Oh, the Landseer Newfoundland dog. These beautiful dogs can bring a lot of confusion. Some people might think that this breed is the same as the Newfoundland but only a different color.
Some might think that they are a completely different breed. Others might say that the Landseer is just a fancy new addition to the breed’s name.
Well, when you think about it, everything is true and false at the same time. Quite confusing right? Well, today this breed is a completely different breed to the original Newfoundland. But this is the European Continental Type of dog.
When you look at this dog you can say that this is a Newfoundland that comes in white and black coloring. There might not be any other visible difference between the two, and we must say that we can see why you think like that. Because that is true as well.
Landseer is considered to be the name of the coat coloration. You can say that this is a black and white Newfoundland, but the proper way is to say it is a Landseer Newfoundland. This one can also be called the Canadian type, but to make it easier we will call them the standard ones.
Both of the dogs are practically the same with some slight differences. We will do a comparison of the two Landseer dogs. A lot of things may be the same and we will emphasize what those things are.
We can start with a small guide on these amazing dogs.
ECT Landseer Newfoundland: History
Both the standard Newfoundland and the Landseer Newfoundland originated from dogs that have been used by fishermen in the Labrador and Newfoundland region. The dogs that they have descended from are believed to be livestock guardians and water dogs and they are mostly Mastiff type of dogs.
Since there are a lot of color variations of the coats of Newfoundlands, at some moment, and to be more precise, in the Victorian era the black and white coloring was the most popular. Many artists have fallen in love with this type of dog and have included them in their paintings.
Some of the artists are Samuel Jones, and Sydenham Edwards, but the artist that got this dog its name is Sir Edwin Landseer. He got the Landseer Newfoundland popular way back in 1896. The Landseer coloration was considered to be a solid black as well.
In the 20th century, the solid black coloration was gaining popularity and becoming even more popular than the black and white coloration. A lot of breeders wanted to recreate the dog from Edwin Landseer’s paintings.
Because of this, in 1960 many breeders began breeding this type of dog in Germany, and since then they have become a separate breed in Holland, Belgium, Switzerland, and Germany and were accepted as a new breed by the Federation Cynologique Internationale FCI.
In Great Britain, Canada, and North America, Landseer is considered to be the name of the color, not a completely different breed. And this is where the confusion connected to this name appears.
Landseer Newfoundland: Personality And Temperament
Photo from: @vegalandseer
Since both of the breeds are practically the same, they have a lot of personality traits that are the same as well. Newfies have such interesting personalities because they cover it all. From having calm personalities to being dogs that have high energy, Newfies are all in one package.
Here are some of the personality and temperament traits that both of the dogs share.
Intelligent
These big dogs are extremely intelligent. They are super easy to train, and you will probably have a lot of fun while training them. They need to be mentally stimulated every day. You can do this by giving them small tasks which they can do.
They will be more than happy to fulfill them, and you can make it fun and interactive as well. You probably won’t need a dog trainer to teach your Landseer Newfie anything. All you need is some patience and persistence.
When they are puppies, they might not have full concentration at the beginning, but when they get a hold of it you will be able to teach them anything in a short period of time.
Calm
These dogs do have their moments when they have a lot of energy, but they are generally calm. This is an amazing personality trait for a big dog that is owned by a family which consists of kids as well.
They are not loud and will not interrupt you to bring your attention to them while you are doing some house chores.
When they are in their quiet mode, it can almost feel therapeutic and calming watching them all snuggled up and getting ready to fall asleep.
Gentle
Since they are huge dogs, not a lot of people would think that they are gentle. This can be a misconception of a lot of big dog breeds.
This dog will sleep next to you and you might not even notice when they get there. They will do their best not to wake you up.
Small children and animals are no problem for this breed. They know how to play with them and not accidentally hurt them. They will never try to hop on your lap because they can sense that it may hurt you.
Friendly
They have no problem meeting new friends.. Every dog will be glued to them because of their friendly nature.
Meeting new people is not a problem for them. They will need little to no time to detect the situation and figure out if you have good intentions. If they sense that you are ok, they will charm you into loving them.
Since they are so affectionate you can expect this dog to lick you from time to time. You need to be prepared because their kisses are extremely wet because of all of that drooling.
Kids will also love to play with them because they know how to play with them without scaring or injuring the kids. And looking like a giant teddy bear is a plus when it comes to kids.
Nanny Dogs
This means that they are generally amazing with kids. They have a lot of patience and will let the kids climb on them.
The nanny nickname started when a Newfie was playing a role of a nanny in the popular movie called Peter Pan. This movie did a great job showing this side of their personality. Since then, they have become even more popular than they used to be.
Fearless
This is the interesting part about their personalities. Since they are so calm and gentle, they might seem like goofballs and even dogs that are not that brave, even when they have the size to back it up. But these dogs are anything but fearful.
If they sense that the people they love are in danger, they are always ready to protect them. Depending on the situation, they might feel some fear, but they will never show it.
The only thing on their mind is how to protect their family.
This makes them great watch dogs and guard dogs. Their size is their main weapon so they probably won’t need to be doing a lot of protection, but it is good to know that they will protect you if the situation is headed that way.
Playful
They love to play with people and other dogs. Any type of animal can become their play buddy. Besides their home, the dog park is their favorite place to be. Even when they get tired after hours of playing, they still might refuse to leave the park.
They are known to love playing hide and seek or even playing tag with kids. And we need to add that they are pretty good at it. With hide and seek the hiding part might be a problem for them because it is hard to hide that big body.But when it comes to seeking, they are masters.
Playing fetch is also something they love because it is an interactive game where they get to spend some time with their owners.
Working Dogs
Since they have roots that consist of working dogs you can expect both of the Landseer Newfoundland breeds to be hardworking dogs. People don’t use them much today for working purposes except for being guard dogs and family pets.
If you live on a farm or a house with a big yard and need some work done, they will be more than happy to help. Letting them carry some tools will be good enough for them.
Energetic
This is the only difference between these two dogs. They both have a lot of energy, but the standard Landseer Newfie is more energetic than the ECT one. This is especially noticeable when they are puppies.
They can go crazy and all over the place. They will get the zoomies all of a sudden. At one second you can see them lounging around then the other second, they will be running frantically all over the place.
Don’t worry, as they get older this will calm down, but they will still have a lot of energy that needs to be let out with daily exercise.
Landseer Newfoundland: Appearance
Photo from: @newfie_girls
The main thing that stands out with these dogs is their size. There is more when it comes to the appearance of these two dogs. And this is the part where there are some differences, even if some of us may not even notice them.
General Appearance
This breed can grow to be 28 to 31 inches high and weigh anywhere around 130 to 150 pounds. These measures are for males, while females are a bit smaller. When it comes to the European Landseer Newfoundland, they tend to have longer legs.
This will make them a bit taller than the Standard Landseer. They also have less bulk which can make them appear a bit smaller and not as heavy as the standard Newfie.
If you want to know in more detail about the growth process of a Newfoundland, you can always check out the Newfoundland growth chart.
They have big heads with short, wide, and squared-off muzzles. The European type has a more tapered and longer head.
They have small triangular ears that resemble teddy bear ears especially since they are covered with a lot of hair.
They have small and dark brown eyes. When it comes to the eyes the conjunctiva should not be showing as it shows with the Saint Bernard dog breed. Their noses are black.
Coats
This large breed has beautiful, long and soft coats. They have a double coat. The top coat is really dense, and long, and needs to be soft to the touch. The undercoat is not that dense, and they can also lose it if they are living indoors.
The difference when it comes to coats is that the European type has curlier hair while the standard type has more of a wavy look to their coats.
When it comes to colors there are two options:
– Solid black
– White coat with black markings
The black and white ones are a bit more popular than the black ones. When it comes to coloring, they are the same. The black and white is in fact a white dog that has big black markings.
When it comes to markings it can be genetically unpredictable, but the most common part that will have markings are their heads and their backs. There is a desired pattern, but the interesting thing is that there are many varieties.
There can be some splashes or smaller black spots on their legs which give them a more unique look. White markings on their heads can be considered to be a type of deviation.
Landseer Newfoundland: Grooming
Photo from: @newfies_and_evil
When it comes to grooming needs, both dogs are the same. You can say that these dogs have high needs when it comes to grooming. The main thing about them is their shedding, and it is not light by any means.
It can get overwhelming, especially if your dog lives indoors. They do not need haircuts that often. It is mostly based on their heads, to be more precise around their eyes. The rest of the body is rarely touched.
When it comes to shedding some people think that the white part sheds more than the black part. We need to inform you that this is not true. Both parts shed equally. The white hairs are just easier to see around the house than the black ones.
There are some things when it comes to grooming that you can do by yourself at home to save some money on visiting the groomers.
Brushing
When it comes to brushing it is known that dogs with long dense coats need frequent brushing, and there is no difference with the Landseer Newfoundland, whether it is the standard or the ECT one. You will need to brush their coats at least 3 to 4 times a week.
Since they have a lot of hair and a lot of it sheds, some people feel overwhelmed by the brushing part. Because of this, people tend to take their Newfies to a professional groomer to give them a good brush from time to time.
There isn’t anything wrong with this, but we believe that you will be up for the challenge. You will need to buy a high-quality brush that will last you a long time. .
We suggest brushing your dog before giving them a bath so if there are any matts you can remove them. When the matting gets wet it is harder to untangle it later on.
Bathing
These large dogs do not need frequent bathing. Every month or even two is enough for these pooches. But this also depends on the living conditions. If you live on a farm or a house with a yard you may be giving your dog more frequent baths.
Since they are really big dogs that have a lot of hair, bathing them is not an easy task, especially if you are doing it indoors. You will need a lot of preparation before and a lot of cleaning up to do after bathing.
Try to stay calm and to calm your dog down. When they are still puppies it is best to make them connect bath time as a fun time.
Giving a bath to this gentle giant is easier when you have a yard, so the mess won’t be as big as when you are bathing them indoors.
Clipping The Nails
This is very important because nails that get too long can be painful for the dog and cause many problems. Since they have a lot of hair on their paws you may not even notice if the nails have gotten big. This is why it is important to check it from time to time.
Clipping nails can be a bit stressful because you don’t want to injure your dog. If you do not feel comfortable doing it by yourself, you can always take your dog to the groomer.
If your Newfie spends a lot of time outdoors, you will have less of a job clipping their nails. Dogs that spend a lot of time outside have their nails naturally trimmed by the concrete or some other surfaces that are not a rug or parquet.
Cleaning The Ears
Cleaning the ears is very important. These dogs have small ears that are covered with hair so it can be harder to detect if there is any black gunk or ear wax build-up.
If there is anything in your dog’s ear and if it is left there for a long time it can cause an infection that can be very painful for your pooch.
It is easy to clean the ears of your dog but only if you know how to calm them down and distract them until you are done. You will need a cotton pad which you will soak with a remedy that is intended for ear cleaning.
You will swipe a cotton pad or two, depending on the state of the ear. You can repeat that for a couple of times until the pad is almost clean after removing it from the ear. You should not use cotton swabs that we humans use to clean our ears.
RELATED: Dog Earwax Color Chart: Everything You Need To Know
Brushing The Teeth
This step of the grooming process is usually forgotten. A lot of people tend to forget that your dog also needs to have its teeth cleaned from time to time. You can do it every day but cleaning them once or twice a week is also good enough.
You have special toothpaste that is designed for dogs and there are many options on the market. You can use a normal toothbrush, or you can investigate and find if there is any special toothbrush that will suit your dog more.
Inspecting The Coat
This can be quite difficult with these dogs. Whether they have curly or wavy textured fur, their coats are quite dense, and it can be almost impossible to check if they have any parasites that have gotten stuck on their skin.
This is really important for dogs that spend a lot of time in nature. They are more prone to getting a small pest somewhere under their dense coats.
If you think that you will not do a great job of inspecting your dog’s coat you can take them either to the vet or a professional groomer.
The thing you can do is give your dog protection by putting a collar on them that is intended to kill off any parasite, or you can do it with a liquid that you put on the dog’s neck, or even with a pill. Whatever option you choose you will be sure that your dog is protected.
Just make sure to know when you need to repeat the process or exchange the old collar with the new one.
RELATED: What To Do If You Find A Dried Dead Tick On Dog
Landseer Newfoundland: Training
Photo from: @newfies_and_evil
We have already mentioned that these dogs are extremely intelligent and easy to train. But when it comes to the first training session you may need to first teach them how to stay concentrating . Their minds will wander off and if you let them stay in that state for too long, they might get used to it.
We suggest that you do the training session at the same time every day, or in other words to make a schedule. This way they will naturally sense when it is learning time.
If you want the training to go as you’ve planned, you should consider these things:
– At the beginning, you should make the training short
– Use a lot of positive reinforcement
– You should make it fun for your pup
– You need to stay consistent
– Staying calm is very important
– You should never punish your dog for not getting something quickly
– Interactive training will be better for your pooch
– Positive reinforcement is always needed
– Give your dog rewards, like dog treats
We truly believe that this dog will never bring you to the point where you want to hire a professional dog trainer. If you decide on hiring one you should not feel bad. We like to think that training is the part where you get to know your dog and the dog will start developing a bond with you.
When it comes to things that your dog will need to learn we made a small list that may help you. Some of these are very important while others can be more of a fun thing.
– Potty training. This is the first thing you will teach your dog, and it starts as soon as the puppy arrives home. They will have small bladders and the possibility of holding it in for a long time while they are very young is quite difficult, so try not to get mad.
Persistence is key when it comes to potty training. This is easier when you have a yard, but potty training while living in an apartment is not impossible.
RELATED: Puppy Won’t Poop Outside: Advice For Worried Puppy Parents
– Leash training. The first couple of times when you take your dog for a walk can get frustrating. The puppy will probably play and bite on the leash. They might even refuse to move because they get irritated by the fact that something is around their neck, and they can’t move freely. This all will pass just stay persistent.
– Stay and come. These two commands are important when the dog gets older, especially if you have a bigger dog. If you let them off the leash sometimes, it is amazing for both of you if you teach your dog to come and stay when needed.
This can potentially save their life if they are roaming around on a busy street or can stop a potential fight with another dog from happening.
– Crate training. This is only important if you decide that your pooch will sleep in a crate. You need to do it gradually and never force your puppy to stay there in the beginning. Making sure that they consider their crate as a safe space is a priority for you. Adding a lot of pillows, toys, and blankets will make them cozier in there for sure.
– Sit, roll over, give a paw, play dead, speak. These commands are one of the first things we teach our dogs, but it is not crucial for them to know, and it will not improve the quality of their lives by any means. This is something that will keep them stimulated while they are little, and it is also a cool thing to show people.
Staying calm through all of this is important. If you stay calm your dog will pick up the energy and will feel the same. Hitting your dog or raising your voice all the time at them can be traumatic for the dog.
It will leave them thinking that training is a bad thing and it can generally cause them to become fearful, anxious, or even aggressive.
RELATED: Will My Dog Forgive Me For Hitting Him? Advice For Dog Owners
Landseer Newfoundland: Exercise
Photo from: @sonjathenewfie
Since we saw that these dogs are quite the energy balls, they will need their fair share of exercise every day. They tend to get tired quickly but do not be surprised if they want to stay in the dog park for hours.
If you decide that your Landseer Newfie will be a working dog, you can be sure that they will work until the job is done. Even if they get tired, it is more important to them to make you proud by fulfilling the task than taking a break.
They are also happy with taking a long hike in nature or around the place you live. Try to make it interesting for them. You can always bring a ball or find a stick that you can sometimes throw for them to catch. They will even be happy if they carry it in their mouth, so you do not have to.
Some things that these dogs love are:
– Playing fetch
– Playing hide and seek
– Playing tag
– Solving puzzle games
– Taking a long hike
– Play sessions in the dog park
The best thing to do is combine some of these so your pooch will get both the physical and mental stimulation on a daily basis. They are great at various dog sports.
But spending time with their family by having a play session and after a cuddle session is the best combination that these dogs can ask for.
Landseer Newfoundland: Health
Photo from: @sonjathenewfie
Both of these dogs can be prone to some of these health problems. This does not mean that they will get any of these health issues during their lifetime, but it is always good to know what to keep an eye on.
Here are some of the health issues that both of these dogs are considered to be prone to:
– Cataracts. These are cloudy spots on the eyes that can develop at any age and can grow over time. This can mess up the vision of your dog or even make them go completely blind.
– Elbow and hip dysplasia. This is quite common with bigger dogs, especially with ones that grow rapidly over a certain period of their lives.
– Cherry eye. This condition is connected to the third eyelid where it gets swollen. It looks like a red mass that resembles a cherry, hence the name. It is located in the inner corner of the eye. Surgery is the most common type of treatment for this condition.
– Epilepsy. Your dog will have seizures that can result in some strange behavior like your dog staggering, hiding, or even running like someone is chasing it.
RELATED: When To Put Down A Dog With Seizures? A Difficult Decision
– Sub-Aortic Stenosis (SAS). This can cause your dog to faint or even die unexpectedly. There is a treatment for this if it is caught on time.
– Ear infections. These dogs are prone to getting ear infections. This is why you should check their ears daily to prevent this from happening.
– Cystinuria. This health issue is usually inherited. It is the inability to reabsorb an amino acid called cystine in the kidneys. This can result in kidney and bladder stones, and urinary inflammation. It can lead to death if it is left untreated.
– Hypothyroidism. This can cause epilepsy, hair loss, lethargy, obesity, dark patches on the skin, and many other skin conditions.
– Ruptured Anterior Cruciate Ligament. We can say that this is a fancy word for a knee injury. It usually occurs in younger dogs while they are playing, or in older overweight dogs.
The life span of these dogs can be anywhere between 8 to 13 years.
The thing we want to emphasize, which is technically not a health issue, is their drooling. If you are planning on bringing either of these two into your new home with new furniture, you should think again.
Landseer Newfoundland: Diet
Photo from: @princess_boo_the_newf
When it comes to deciding on what type of diet is the best for your dog it can be tricky. When they are puppies the most important thing is to keep them being fed with their mother’s milk until they are at least 45 days old.
This is the minimum; they should be on mother’s milk even longer. When you know that the breeder kept that part of the commitment you know that your dog has some good foundations.
When the puppy arrives, when they are 8 weeks old, they need suitable dog food. Mostly people tend to buy their dogs kibble that matches the needs of their dog.
Since both of these breeds are big dogs and they tend to grow pretty fast. Because of this, it is important to get a type of dog food that will cover all their nutritional needs.
When they get bigger, they will need to be switched to adult dog food made for big dogs. This is the point where you can choose for the first-time what type of diet your dog will have.
Here are the possible options:
– Dry food or kibble
– Wet food or canned food
– Home-cooked food
– Raw diet
Whatever you decide on you need to make sure that there are plenty of carbs, fats, proteins, minerals, and generally any nutrition that your dog needs to stay big and healthy.
Most commonly people pick either wet or dry dog food. It is the easiest to give to your dog. You just need to find the best food brand. Since there are a lot of them on the market, if you feel overwhelmed you can ask the vet what the best option is.
Some people like to mix dry food with a bit of home-cooked food.
When it comes to the most complex type of dog diet, it is for sure home-cooked. It is really time-consuming so if you decide on this one, we want to applaud you. Since these dogs can eat a lot, you will need to cook them enough food for the day, which will take a lot of time.
RELATED: How To Boil Chicken For Dogs: Everything You Need To Know!
This is also a tricky type of diet because you need to know that you are giving your dog enough nutrients. Usually, people tend to give some supplements with this type of diet.
You need to know that some foods are not good for dogs in general, like spicy food for example. There are some ingredients that dogs cannot eat. You can do the research but if you want to be sure the best thing is to ask the vet.
FAQs
Photo from: @sonjathenewfie
Are These Dogs Recognized?
Yes these dogs are recognized by:
– FCI = Fédération Cynologique Internationale
– DRA = Dog Registry of America, Inc.
– ACA = American Canine Association Inc.
– CKC = Continental Kennel Club
– ACR = American Canine Registry
– NKC = National Kennel Club
The difference between these two is that the standard Landseer Newfoundland is registered by the American Kennel Club while the ECT Landseer Newfoundland is not.
Are These Dogs Good Family Pets?
Yes, these dogs make amazing family pets. When you combine everything that we read today you can say that these dogs are amazing. Their personalities are just unmatched by any other dog. The only problem that can occur is their size.
These dogs can get along in an apartment but a house with a yard or even living on a farm is better for these dogs. You need to be prepared for all the drooling and shedding.
Some people don’t mind while others may have a big problem with that aspect. You need to consider these things before getting a dog.
How Much Is A Landseer Newfoundland?
The average price for both of them is around $2,000 to $2,500. But you need to know that these dogs are rare and that you will need to spend a lot of time searching for your Landseer Newfie.
When you find your pooch, you need to know that getting a puppy is not the only cost. In the first year of its life, you will need to spend quite some money on things like food, a bed, a leash, a collar, grooming tools, vet bills, etc.
Some of the costs will continue during their whole lives, while others like a dog bed or crate, leash, or collar can be changed from time to time.
Food will be a consistent cost because these dogs need quite a lot of it. You need to find a good dog food brand that will provide your dog with all the necessary nutrients. But that comes at a price of course.
To Sum It Up
Landseer Newfoundland is quite the breed, or two? This might be all confusing but generally speaking, this can be considered to be one breed. The biggest difference between the two is that the ECT Landseer Newfoundland has longer legs, curlier fur, and a smaller head.
Their temperaments, nutritional needs, exercise needs, and training are truly the same.
These pooches are often compared to Labrador Retrievers when it comes to their personalities. Kind, gentle, friendly, and protective are just some of their personality traits that we all love and adore.
They make amazing family pets but there are some things that you need to consider like their size, drooling, energy level, and shedding.
All in all, we hope that we cleared up a bit of this mystery called the Landseer Newfoundland and that you fell in love with both of the dog breeds.
