Newfoundland (dog)

"The Newfoundland descends from native dogs of the island of Newfoundland and large bear-hunting dogs introduced by the Vikings around the year 1000. With the arrival of European fishermen, the breed was improved through crosses with other breeds, but it retained, it seems, its original characteristics. At the beginning of colonization in 1610, the behavioral attitudes as well as the main physical traits of the Newfoundland were already firmly established." At the end of the 18th century, the Newfoundland was used to haul felled tree trunks. The Newfoundland was counted with the crew of Newfoundland fishing boats. They used the dog to haul fishing nets on board, to retrieve objects, and furthermore to rescue those who had fallen into the sea. But for sea rescue, several conditions are required. The dog must be strong enough to bring a human being back. Furthermore, the dog must like water, or at least be able to plunge into the water without fear and must swim willingly. Its coat is double: the insulating underlayer allows it to fight against cooling in icy water and the surface coat resists water. The Newfoundland can thus swim for hours (it is able to economize energy to do so) while remaining dry and warm. With its webbed paws, it gains support in the water and advances more easily (its musculature must be sufficiently developed to provide impetus and power to movement in the water). Finally, the Newfoundland must be very resistant to muscle fatigue.

The Newfoundland has the particularity of having webbed paws (the interdigital membrane is rarely seen on its paws, but it is still well developed), a thick oily coat, and a dense undercoat helping it resist the cold and facilitating flotation. It is a dog of great loyalty and exceptional character. Gentle, generous, intelligent, patient, it is a good companion for children. Its impressive strength and vitality make it an excellent guardian (more by its impressive morphology than by its character never dangerous). It is a versatile dog that has natural dispositions for rescue. It is endowed with a powerful, muscular and harmonious body, its bone structure is strong but without excessive heaviness. It measures approximately 71 cm for more than 65 kg; the female, 66 cm for approximately 55 kg. Its coat with long and flat hair, impermeable to water, dense and lustrous, is generally black, bronze, or black and white in colour. Gray or brown and white colours that may occasionally be crossed are not recognized by the FCI so not accepted at confirmation. Its head is massive with a broad skull, its forehead and face can be more or less smooth or wrinkled. Its muzzle is short or long, its eyes are good brown but can be hazel in the bronze Newfoundland. The Newfoundland is calm and obedient, but its education requires its master to be firm and patient because it is a dog reputed stubborn, and by its morphology, it must not become unruly! The Newfoundland is morphologically adult mentally and physically around the age of 4 years. A two-year-old Newfoundland is still a big puppy, clumsy, who does not know its body well and is not always master of its movements. It must be known that the most difficult age of a Newfoundland is 2 to 6 months, an age when it tests its new home. But it is not a destructive puppy, it tests more by acting as if it does not hear or by refusing to obey an order. From six months to twenty-four months, it is very well-behaved in a body of a large one who does not stop growing, and whose reference points are constantly changing. It is a stubborn dog but very cuddly. Its life expectancy is 10-12 years.