Landseer Dog Breed

- Other names:
- Landseer Newfoundland
Pronunciation: [ Lan•sear ]
Understanding the Landseer, a Mastiff from Germany and Switzerland, is not difficult. Understanding the breed name and how it is accepted — or not — in the Western world can be a little confusing. There is the Landseer ECT (European Continental Type) and then there is the Landseer Newfoundland (aka "Newfy"). The U.S., UK and Canada and the kennel clubs in these countries identify the Landseer ECT as only a variety of the overall Newfy breed. As the name suggests, however, the ECT "variety" is considered a separate breed in Europe.
Ironically, the Landseer was established as a breed in 1838 by Sir Edwin Henry Landseer, a British painter when he produced "A Distinguished Member of the Humane Society." This helped to popularize the dogs, and by 1960, the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) had recognized the breed.