Interesting Breed information about Breed: Newfoundland
The Newfoundland is a large, usually black, breed of dog originally used as a working dog in Newfoundland. They are known for their sweet dispositions. They are very loyal to their families and possess natural water rescue tendencies.
Appearance
Newfoundlands (Newfies or Newfs) have webbed feet and a water-resistant coat. Males weigh 60–70 kg (130–150 lb), and females 45–55 kg (100–120 lb), placing them in the giant weight range.
Most Newfies are black. AKC standard colors of the Newfoundland are black, brown, and landseer (black head and white and black body). Brown, white and Grey newfoundlands are not recognized as a breed color, and are rare, but do exist. The Landseer is named after the artist Sir Edwin Landseer, who featured them in many of his paintings. Some kennel clubs consider the Landseer to be a separate breed; others consider it simply a Newfoundland color variation.
Temperament
A brown Newfie investigates a Chihuahua-sized mixed-breed dog.
A Landseer painting of a Landseer Newfoundland.The official AKC breed description says Sweetness of temperament is the hallmark of the Newfoundland; this is the most important single characteristic of the breed.. They are nicknamed the Gentle Giant and Nature's babysitter. They are protective of children. The dog Nana in James M. Barrie's Peter Pan was a Newfoundland.
Relative to other breeds, Newfoundland puppies, especially older puppies, tend to be calm. Newfoundlands take up to three years to reach full maturity. They have deep barks, but are not good guard dogs. They have been known to grieve when separated from their families. Their large size makes them difficult to keep in many living situations.
History
Newfoundland Dog StampThe origin of the breed is in Newfoundland on the East coast of Canada. In the early 1880s fishermen from many parts of Europe travelled to the cod banks of Newfoundland where there were two types of working dog: one more heavily built, large with a longish coat, whereas the other was lighter in build, an active, smooth-coated water dog. The heavier one was the Newfoundland and the other was the Labrador Retriever or the St. Johns breed of Newfoundland. The dogs were used in similar ways to pull fishnets and heavy equipment.
Health
There are several health problems associated with Newfoundlands. Newfoundlands are prone to Hip dysplasia (a malformed ball and socket in the hip joint), Elbow dysplasia, sub-aortic stenosis (a heart condition) and cystinuria (a hereditary defect that forms calculi stones in the bladder).
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