Newfoundland Care

The Newfoundland is a huge dog with any equally big heart. Dogs of this breed are devoted, affectionate, easygoing, and protective. Overall Newfoundland dog care will take a moderate amount of work, and will need to include some grooming, exercise, and plenty of TLC.

Below you'll find plenty of details on raising a Newfoundland: puppy care and development, exercise needs, diet and nutrition, and more are covered here. For answers to your questions about caring for a Newfoundland dog, keep reading!

While hard-working, these dogs are not super-energetic, so Newfoundland exercise requirements are only moderate overall. These are intelligent, task-oriented animals, so they'll need activities that both condition them physically (walking, jogging, fetch) and stimulate them mentally (games, canine sports). They're fantastic swimmers as well.

Specifically how much exercise does a Newfoundland need? Adults will do best with at least an hour of proper exercise each day. You can start exercising your Newfie puppy when it's 3-3½ months old by taking it on short walks, then making the walks longer as the puppy grows.

Precautions with Newfoundland exercise:

• Don't exercise puppies too hard before they're a year old
• Leash is recommended
• Yards should be securely fenced
• Newfies can overheat easily; avoid sweltering temps
• Should exercise together with people to avoid possible separation anxiety
• Prone to gastric torsion (bloat); no exercising for an hour before or after eating

It's important to exercise your Newfie every single day. Though they're normally well-mannered and friendly, without consistent activity these dogs may turn disobedient and destructive--and since they're prone to obesity, they'll likely become overweight too. A few exercise ideas:

• Walking/Jogging: Two 20-minute walks (or 15-minute jogs) per day is a good target
• Fetch/Frisbee: Newfies love chasing a ball, stick, or Frisbee
• Tug-of-War: Good indoor activity; use a rope or old towel
• Swimming: These dogs love the water; start swimming with your Newfie during puppyhood
• Canine Sports: Newfies can excel at obedience or agility trials, flyball, and other events
• Hiking: Excellent bonding activity; the dog can even carry the backpack

When indoors, give your Newfie access to balls or toys that will allow the dog to burn excess energy. It's also good to have a regular exercise schedule for the dog, such as walks in the morning and evening and playtime in the afternoon.

In terms of shedding and drooling, these dogs need a good bit of care. Newfoundland shedding is seasonal--moderate for most of the year, and heavy during the twice-yearly shedding seasons. Newfoundland drool is a regular issue as well.

These dogs have thick, water-resistant, double-layered coats. For the Newfoundland dog, shedding is a regular thing most of the time--but when they blow their undercoats in the spring and fall, the Newfoundland shed is quite profuse. Owners can brush their Newfies 2-3 times per week with a slicker brush to remove dead hair and keep the coats from tangling. Hair cleanup--vacuuming the floors and lint rollers on clothes and furniture--will be needed from time to time. (Brushing and cleanup will obviously be necessary more often during shedding season.) Also note that spayed or neutered Newfies will generally shed more heavily year-round.

For the Newfoundland dog, drool is a pretty common thing. Because of their size and their hanging lips, these dogs will drool in anticipation of food, after drinking water, or when especially excited and nervous. Owners can keep spare rags or towels in rooms where the dog spends its time (particularly near its food/water bowls) to use to clean up excess Newfoundland dog slobber--and if a Newfie drools excessively, tie a bandanna or towel around its neck to keep the chest and neck from getting dirty and stinky.

The Newfoundland dog diet will need to include animal proteins and carbohydrates for energy, vitamins and minerals for digestive and immune health, and omega fatty acids for coat and skin wellness. This means the best Newfoundland food is premium dry kibble, as it has balanced portions of the above-listed nutrients--plus it lowers the chance of the dog becoming overweight (a common issue with this breed).

Specifically how much does a Newfoundland eat? Adult Newfoundland dog food portions, depending on the dog's size, age, and activity level, are about 4½ cups of premium kibble per day, divided into two meals. Newfoundland puppy food portions are a bit less: again depending on age, about 3½ cups per day, divided into three meals (not two) until seven months of age.

For more info on feeding a Newfoundland puppy through maturity, see this Newfoundland puppy feeding guide:

*--Around this time, transition to adult food by first mixing in a bit of adult formula with the puppy formula. Over the course of a week, with each meal add a little more adult formula to the mixture, until the dog is eating it entirely.

Try if possible to stick to the above-listed Newfie food portions. These dogs have a high tendency for obesity, and will quickly become overweight if constantly overfed (and under-exercised)--and a fat Newfoundland dog will have numerous health problems, and an even shorter lifespan than its already brief one (8-10 years). You can help control your Newfie's weight by having consistent feeding and exercise schedules, by not feeding the dog table scraps, and by not leaving food in the dog's bowl all the time.

If you're worried your Newfoundland is overweight, give the dog this simple test: run a hand along its side, and if you can't feel any ribs, it's diet time--meaning less food and more exercise.

Though opinions differ, a majority of veterinarians, breeders, and owners agree that the best dog food for a Newfoundland dog (puppy or adult) is premium dry kibble. This high-quality food, while more expensive, is much more nutritious and much less fattening. While some believe the best food for Newfoundlands is a raw diet of fresh meats, fruits/vegetables, and other protein sources, premium dry food is the most logical and popular choice.

Overall, the best dry dog food for Newfoundlands is the kind formulated for giant breeds. Blue Buffalo, Diamond Naturals, and Royal Canin are three recommended brands that carry excellent lines of giant-breed dry food.

This breed's ideal home would be a large house with an equally spacious, fenced yard. Technically, the Newfoundland is both an inside and outside dog. While they'll require some outdoor exercise each day, they'll be much happier living indoors with their human families. And for the Newfoundland dog, apartment life is not recommended, as the breed is just too large for such a confined space.

Another consideration for potential owners of the Newfoundland: temperature. Since the breed originated in cold climates, a Newfoundland in the winter is fine, while it doesn't handle heat well. For those living in areas with a long period of winter, Newfoundland dogs are great.