Newfoundland Breed Standard

General Appearance

Well balanced, impresses with strength and great activity. Substantial bone throughout, but not giving heavy inactive appearance. Noble, majestic and powerful.

Characteristics

Large draught and water dog, with natural life-saving instinct, and devoted companion.

Temperament

Exceptionally gentle, docile nature.

Head and Skull

Head broad and relatively large, occipital bone well developed, no decided stop, muzzle short, clean cut and rather square, covered with short fine hair.

Eyes

Relatively small, dark brown, not showing haw, set rather wide apart. Free from obvious eye problems.

Ears

Small, set well back, square with skull, lying close to head, covered with short hair without fringe.

Mouth

Soft and well covered by lips. Scissor bite preferred, i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to the jaws, but pincer tolerated.

Neck

Strong, well set on to shoulders.

Forequarters

Legs perfectly straight, well muscled, elbows fitting close to sides, well let down.

Body

Well ribbed, back broad with level topline, strong muscular loins. Chest deep, fairly broad.

Hindquarters

Very well built and strong. Slackness of loins and cow-hocks most undesirable.

Feet

Large, webbed, and well shaped. Splayed or turned out feet most undesirable.

Tail

Moderate length, reaching a little below hock. Fair thickness well covered with hair, but not forming a flag. When standing hangs downwards with slight curve at end; when moving, carried slightly up, and when excited, straight out with only a slight curve at end. Tails with a kink or curled over back are most undesirable.

Gait/Movement

Free, slightly rolling gait. When in motion slight toe-ing in at front acceptable.

Coat
Double, flat and dense, of coarse texture and oily nature, water-resistant. When brushed wrong way it falls back into place naturally. Forelegs well feathered. Body well covered but chest hair not forming a frill. Hindlegs slightly feathered.

Colour
Only permitted colours are:
Black: dull jet black may be tinged with bronze. Splash of white on chest, toes and tip of tail acceptable.
Brown: can be chocolate or bronze. In all other respects follow black except for colour. Splash of white on chest, toes and tip of tail acceptable.
Landseer: white with black markings only. For preference black head with narrow blaze, evenly marked saddle, black rump extending to tail. Beauty in markings to be taken greatly into consideration. Ticking undesirable.

Size
Average height at shoulder: dogs: 71 cms (28 ins); bitches: 66 cms (26 ins). Average weight: dogs: 64-69 kgs (141-152 lbs); bitches: 50-54.5 kgs (110-120 lbs). While size and weight are important it is essential that symmetry is maintained.

Faults
Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog.

Note
Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.

Updated October 2009 © The Kennel Club

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