Working Large size 50-70 kg
Newfoundland
A giant, sweet-natured water dog wonderful with children, but the drool, shedding, vet bills, and short lifespan are real trade-offs.
Match with your household
See match detail → Quick overview
Large
Size
50-70 kg, 63-74 cm at the shoulder
Low
Activity
Calm; enjoys swimming and gentle walks
Moderate
Alone-time tolerance
Handles moderate alone time
Moderate
Trainability
Gentle and responsive to kind training
High
Coat care
Thick double coat sheds heavily; drools
Excellent
Fit with kids
Famously patient and protective
Good
Other pets
Easygoing with other animals
Heavy
Health burden
Hip Dysplasia; Elbow Dysplasia; Bloat (GDV)
The Newfoundland typically weighs 50-70 kg, stands 63-74 cm, and lives 8-10 years.
Consider this breed if…
you want the classic gentle giant - calm, patient, and genuinely great with kids,
your home, car, and budget are sized for a 50-70 kg dog,
drool on the walls and hair everywhere are things you can honestly laugh about,
you have water nearby - swimming is this breed's happy place and its joint-friendly exercise.
Do not consider this breed if…
giant-breed vet bills and food costs would strain your budget,
a lifespan of 8-10 years is more heartbreak than you're prepared to sign up for,
a clean house matters deeply to you - drool and coat are constant,
hot summers with no cool refuge; this coat suffers badly in heat.
A typical day with a Newfoundland
- 7:00 · Morning30-40 min easy walk in the cool part of the day
- 9:00 · MidmorningSprawls somewhere cool and naps; a Newfie is calm indoors
- 12:30 · NoonShort garden break; refill the water bowl and wipe the drool
- 16:00 · AfternoonSwim or gentle play, plus a 10-minute brushing session
- 18:30 · EveningSecond unhurried walk; watch for stiffness after rest
- 21:00 · NightSleeps near the family, often against the coldest floor tile
Family and environment
Kids Excellent
The nanny-dog reputation is earned; only its sheer bulk needs watching around toddlers.
Dogs Good
Easygoing and rarely quarrelsome.
Cats Good
Low prey drive; usually peaceful housemates.
Apartment Not suited
Calm enough, but the size, drool, and stairs make daily life hard.
House with a yard Suitable
Shade and a cool indoor retreat are essential.
City Manages
Placid in bustle, but everything - transport, vet, cafe - is harder at 60 kg.
Countryside Ideal
Space, cool ground, and ideally water to swim in.
Health data provided by RealVetCost Overall health burden Heavy
Detailed health data - inheritance, prevalence, course, and typical treatment costs - lives in a separate expert database. This is general guidance, not veterinary advice - confirm any decision with your vet.
View the full health profileTop health concerns
Hip Dysplasia Screen breeding stock and manage weight and activity
Elbow Dysplasia Front-limb joint malformation; watch for limping
Bloat (GDV) A surgical emergency; a preventive gastropexy is an option
Dilated Cardiomyopathy Enlarged heart muscle; needs cardiac monitoring
Similar breeds - by reason
Not visually similar - similar in what they mean for you.
Similar gentle giant, a bit livelier
Leonberger
A calm, affectionate giant that makes a wonderful family companion for homes with space - the trade-off is heavy shedding, drool, and the short lifespan and joint issues of a giant breed.
View profile →
Same size class and family devotion
Saint Bernard
A gentle, family-loving giant that is calm indoors - its huge size, drool, joint disease and short lifespan are the heavy trade-offs.
View profile →
Smaller-but-still-big calm family dog
Bernese Mountain Dog
A gentle, family-loving giant - but a short lifespan and high cancer rate make this one of the heaviest health commitments in dogs.
View profile →Frequently asked questions
How much does a Newfoundland cost?
Expect roughly $1,500-$3,000 from a US breeder who tests hips, elbows, and hearts. Then the giant-breed math starts: food for a 50-70 kg dog, medications dosed by weight, and surgeries that cost multiples of small-breed prices - joint surgery or an emergency bloat operation can each run into the thousands. Insurance or a serious emergency fund is close to mandatory here.
How long do Newfoundlands live?
Typically 8-10 years, which is the hard part of loving giant breeds. Keeping the dog lean, screening for heart disease, and buying from health-tested lines improve the odds, but anyone considering the breed should go in knowing the years are fewer and the senior care starts earlier than with smaller dogs.
Do Newfoundlands drool a lot?
Yes, genuinely a lot - after drinking, in warm weather, and any time food appears. Owners keep drool towels by the door and accept flung slobber on walls and clothes as part of the deal. Combined with heavy year-round shedding, this is not a breed for a pristine household, and no amount of grooming changes it.
Are Newfoundlands good with kids?
Among the best of any breed - patient, gentle, and historically bred to watch over families and pull people from water. The only real caution is physics: a friendly lean or tail swipe from a 60 kg dog can topple a toddler. Supervision and basic manners training cover it.