all about Newfs

There are a few factors to consider when deciding to share your life with a Newfoundland. Things such as your lifestyle, are you a hiking family or happier around the house? Do you want a dog that will be happy at home for 8 hours a day? and how house-proud you are, they can and will attract mud and can bring home half a beach worth of sand in one trip.

Newfoundlands are famously known for their large size, gentle, patient, and loyal nature with their calm demeanour  often has them described as "gentle giants". They are big dogs, typically weighing between 45 and 70 kg fully grown with most of this growth happening in the first 2 years. Extra care needs to be taken with their joints, especially during their growth years. If you live in a high-rise apartment complete, have a lot of stairs, or want a dog you can run marathons with, a Newfoundland may not be the best fit for you.

Newfoundlands are an exceptionally loyal breed and often form strong bonds with their “pack” which can include your family and any other inhabitants of your household, which makes them a great choice for families.  A well-bred, well-trained Newfoundlands as a rule are affectionate, loyal, and patient dogs. They are good with children and other pets and are often described as "gentle giants." However, like any breed, they can have individual personalities and they are not just born this way, they need to be trained and raised correctly to bring out their sweet temperaments.

Newfoundlands are not typically a high-energy breed, they enjoy moderate exercise but are also content to relax and be with their family. They are versatile dogs that can excel in a variety of activities such as obedience training, therapy work, and search and rescue.

Newfoundlands have a naturally protective nature and can be an effective passive deterrent against intruders. A well bred Newfoundland is not aggressive, but their size and deep bark are usually enough to scare away unwanted visitors.

Newfoundlands are a generally healthy breed, but they can be prone to certain health conditions such as hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, heart disease and bloat. It's important to work with a reputable breeder who conducts health screenings on their breeding dogs to minimize the risk of these issues. 

Newfoundlands have thick, heavy double coats that require very regular grooming to prevent matting and to keep their fur clean and healthy. This means that owning a Newfie requires a high level of commitment to regular grooming or the commitment to making very good friends with your groomer with at least monthly appointments.

Things to consider when owning a giant breed: Even everyday routine things such as feeding, flea and worming medications, general vet health check-ups and pet accessories are more expensive when you factor for a giant breed and should be considered when you are deciding if the breed is right for you.

However, all that said, if you are looking for a loyal and gentle companion who is great with children and enjoys moderate exercise, then the Newfoundland may be the perfect breed for you.