The Newfoundland is an intelligent, hardworking dog. A “workhorse” they readily call them, the dog is incredibly strong, and possesses a fur made for icy waters. Looking into the dog’s origins, they use to help fishermen pull in nets during fishing periods and even helped power the blacksmith’s bellow. If you look closely enough, and inspect the huge paws of this massive beast of a dog, you will actually see something that will surprise you.
At the seams of the toes of the dog, there is a webbing. Like a duck or a goose might have, in between the toes. The Newfoundland is known for it’s webbed feet, perfect for swimming especially when they were diving and fishing with their fishermen masters. The origins of the dog comes with it’s appearance, and the obedience it has is something worth the work. You are now wondering, is this dog good for a family?
Of course their size is something to worry about when thinking about a family dog. The puppies grow large and quickly, some at 6 weeks being as big as a 8 or 9 week old golden retriever or lab. But what makes this breed so family oriented is its sweet temperament and attitude towards everything. They are powerful dogs, but their feelings are just as strong and they take children closely to them. The Newfoundland is more like a big sweetheart; a dog that might look big, mean and power hungry, but just your average gentle giant. If you like big dog breeds, definitely look into this breed if you are interested.
The picture at the top is of a couple of Newfoundland puppies that I took care of and the picture in the center is of Waldo, another Newfoundland that resides at the kennel. Below I’ve added a video of Animal Planet’s TV show “Dogs 101”, which is a clip of the Newfoundland segment for more information. Enjoy.
