General Appearance
The Newfoundland is a sweet-dispositioned dog that acts neither dull nor ill-tempered. He is a devoted companion. A multipurpose dog, at home on land and in water, the Newfoundland is capable of draft work and possesses natural lifesaving abilities.
The Newfoundland is a large, heavily coated, well balanced dog that is deep-bodied, heavily boned, muscular, and strong. A good specimen of the breed has dignity and proud head carriage.
The following description is that of the ideal Newfoundland. Any deviation from this ideal is to be penalized to the extent of the deviation. Structural and movement faults common to all working dogs are as undesirable in the Newfoundland as in any other breed, even though they are not specifically mentioned herein.
Size, Proportion, Substance
Average height for adult dogs is 28 inches, for adult bitches, 26 inches. Approximate weight of adult dogs ranges from 130 to 150 pounds, adult bitches from 100 to 120 pounds. The dog's appearance is more massive throughout than the bitch's. Large size is desirable, but never at the expense of balance, structure, and correct gait. The Newfoundland is slightly longer than tall when measured from the point of shoulder to point of buttocks and from withers to ground. He is a dog of considerable substance which is determined by spring of rib, strong muscle, and heavy bone.
finding out if the Newfoundland is the right dog for you...
The Newfoundland Club of America and most of the regional clubs provide referral to Newfoundland breeders. Selecting the right breeder can be the most important step you will take. While we cannot select one specific breeder for you, NCA can provide some suggestions to help you.
An excellent way to begin is to go to a dog show. To find out when and where a show will be held in your area, try the following sources: your regional Newfoundland club; ask a local veterinarian if he has clients whom show dogs that you may contact; or contact the American Kennel Club for the name and phone number of a dog show superintendent. About a week before the show, call the superintendent and ask if, when and how many Newfs will be shown.
