Do Newfoundland dogs make good family pets?

Deciding which breed of dog would be best to join your family can be tricky. There are so many to choose from, all with their own good (and not so good) points. Generally owners-to-be will have an idea whether they would be looking for a small, medium or large breed dog but a small number will be after a giant breed. One giant breed option which would appeal to fans of Peter Pan could be the Newfoundland, the breed of the beloved Nana, the canine nanny who cares for the children in the story, Wendy, John and Michael. But do Newfoundland dogs really make good family pets and what are the potential pitfalls of owning one?

The history of the Newfoundland breed

Although named after the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador, it is thought that the Newfoundland dog was actually brought over from Europe by fishermen and then developed to suit the needs of the settlers and people living in the far North. The native lifestyle very much revolved around the forests and the waterways and this is where the Newfoundland’s thick waterproof coat and webbed feet made them the perfect working companion.

Physical characteristics of a Newfoundland dog

Newfoundland dogs are classed as a giant breed – they can get up to 80kg in weight and stand over 70cm tall at the shoulder. They have a broad, strong head, wide body and long hairy tail. As mentioned above, they carry a thick, double-layered waterproof coat, which is always black, brown or a mixture of white and black. They are a very powerful and muscular breed but not always the best choice for the house-proud owner, as they are known to be heavy shedders and have a tendency to drool. Sadly, like many giant breeds, they have a relatively short lifespan of around 8-10 years.

Personality and temperament of a Newfoundland dog

Newfoundlands are well known for their gentle, docile and friendly demeanour and just like Nana in Peter Pan, are often thought of as ‘nurse’ dogs, especially as they are famously good with children. They tend to be very protective and this, alongside their intelligence and physical characteristics, means they can excel as rescue dogs. They are quiet too and rarely bark.

Requirements of a Newfoundland dog

Although Newfoundlands don’t need a huge amount of exercise, they still need to be exercised twice a day and allowed access to a large garden and living space. Their laid-back nature means they could be at risk of becoming lazy. As well as regular walking, Newfoundlands love to swim where possible. This is great exercise and will help to keep them in shape. Large dogs require large amounts of food, but ensuring they don’t become overweight is paramount. In their first year of life, a Newfoundland puppy can gain 45kg, but thankfully, their growth does not continue at this rate for long. It goes without saying that because of their size, their home and the owner’s mode of transport ought to be suitable for a dog that can reach such a weight. Consideration ought to be given to how emergency veterinary care would be sought and how the dog would be transported if necessary – something no-one likes to think about but can be a real problem if the situation arises.

Training a Newfoundland dog

Because of their intelligence, Newfoundlands are pretty quick learners which makes them generally easy to train. This is most definitely a good thing as an untrained fully grown adult Newfoundland could be a bit of a handful. Even the gentlest of dogs could be dangerous to children if they get a bit boisterous so it’s worth getting the ground work in early and being able to control any potential situation.

Health concerns with Newfoundland dogs

Sadly, no dog breed escapes the shadow of being predisposed to certain diseases and conditions, and Newfoundlands do come with their fair share.

Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM)

This is a condition of the heart whereby the muscular wall becomes thin and weak, meaning the heart is unable to beat efficiently. It can cause congestive heart failure, arrhythmias or even sudden death.

Hip dysplasia

Also seen commonly in other large breed dogs such as Labrador Retrievers, hip dysplasia describes a genetic condition which results in a malformation of the bone and a laxity of the joint. Over time this will lead to osteoarthritis and pain. Symptoms can be worse in dogs that are overweight so it is imperative that Newfoundlands are kept within a good body condition score.

Elbow dysplasia

Similar to hip dysplasia but for the elbow joints.

Gastric dilation-volvulus (GDV)/bloat

This condition is most commonly seen in larger, deep chested breeds where a combination of food, water and air cause the stomach to inflate or bloat, but then twist upon itself, leading to a GDV. This is an immediate life-threatening emergency and without prompt veterinary intervention and usually major surgery, the dog will almost certainly die. Symptoms to look for include non-productive retching, drooling, being very unsettled and uncomfortable, swelling of the abdomen and collapse. GDV can sometimes be prevented by “pexying” – suturing the stomach to the abdominal wall earlier in life, for example, during a routine surgery such as neutering.

Cranial cruciate ligament disease

Again, the fact that Newfoundlands are a large, heavy breed means they are more prone to suffering damage to their cranial cruciate ligaments in their stifles (knees). These ligaments stabilise the joint and if ruptured, can cause a large amount of pain and lameness. Orthopaedic surgery tends to be required and the recovery can be slow and difficult.

Cystinuria and urolithiasis

Cystinuria is a genetic condition that Newfoundlands are predisposed to, whereby excessive amounts of the amino acid cystine are deposited in the urine due to a fault in the reabsorption mechanism within the kidneys. These cystine molecules can accumulate to form stones (urolithiasis) which may go on to block the passage of urine from the body. Cystinurina and urolithiasis is seen in other breeds but again, Newfoundlands are over-represented. The condition can also occur at a much younger age in this breed – as young as 5 months old, rather than an average of 5 years old in other breeds.

Cancer

Although there is no breed of dog that is immune from cancer, unfortunately, the larger and giant breeds tend to be over-represented. In a double blow, Newfoundlands also tend to more commonly develop a particularly aggressive type of cancer called osteosarcoma – bone cancer. This is a notoriously painful condition which usually affects the leg bones and the only real treatment option is by amputation of the affected limb and follow up dog-specific chemotherapy.

Costs of owning a Newfoundland dog

Over the past few years, the cost of buying a puppy has soared, and Newfoundlands are no exception. Currently, Kennel Club registered puppies are being sold for around £2500 each. All puppies require veterinary checks, vaccinations, worming and flea treatment and usually neutering as they get older. On top of that, you have to satisfy the appetite of a rapidly growing machine, provide it with plenty of indestructible toys, ensure regular grooming sessions either at home or a grooming parlour and strongly consider taking out pet insurance. This is all before any unexpected veterinary bills and the larger the dog, typically the larger the vet bill – both drug costs and surgery costs will be higher with a heavier dog.

Famous Newfoundland dogs

As well as JM Barrie’s character Nana, there have been a few other notable famous Newfoundlands throughout history.

It was said to be a Newfoundland who rescued Napoleon Bonaparte after he fell overboard in 1815 after escaping from his island of exile.
Napoleon The Wonder Dog – potentially named after the dog above, Napoleon the Wonder Dog was a famous circus act of the 1860s, so well loved in fact, that his death was reported in the press.
Neptune – travelled with Sir John Franklin on his Arctic expedition. Even though the expedition failed and Franklin died along with many of his crew, Neptune was reportedly still living and helping the surviving crew to hunt caribou many years after the expedition’s end.
Rigel – the heart-warming story of Rigel is sadly now thought of as being a hoax, but the heroic tale of a dog on board the Titanic, surviving the sinking, being taken on board the Carpathia and helping to guide the ship to survivors in the sea certainly fits the profile of a Newfoundland.

Owning a dog of any breed should not be thought of as a small undertaking and owning a giant breed like a Newfoundland comes with its own extra challenges. They are big, they are hairy and they can potentially be pretty expensive to look after. But in return, they are loyal, lovable and give great cuddles. If you can cope with the size, the hair and the drool, Newfoundlands can make excellent family pets.