| Some say the Newfoundland breed is said to be | | | | after the famous painter Sir Edwin Landseer, who |
| descended from a mix of the native Indian dogs | | | | often painted the black and white Newfoundlands,) |
| of the Beothuk tribe living in Newfoundland many | | | | and brown, brown and white, gray and very |
| centuries ago, others say that the Newfoundland | | | | rarely black and tan or cream. The coat requires |
| Dog is descended from the Pyrenean Mastiff and | | | | regular brushing. The coat is weather resistant and |
| the Mastiff type dogs brought by the Vikings, | | | | should not be shaved as it provides insulation in |
| who were believed to have been the earliest | | | | both the summer and the winter. |
| European visitors to the Eastern coast of the | | | | The Newfoundland's body should be heavy boned |
| North American continent. | | | | and massive and appear nearly square, being as |
| However the Newfoundland came to be, he is | | | | long as he is tall. The ears are lop and , like the |
| well known historically as a working dog of the | | | | face, are covered with short hair, elsewhere all |
| country of Newfoundland, having been used for | | | | the fur is two inches or more in length. The feet |
| centuries as a fisherman's helper, bringing in the | | | | are webbed between the toes. The dog should |
| nets full of fish from the sea and pulling the carts | | | | have great strength for pulling carts and power |
| full of fish to the local villages. | | | | for swimming. |
| The Newfoundland is considered to be one of the | | | | As a general rule Newfs are a messy dog, some |
| most highly instinctive life-saving breeds and | | | | drool and most puppies like to dig water out of |
| water rescue breeds of all the dogs. The | | | | the water bucket. Being large as puppies, they |
| Newfoundland's strong instinctive desire to swim | | | | can be very destructive. Newfs are noted for |
| into the water, coupled with his desire to keep | | | | their sweet disposition and gentleness towards |
| humans from harm, have led to numerous | | | | humans and even towards other creatures. Most |
| accounts of the dog's life saving abilities from | | | | Newfoundlands do not exhibit aggression in any |
| bringing in floundering boats to carrying ropes out | | | | manner. The standard of the Newfoundland Club |
| to floundering swimmers. | | | | remarks: "sweetness of temperament is the |
| The Newfoundland is among the Giant breeds. He | | | | hallmark of the breed". The Newfoundland does |
| should stand 26-29 inches at the shoulder and | | | | not make a good kennel dog. Without human |
| weigh from 140 to 150 pounds, with females | | | | companionship they can become quite unruly and |
| being of smaller stature for the most part. The | | | | they are a big enough dog to do a good deal of |
| coat is exceedingly thick and double and can be | | | | damage when they jump up enthusiastically on an |
| black, black and white (also termed Landseer, | | | | unsuspecting visitor. |