Newfoundland puppies

About the Newfoundland

The Newfoundland was developed on the Canadian island the breed is named for, working alongside fishermen to haul lines and nets and to pull carts on land. This is a giant dog of 66 to 71 cm and 45.4 to 68 kg, with a heavy water resistant double coat, webbed feet and a broad head. The temperament is the breed's signature: gentle, slow to take offence, patient with children and other animals, and quiet, with a bark that hardly ever gets used.

Exercise is moderate, at least half an hour a day, and swimming or cart work suits the breed far better than sprinting. Coat care is heavier than the low grooming rating suggests, with a slicker and long toothed comb at least weekly and daily sessions through the moult. Newfoundlands drool, shed and take up a great deal of floor. They rate highly with children, but a dog of this weight still needs supervision around small ones. Watch them closely in warm weather, since that coat is built for cold water.

What to expect at eight weeks

At eight weeks a Newfoundland puppy is sleeping around 18 to 20 hours a day, is not house trained, and cannot hold on for more than an hour or two at a stretch. A giant breed puppy at eight weeks is already heavy and will keep growing for up to two years. Controlled growth matters more here than in any other size class, so a large breed specific puppy food and no overfeeding. Expect moderate energy, in short bursts separated by long naps. Grooming needs are moderate, so build the brushing habit now while the coat is still short and easy. The socialisation window is open and closing: everything they meet calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of their life.

Health worth knowing about

Conditions this breed is reported to be predisposed to. Predisposed does not mean inevitable, it means ask about it.

• Cystinuria, detectable by DNA test and urine testing
• Hip dysplasia, screened under the BVA/KC Hip Dysplasia Scheme
• Elbow dysplasia, screened under the BVA/KC Elbow Dysplasia Scheme
• Hereditary eye disease, screened under the BVA/KC/ISDS Eye Scheme
• Dilated cardiomyopathy, screened by echocardiogram and Holter monitor
• Gastric dilatation volvulus, a surgical emergency, risk rises with a deep chest, gastropexy at the time of neutering reduces the risk

Your Newfoundland puppy's first six months

• Vaccination schedule, dated for your country.
• Worming and parasite schedule.
• Feeding calculator. Set expected adult size to Giant for a Newfoundland.
• Adult size predictor, to check growth against the 45.4 to 68 kg adult range.
• Puppy names and the first week checklist.

Kit sizes: crate 48 inch (48 x 30 x 32 in, 122 x 76 x 81 cm) for an adult of up to 68 kg, the largest size in the chart, which tops out at 49.9 kg, so measure the dog before you buy; chew toys made for large breeds. Worked out the same way as the crate size calculator. PetMD bases a crate on the dog's own measurements, not weight or breed alone, so measure once the puppy is home.

Buying guides for this

• Do slow feeder bowls work? Choosing one for a puppy that gulps
• Best crate for a puppy: wire, plastic or soft, and how to size one with a divider

Other giant breeds

More on the Newfoundland

Previous: New Zealand Huntaway · Next: Norfolk Terrier

Sources

• akc.org for adult weight and height, life expectancy, energy, grooming, shedding and the temperament ratings, coat type and health notes
• fci.be for country of origin
• Health notes from Newfoundland breed information at https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/newfoundland/. Discuss any of these with your own vet.

Photo: Peter Ludes, 66507 Reifenberg, Germany, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped. All photographers are listed on the photo credits page.