Newfoundland Dogs: Gentle Giants of the Dog World Are Sweet Lovers and Giant Nuisances

I have the great good luck to live with two AKC registered Newfoundland dogs. Artie is 10 years old, a neutered male. He weighs 130 lbs. Rosie is a 9-year old, spayed female who weighs about 135 lbs. When these dogs greet you at the door, you better be holding on! They are both pure black. AKC recognized colors are black, brown, white with black, and gray.

The AKC Newfoundland breed standard gives 130 to 150 pounds average weight for a male. Females are generally slightly smaller. Larger is better, but never at the expense of form, movement or health. Rosie's sire weighed 200 pounds and was a beautiful example of the breed. The breed standard states that the Newfoundland "is a dog of considerable substance which is determined by spring of rib, strong muscle, and heavy bone."

Strength and size must be considered before bringing a Newfie into your life. A pair of Newfs in the backseat of a Chevy Cavalier is quite a sight. They cannot be left tied out. Newfoundlands are strong enough to break their own necks against a cable, if they do not pull the post or tree out of the ground first. They can, and will, move furniture if they take a fancy to doing that. I don't mean a dining room chair, I'm talking about a 7-foot long sofa-sleeper, a kitchen range or refrigerator. A Newf's tail is a powerful rudder when swimming and amazingly capable at wiping the coffee table free of coffee cups, books and anything else. The tail is also adept at keeping the bottom three feet of a Christmas tree free of ornaments.

It is imperative that a Newfoundland puppy is leash trained early and thoroughly for her safety and yours. Never put the loop of a leash over your wrist. If the dog panics or just can't behave herself, she is strong enough to drag an adult human across any terrain. This could result in the asphalt burns or cactus spines in your face.

The Newfoundland breed's strength and size define their heritage as working dogs. They pull carts and help draw in the nets on fishing boats. An old photo from The Yukon in "The Newfoundland" by Emmy Brunno shows a team of seven Newfies hooked to a sled heavily loaded with timber. Their strength and cold tolerance allowed them to rescue fishermen and others who would have drowned in the icy waters of the North.

Today, Newfs compete in weight pulling competitions, enter AKC tests in water rescue, tracking, carting and obedience. Newfoundlands serve as service dogs for the disabled and lifeguards on beaches. They pull kids' wagons tied to their collar, despite admonishments to the children, and much to the delight of dog and children. And when they aren't doing more strenuous work, Newfoundlands are excellent at holding down the floor, while snoring.

Newfies are extremely affectionate. Greeting me in the morning and kissing me "goodnight" is important to both Artie and Rosie. I'm never alone in a room, one or both are always near me. Often snoring. They are gentle with children and persistently patient. Nana, the nursemaid dog, in Peter Pan was a Newfoundland, converted to a St. Bernard by Disney. Artie and Rosie "baby sit" my grandson, never allowing him to go in the backyard unwatched. Most live peacefully with other pets like rabbits, cats, birds.

Newfoundlands are gorgeous when they're all groomed up. They have a long, smooth overcoat and a wooly, oily undercoat. Their coats allow them to stand very cold temperatures. Alaska is a tad warm for them. They love snow and water and mud.

They require regular brushing, several hours a week to look nice. You can spend less time on grooming but your carpets will be covered with hair. Newf hair kills vacuum cleaners. Newfoundland nails are very strong and thick and can scratch wood floors if not trimmed. Just pray they do not step on your foot with untrimmed nails. Their hairy feet, if untrimmed, will slip on linoleum and other smooth surfaces, possibly causing bone or joint issues.

Like many other working breeds, Newfoundlands think for themselves. A dog can't wait around for a command when lives may depend on his swift action. A Newf was the only "person" on board who noticed that Napoleon Bonaparte fell off a ship. The dog took it upon himself to save Napoleon and changed the course of history. Hundreds of lives have been saved by Newfies. This self-reliance has made for interesting times in the 23 years I've lived with Newfoundlands.

Have you ever seen a 165 lb dog squeeze through a 6 inch gap in a car window? I haven't either but Oso did and came to find me. Artie and Rosie figured out how to get goodies placed out of their reach on top of the refrigerator. I still don't know how they do it but they do. When Rosie decides to get into the garbage, she picks up the whole garbage can and takes it to one of her favorite places to open it like a Christmas stocking. Opening doorknobs and refrigerators, taking down fences, unscrewing a jar lid go paw in hand with being wise enough to wake us when there's a fire in the house or a gas leak.

If you think you want a Newfie ask yourself a few questions. Can you live with drool? Hooch from "Turner and Hooch" was a novice compared to some Newfs. A house with a Newfie has slobber spots on the walls, the floor, the ceiling. Can you live with hair? Your clothes will be hairy and have drool spots. Your food may be hairy. Will you devote the time and effort on necessary training to insure that your dog will be a safe family member and a good neighbor? Can you live with a dog who makes decisions on his own? Who will never be owned but will always be your companion? Will the people you live with accept these conditions? Will you be sure to find a Newfoundland breeder who does their best to deliver and guarantee a healthy pet? Can you accept a dog with an average life expectancy of ten years? Will you love your dog, hug him, play with him, give him the best home you can?

The poet, Lord Byron built a monument to his beloved Newfoundland, Boatswain, at Newstead Abbey in the UK. Byron's "Epitaph to a dog" begins:

"Near this Spot

are deposited the Remains of one

who possessed Beauty without Vanity,

Strength without Insolence,

Courage without Ferosity,

and all the Virtues of Man without his Vices..."

Sources and more information

AKC Newfoundland dog informationhttp://www.akc.org/breeds/newfoundland/

Newfoundland Club of Americahttp://www.ncanewfs.org/newfs.shtml

"The Newfoundland" by Emmy Bruno, translated by Louis Palmisero, MD. .Doral Publishing, Wilson, Oregon. 1997. ISBN 0944875-47-5

Lord Byron's epitaph to Boatswainhttp://www.ncanewfs.org/history/pages/byron.html

Lord Byron's "Inscription on the Monument of a Newfoundland Dog," 1808 http://englishhistory.net/byron/poems/dog.html