Newfoundland

The Newfoundland is a giant water-rescue dog with webbed feet and an oily coat, bred by Canadian fishermen to work off boats in the North Atlantic.

History

It developed on the island it is named for, hauling nets, carrying lines between vessels and pulling drowning men from the water — work it did well enough that lifesaving remains a recognised discipline for the breed today. Byron's dog Boatswain was a Newfoundland, and the poem on his tomb is one of the better-known things ever written about a dog.

Temperament

The breed is known for being gentle, patient and famously good with children, calm indoors and utterly unbothered by noise or fuss. Aggression is considered a serious fault in the standard.

Care and training

It needs moderate exercise, swimming where possible, and cool conditions — it overheats easily. The heavy double coat sheds enormously and needs regular work. It drools, considerably, and the size makes early training essential.

Health

Known tendencies include hip and elbow dysplasia, subvalvular aortic stenosis, bloat and cystinuria. These are known patterns for the breed and a matter for a breeder and a vet; the measured facts are in the panel.