Updated October 14, 2024
Updated October 14, 2024
Newfoundlands, known for their gentle giant demeanor, need regular exercise and grooming. They thrive in families with space and love water activities.
Sweetheart, Patient, Devoted Companion
Male: 130-150 pounds
Female: 100-120 pounds
Male: 28 inches
Female: 26 inches
9 to 10 years
Black, White and Black, Brown, Gray
Newfoundlands, aka Newfies, are friendly charmers who don’t know their own size. Want to meet your neighbors? Just take this dog with you on a walk—they’ll be happy to make introductions with all the strangers you pass. (You may want to keep a hanky or two on hand to wipe the drool off your pup’s face so your new friends don’t end up with an unwanted bath.) These dogs love the outdoors and enjoy long hikes in the woods or a day on the lake with family and friends. Just try and keep them out of the water—we double dog dare you! Loving, sweet and just happy to be with you, these gentle giants are guaranteed to take up a lot of space, both in your home and in your heart.
The Newfoundland breed is huge: These dogs typically weigh at least 100 pounds. With a dense, heavy coat, the Newfie carries their head proudly and their tail hangs straight when they’re relaxed. Most of the time, you’ll see a Newfoundland dog who is solid black or black and white, but their coats also come in brown and gray.
Their ears are relatively small and triangle-shaped with rounded tips.
Newfie eyes are dark brown and relatively small, deep-set and spaced widely apart.
Their noses can be black or brown.
A Newfoundland has a flat, water-resistant double coat, with a soft undercoat and coarse outercoat.
Their coats can be black, brown, gray, or white and black.
Newfie tails are broad at the base and hang straight or with a slight curve at the end and are covered with long, dense hair.
Newfoundlands are known for having a patient and gentle personality. They love being around their people and are naturally friendly with strangers. Just like any other breed, they need early socialization (aka exposure to new people, places and things) to understand how to play appropriately with other dogs; sometimes the goofy Newfie doesn’t realize how big they are! But consistent training will help your Newfoundland puppy grow up to be a confident, well-mannered dog.
The sweet-tempered Newfoundland makes a great family dog, as they typically get along well with kids of all ages, including babies and toddlers. While it may be cute, make sure your child doesn’t sit or ride on your Newfie. The dog may tolerate it, but as they get older, health problems like hip dysplasia can make them uncomfortable. This breed isn’t known for having aggressive tendencies, so pain is about the only reason a Newfoundland would growl or bite (outside of typical puppy behavior).
While the Newfoundland breed is often treated as family (especially in the United States), they are still used as working dogs in their home provinces of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Originally bred for their skill at water rescues and to haul in fishing nets, today, the dogs are used for pulling carts or as pack horses. (And you may find they enjoy participating in “working” dog sports like carting and drafting competitions.)
These large pups need a large amount of care. (What else would you expect from a dog the size of a teenage boy?) The Newfoundland dog sheds. A lot. And they drool. A lot. Besides that, they are an outgoing and intelligent breed who enjoys learning. Newfies don’t need a ton of exercise, but they do enjoy being outside with their people. Their biggest requirement? Physical space—a lot of it. Similar to other large breeds, their ideal environment is a larger home with a roomy backyard.
Newfoundland dogs have a lifespan of 9 to 10 years and, unfortunately, are at risk for several health issues. But that shouldn’t stop you from bringing this gentle giant into your family. Armed with knowledge, you can help your pup live the happiest life possible.
The Newfoundland breed originated in the Canadian province of the same name in the 18th century. Fishermen relied on the dogs with their partially webbed feet and natural-born swimming abilities in water rescues and to haul fishing nets ashore. Their immense lung capacity enables them to swim long distances. While Newfies are known as water dogs, they are still used in the provinces of Newfoundland and Labrador as working dogs (dogs bred to perform a job) for pulling carts or as a pack horse. They were eventually exported to England; today, most purebred Newfies are descendants of the British Newfies (even the ones living in Newfoundland!).
The breed can be found throughout history books. In 1802, Lewis and Clark had a Newfoundland named Seaman as part of the expedition. (The dog appears on 10 different monuments across the country.) Multiple US presidents had Newfies, including James Buchanan, Ulysses S. Grant and Lyndon B. Johnson. The breed earned its reputation as a “nanny dog” for watching after Senator and Mrs. Robert F. Kennedy’s 11 children. The Newfoundland dog was recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1886, becoming the AKC’s 32nd breed.
Looking to buy a Newfie puppy? You can find a list of reputable breeders on the AKC’s website. Working with a reputable breeder usually means you’re getting a puppy who’s been screened for health issues and temperament. Depending on the breeder, the average price for a Newfoundland puppy is between $1,200 and $3,000. Pet parents can also adopt from Newfoundland rescue groups around the country or keep an eye out for the breed at their local animal shelter. Search Chewy’s database of adoptable dogs for Newfies in your area.
Expert input provided by Dr. Mandy Boos, a veterinarian at Laurel Veterinary Clinic in Broomfield, Colo., and Russell Hartstein, CDBC, CPDT-KA, and founder of the LA-based Fun Paw Care.
Breed characteristic ratings provided by veterinarian Dr. Sarah J. Wooten, DVM, CVJ, a veterinarian at Sheep Draw Veterinary Hospital in Greeley, Colorado; dog trainer and behavior consultant Irith Bloom, CPDT-KSA, CBCC-KA, CDBC, owner of The Sophisticated Dog, LLC, in Los Angeles; and certified animal behavior consultant Amy Shojai, CABC, in Sherman, Texas.
The health content was medically reviewed by Chewy vets.