Newfoundland

Guides for your Newfoundland

The story behind the Newfoundland

The Newfoundland developed on the island of Newfoundland off eastern Canada, where large working dogs helped fishermen by hauling nets and lines, retrieving objects from the water, and pulling carts and loads on land. Ancestry is debated, with European dogs brought by fishermen and settlers, and possibly earlier dogs in the region, contributing to a heavy, water-adapted type. British visitors imported the dogs from the eighteenth century onward and developed them further, and the breed became fashionable in Victorian Britain, appearing widely in art and literature. Restrictions on dog keeping in Newfoundland reduced the island population. The major registries recognised it in due course, and today the breed is kept internationally as a companion, draught dog and water rescue dog, with the black coat most common alongside brown and the white-and-black Landseer pattern.

Originally bred for: Water rescue, Fisherman's working dog, Draught and cart work. You can trace how working roles shaped today’s breeds across our dog guides.

Feeding a Newfoundland

Slow, steady growth is critical in this giant breed, so puppies need large-breed appropriate food and controlled portions. Adults suit two moderate meals with rest around feeding, kept lean beneath a heavy coat since surplus weight strains joints and reduces heat tolerance further.

Watch for: No particular ingredient has been tied to Newfoundlands. Deep-chested giants carry an elevated bloat risk, making feeding routine, meal size and calm around meals the more important considerations. Growth diets and any significant change should be planned with veterinary input.

Not sure what to put in the bowl? See our picks for the best dog food for large breeds.

Mealtime extras: training treats worth keeping in your pocket, and a slow feeder bowl if your dog inhales dinner. Everything else lives in our dog nutrition and feeding hub.

Living with a Newfoundland

Day to day, the basics matter most: how much exercise your dog needs, how often to get out for a walk, and how much sleep is normal.

For play and enrichment, browse chew toys built for strong jaws and interactive toys for rainy days.

Gear that fits the breed makes life easier: a well-sized dog bed, a properly sized crate.

Raising a puppy? Work through crate training and the teething timeline — or see how old your dog is in human years with our dog age calculator.