, extending from the withers to the croup.

The loin is well muscled.

The croup has a slope that is equal to 30 °, quite wide.

The chest is also wide, has good volume. The ribs in it are quite curved. The chest line is straight and cannot be pulled up.

Tail

According to the breed standard thickened at the base, strong and muscular. It is necessary for the dog to change direction while swimming. If the dog is in a calm state, then the tail is lowered, lies between the hind legs, and its tip is slightly raised up. When moving or excited, the tail is lifted and carried high, but cannot be carried over the back.

limbs

Forelegs straight. They stand parallel to each other even when the dog is in motion. Shoulders well muscled, looking back and set at a 45° angle. Elbows fit well to the body. Pasterns have a slight slope. The forelegs are large, the toes are compact and close to each other. Gathered into a ball. The membranes are pronounced and developed. Black and black-and-white dogs have black claws, brown dogs have horn-colored nails. This shade is allowed if the dog has white fingers.

The hind limbs of the Newfoundland must have the correct structure, since they play an important role in this breed. How well a dog can swim, run, carry loads depends on their driving power. The pelvis is wide and strong, the hips are well-muscled. The angles at the knees are clearly visible, but not so much that the limbs seem half-bent. Legs elongated, metatarsus set wide and low. They are short and stand parallel to each other. Turned in or out metatarsus is considered a vice. The toes on the hind feet are tightly closed. The color of the claws repeats their shade on the front paws. There should be no dewclaws.

Gait

The extension of the forelimbs and the push of the hind limbs this breed has a well-developed. It shows the strength and power of the animal. Allows for slight back bending. Accelerating, the dog puts its paws closer to the middle line. But the line of the back at this time remains flat.

wool cover

Newfoundland wool consists of two types of hair. Long guard hair is water repellent. It should be straight, but slight waviness is acceptable. Under the outer hair is a thick and densely stuffed undercoat. It allows the dog to retain body heat even in severe frosts. Newfoundlands shed in the spring, losing most of their undercoat. It is always thicker on the chest and croup. Hair on ears, muzzle and head is short. There are tows. They are located on the limbs of the dog. On the tail the hair is long and stiffer.

Color

The breed standard allows three types of color:

Dogs with black and white color are exhibited in the same class with black dogs.

Size and weight

Newfoundland is not just a large dog. They look like real giants, and weight can easily be equal to the weight of their owner. The growth of an adult male at the withers is about 71 centimeters, and the bitches-66. The weight of male reaches 68 kilograms, bitches 54.

In this breed, large sizes are considered desirable. But it is preferable, nevertheless, to have excellent indicators of health, physique, exterior and movements.

Education and training of the Newfoundland

The Newfoundland is not one of those dogs that needs to be tamed or “broken” through training. If you communicate with the animal respectfully and in a friendly way, then dominance over it will not be needed. He will obey his master.

But if you need a dog that will mindlessly follow commands, then a diver is definitely not suitable for this role. He will ignore senseless requests or fulfill them as he sees fit. But at the moment of real danger or in an extreme situation, you can completely rely on the instincts and decisions of your pet. Even in a stressful state, he will be able to act quickly and correctly.

In raising a Newfoundland puppy, you need to follow the tactics of positive reinforcement. All training and training should go through love, communication and games. The child who is not paid attention suffers a lot without the company of a person. In no case should you yell at the dog or punish him physically. Do not use strict or electric collars, this will result in a big problem in the pet’s psyche in the future.

Teach your puppy the rules of his new home from an early age. Make time for socialization. Newfoundlands have no problems with the latter, they are very sociable and inquisitive.

It is better to start training from three months in the form of a game. Up to seven months, the puppy is sure to be rewarded with goodies and praise. After adolescence, only praise can be used.

The floor in the room where the Newfoundland puppy lives should not be slippery. If the paws of the animal will constantly move apart, this threatens with dislocations and damage to the joints. Do not force the animal to run after a bicycle or scooter, do not take it on long hikes. Up to five months, the baby is contraindicated to independently climb and descend the stairs, otherwise the skeleton, which is just being formed, may be damaged. Do not pull a rope or cloth from the dog’s mouth so as not to spoil the bite.

Raising a Newfoundland needs a lot of time. If you do not deal with a pet, then from a small and cute “bear cub”, he will turn into an uncontrollable giant. A dog weighing under seventy kilograms must be restrained and well-mannered. Otherwise, it will pose a danger to the owner and others.

If brute force and screaming during the training process are prohibited, then comments in a strict voice, on the contrary, are welcome. Newfoundland subtly feels the mood of the owner, so he will immediately understand that he is dissatisfied with something. At seven to eight months, the dog begins adolescence, during which he can begin to “rebel”. Therefore, it is important to show him which of the two of you is the leader in the relationship.

Newfoundland is a dog with a high level of intelligence. Therefore, before doing something, she needs time to think. Do not rush the diver once again, he does not “slow down”, but analyzes. It can be difficult for novice owners to raise this breed, as it will take patience, perseverance and experience. If you feel that you are not coping, then it is better to contact a professional dog handler. He will give advice and recommendations, as well as help with training the dog in the initial stages.

To teach the Newfoundland to focus on tasks, training is best done outdoors, where there are many external stimuli. But before that, it is worth learning such commands as “come to me”, “no”, “stand” so that you can control the behavior of the animal on the street. Practice regularly to reinforce what you’ve learned. After the handling course, you can participate with your pet at exhibitions, as well as teach rescue service or weight pulling (cynological sport where dogs move loads).

Care

The long coat of the Newfoundland requires careful daily grooming from the owner, as the dog sheds almost all the time. Wool must be combed out with special hard brushes, paying attention to the presence of tangles. To avoid their formation, the Newfoundland is also sheared.

Representatives of this breed can be bathed no more than once a month. This is due to the deterioration of the quality of wool, which can occur from too frequent water procedures.

Dogs’ nails are trimmed once a month. Pay special attention to eyes and ears. They need to be examined regularly so as not to miss the possible development of infectious diseases. Several times a week, you should wipe your ears and eyes with a cotton swab dipped in a special lotion.

It is believed that the Newfoundland can live both in an apartment and in a country house. But of course this dog will do just fine with enough space. By the way, Newfoundlands are not very active by nature, rather they can be called a little lazy. Undoubtedly, like any dog, a dog of this breed will share the game, but he will rather prefer to rest, lying in his place. In order to maintain the health and physical shape of the dog, it is worthwhile, together with the veterinarian, to draw up a competent diet and determine the necessary physical activity.

Newfoundlands feel comfortable both in the bustle of the city and in nature. They are very calm about busy traffic and noise. Despite its size, the dog will not demolish furniture and objects even in a small apartment. By nature, these giants are endowed with amazing grace.

Be sure to give your pet some personal space. There should be a mattress or mat to rest on. It is good if the couch is in a cover that can be removed and washed. The saliva of divers flows profusely from the mouth, so it will stain everything that the dog’s face touches.

Laziness in this breed can become a dominant character trait. But such a big dog needs to move enough. Walk your four-legged friend twice a day for at least an hour. This should become a habit, even if the dog clearly shows a desire to stay at home.

An ideal place to live in Newfoundland would be a private house with a large area and a pond nearby. But the dog must move freely around the yard. You can’t keep him chained.

How to feed a Newfoundland

Newfoundlands have a good appetite. But, like other representatives of large breeds, they are distinguished by a slow metabolism. This means they need fewer calories and fat in their diet. And proteins, on the contrary, should be more. Such a power system will allow the diver to keep a good shape for a long time.

Dry food for large dogs has a larger kibble size. For a Newfoundland, they should be about one and a half centimeters in diameter. If you choose a smaller food, then it will not be able to provide the jaws with full work. Large granules will be more thoroughly chewed by the dog, and not just swallowed.

Feed Newfoundlands twice a day. Do this after a walk. Otherwise, there will be a high load on the gastrointestinal tract. In large breeds of dogs, gastric volvulus is not ruled out. Yes, and the dog is much more willing to do it when he is hungry. A well-fed diver will prefer a serene sleep to a walk.

About fifteen minutes are allotted for breakfast or dinner. If the dog has not finished eating, then the bowl of food is still removed. If you decide to give your pet dry food, then he must have constant access to clean water.

The daily feed intake should be calculated based not only on the weight of the animal, but also on its mobility. If the dog is constantly training and participating in competitions, then the portion is increased by a third. If the activity of your four-legged friend is reduced, then its standard portion should be cut by fifteen percent.

Newfoundlands of large size, which expend a lot of energy or are in service, need a nutritious, quality and balanced diet. For them, you can choose food marked “active” or “energy”. It is better if they are from the “premium” or “super premium” segment. Not only do they have a sufficient amount of calories and nutrients, but they also contain various vitamins and minerals that are necessary for the health of the animal.

Health and disease

Newfoundlands cannot boast of excellent health. They are prone to various diseases. The most common are:

Divers do not live as long as representatives of smaller dog breeds. Their life expectancy averages nine to ten years.

Newfoundlands love to swim. But this craving must be controlled and the dog should not be allowed to climb into the water under adverse climatic conditions. This is dangerous to health and can result in cystitis, hypothermia and other inflammations.

On a hot summer day, you need to make sure that the diver does not overheat in the sun and does not get heat stroke due to the abundant woolen cover.

History reference

The birthplace of the breed is the island of the same name, which is in the possession of Canada. There are several theories about the origin of the Newfoundlands. Some believe that their ancestors are Berenbeitsers, who were common in Europe in the Middle Ages and became the progenitors of mastiffs.

The famous Swiss cynologist Albert Heim claims that the Newfoundlands are descended from the Molossians, who came to the island with the British. It is assumed that the blood of black shepherds and former Pyrenean mountain dogs flows in the veins of divers. Allegedly, it was from them that the black and white color of the Newfoundlands originated. It is believed that aboriginal representatives of dogs, which the Eskimos used to ride, took part in the formation of the breed. From them, divers could inherit their friendliness and desire to help a person.

The first descriptions of the breed date back to the eighteenth century. Then it was called “The Big Dog of St. John”. There were excellent abilities of dogs for long swims, as well as their good nature. The British took the dogs from the island and actively began selection. Initially, animals with a black and white color were used for it. But after they began to give preference to black dogs.

At exhibitions in 1860 and 1862 in England, this breed delighted everyone. In 1864, the Newfoundland, whose owner was none other than the Prince of Wales, took first place at the exhibition. A year later, the first breed standard was adopted. Divers began to gain popularity in the cities of Europe, and in 1885 the first club of lovers of this breed appeared in America.

At the beginning of the twentieth century, more and more Newfoundlands began to appear in the homes of the Russian aristocracy. In the fifties of the last century, representatives of this breed from Germany began to be brought to the USSR.

Who is this breed for?

Good-natured and sociable Newfoundland will be an excellent choice for a family with children of any age. He is patient and will be a good babysitter for the little ones. He will not only keep the children company in games, but will also monitor their safety.

Such a giant dog is well suited for those who live in the private sector. But it cannot be used as a full-fledged watchman or bodyguard. Aggression in the nature of this breed is considered a marriage.

Divers are vulnerable and sensitive. You should not get such a dog to a quick-tempered and inconsistent person. The owner of the Newfoundland should be for him a “senior comrade” who is ready to patiently repeat and explain commands.

If you are not ready to remove the hair and drool that the dog will leave everywhere, then choose a different breed. It takes a lot of time to comb the diver.

Newfoundland needs highquality feed, his portions will be considerable. Therefore, you need to be prepared for certain expenses.

Tips for choosing a puppy

It is better to buy Newfoundland puppies in a proven nursery or from experienced breeders with a good reputation. Then you will not have to doubt that the baby will grow up healthy. Acquaintance with the parents of the puppy will allow you to understand what your pet will look like when it grows up.

RCF rules indicate that puppies can be excommunicated from the mother when there is 45 days. But most buyers prefer to do this after three months. At this age, the puppies have all the necessary vaccinations and with them you can walk on the street without fear. If you want to purchase a dog for further breeding, it is better to pick up a puppy after six months. Then any possible deviations in behavior or exterior will be noticeable.

The baby’s baby should be proportionally complicated, show activity and interest in the surrounding world. It should be with good appetite, shiny wool, clean eyes and the right bite.

The most expensive will be shows of show class, which have potential for exhibitions. Dogs that can be used for tribal breeding are also valued.