A full-grown Newfoundland is one of the heaviest dogs you are likely to meet. Kennel club standards put adult males at about 71 cm (28 in) at the shoulder and roughly 65 to 80 kg (143 to 176 lb), with females a little smaller, and some individuals pass 90 kg. Add a thick double coat and a broad head, and it is easy to see why people keep mistaking them for bears.
The breed comes from the island of Newfoundland, now part of Canada, where the dogs worked for fishermen: hauling nets, pulling carts and, famously, pulling people out of cold water. Webbed paws, heavy bones and big lungs made them strong swimmers, and the breed's rescue stories go back to the early nineteenth century.
The photos below were shared by owners on Reddit, Instagram and Imgur, and each one is credited to the person who posted it. They show size, coat and personality, but keep in mind that a camera can exaggerate scale: a dog closer to the lens looks bigger, and a fluffy coat makes the outline wider than the body underneath. Every dog here is an individual, not a measurement of the breed.
How big is a Newfoundland, really?
Size is the first thing people ask about. Under the main breed standards, males stand around 28 inches and females around 26 inches at the withers, and females usually weigh 55 to 65 kg (121 to 143 lb). The heaviest Newfoundland on record reportedly reached about 120 kg (260 lb), far above what a healthy dog of the breed should weigh.
Coat colour varies by registry. The American Kennel Club accepts black, brown, grey and the black-and-white pattern known as Landseer, named after the Victorian painter Sir Edwin Landseer, who painted these dogs. You will see most of those colours in the gallery.
Dogs that keep getting mistaken for bears
Got Sebastian a Safety Vest Because People Need to Know He Is #notabear
Sebastian's owner gave him a bright orange vest for winter walks, and the joke holds up: in snow, a big black Newfoundland's silhouette really can be confused with a bear at a distance. High-visibility vests are also genuinely useful for dark-coated dogs on roads and in hunting season.
This Is a Newfoundland Dog. Not a Bear
Brown Newfoundlands are the colour most likely to start a bear rumour, especially when caught mid-stride with the head low, as here on a sports field. The rolling walk comes from heavy bone and a broad chest built for pulling and swimming.
Thought a Bear Broke In. Nope, Just a Newfie
Standing on his hind legs, this dog reaches the kitchen counter with ease, which is exactly why owners of giant breeds learn to keep food well back from the edge. "Counter surfing" is a common training challenge with tall dogs, and it is easier to prevent than to fix.
It's a Bear! It's a Mammoth! No, It's a Giant Dog!
Taken on a grooming table, this photo shows how much of a Newfoundland's bulk is coat. A professional groom for a dog this size can take hours, because the dense undercoat has to be dried and brushed out right down to the skin to avoid mats.
Look Behind You...
A kitchen full of Newfoundlands, black, brown and Landseer, all watching the cook. The posting account belongs to a kennel, and it shows the colour range of the breed in one frame.
Lap dogs that never got the memo
When the Lap Is Too Small for You but You Don't Mind Because You Are a Good Boy
A young Newfoundland sprawls across a child on the sofa, with only a pair of feet and a face peeking out. Many large breeds lean on or lie across their people as a form of contact, and Newfoundlands are known for it.
150 Pounds Later and He's Still a Lap Dog
At around 150 pounds (68 kg), this dog sits squarely within the breed standard for a male, and he still settles onto his owner's sun lounger. Dogs do not seem to update their sense of their own size as they grow, which is part of the charm of this whole gallery.
Me and My Bestie
Up on his hind legs, this brown Newfoundland hugs his owner almost shoulder to shoulder. It is a sweet picture, but trainers usually teach giant dogs not to jump up, because a friendly greeting from 60 kg or more can knock over a child or an older adult.
Trying to Live That Lap Dog Life
The owner's caption joked that behind the smile he was asking for help as his ribs got crushed. Bentley is a well-followed Instagram Newfoundland, and photos like this are a big part of why the breed has a reputation online as an oversized cuddler.
Laying Down With My Newfie
Owner and dog share a patch of lawn, the Newfoundland's head resting on his chest. The breed's heavy coat makes cool grass a favourite place to lie, especially in warm weather.
Happy Thanksgiving
A holiday family portrait with the dog taking the middle seat of the sofa, wedged between an adult and a child. It gives a fair sense of scale: sitting up, a Newfoundland's head is level with a seated adult's.
Puppies that grow up fast
16 Months Apart
A newborn lies on a pillow beside a seated black Newfoundland in front of a fireplace, part of a then-and-now series. Giant breeds grow for longer than small ones and often do not fill out fully until around two years old, so the change in a dog over 16 months can be dramatic.
Buford and Wallace, 11 Weeks Old
Two Landseer puppies, black heads and white bodies, sit side by side on the grass. At 11 weeks they are already big, solid pups. Breeders and vets generally recommend controlled growth and avoiding too much hard exercise for giant-breed puppies, because their joints are still developing.
Ollie Likes to Come to Tennis Practice and Help Out
Ollie lies on court beside a tennis bag with a ball in his mouth. Newfoundlands were bred to retrieve, from nets to people, so carrying things around is a natural behaviour; just watch for small balls, which large dogs can choke on.
My Newfie Puppy Used to Fall Asleep With His Head in the Toilet
A brown puppy dozes with his head resting in the toilet bowl, probably drawn by the cool porcelain. Funny, but owners usually keep the lid down, since toilet water can contain cleaning chemicals.
She's a Big Girl Already and Doesn't Like to Be Lifted Up
A wriggling black pup protests loudly at being picked up. Lifting a puppy with support under the chest and the hindquarters keeps it calmer, and by a few months old many Newfoundlands are simply too heavy to carry comfortably.
Built for cold, snow and water
Snow Bed? Not Bothered
Someone shovelled the driveway and left a neat block of snow, and this black-and-white dog claimed it as a bed. The water-resistant outer coat and dense undercoat that protected working dogs on the North Atlantic coast make winter weather a pleasure for most Newfoundlands.
If There's Snow, the Newfie Will Sit
The rest of the patio is bare and wet, yet the dog has found the one small patch of snow left and lies right on it. The breed tolerates cold far better than heat, and owners in warm climates need shade, water and air conditioning in summer.
My Boyfriend's Newfoundland Waiting to Go to the Beach
A Landseer fills the back seat between two passengers, tongue out and ready to go. Water is where this breed shines: Newfoundlands are still trained for water-rescue work and tests in several countries, carrying lines and towing swimmers to shore.
Just Shaved My Newfoundland. Look at His New Hairstyle
Without most of his coat, this dog looks much slimmer, with a shaggy fringe left on top. The photo shows how much of a Newfoundland's apparent size is fur. Many groomers advise against shaving double-coated breeds, because the coat also insulates against heat and protects the skin from sun, so it is worth asking a vet or groomer before clipping one short.
Big dogs, big personalities
Just a Newfoundland Taking His Pony for a Walk
A Landseer walks down an alley holding the lead of a black-and-white miniature horse in his mouth. Newfoundlands were used to haul carts and carry loads, and that working instinct to carry things is easy to channel into tasks like this.
It's Dalishush
A black Newfoundland holds an empty frozen-yogurt cup in his jowls, with white streaks on his muzzle giving the game away. Loose lips are part of the breed's look, and so is drool: many Newfoundlands drool heavily, especially in warm weather, and owners keep towels on hand. Remember that some sweet treats contain xylitol, which is toxic to dogs.
I Love It When My Newfie Meets a Smaller Dog
A huge black dog leans down to sniff a small, tan-and-white puppy on a car park. Meetings like this go best when the big dog is calm and the small one can move away freely, since even a gentle paw from a giant can hurt a tiny dog.
I Heard It Is Tongue Out Tuesday
A Landseer sits upright in an armchair with the tip of his tongue showing. The black-and-white pattern is accepted as its own colour by the AKC, while some other registries treat the Landseer as a separate breed.
This Is Beyond a Head Tilt
Standing in the kitchen with his head turned almost sideways, this dog shows the classic canine head tilt. Dogs often do this when a sound catches their attention, such as a familiar word or an odd noise, though exactly why is still debated.
Living with a Newfoundland: what to know first
These photos make the breed look easy, and many owners say it is a joy to live with. It is also a big commitment. A few points worth weighing:
- Lifespan and health. Newfoundlands live around 11 years on average according to a 2024 UK study, shorter than many breeds. Hip and elbow dysplasia, heart conditions such as dilated cardiomyopathy and gastric bloat are among the problems recorded in the breed. Choose a breeder who health-tests, and talk to a vet about growth and diet.
- Space and mess. Their size, love of water and mud, heavy shedding and drool make them a poor fit for some homes.
- Training early. A puppy that jumps up or pulls on the lead becomes a 60 kg adult doing the same. Start gentle training while the dog is still small enough to handle.
- Heat. Plan for shade, water and cool resting places in summer.
The breed also has a long cultural history. Lord Byron wrote his "Epitaph to a Dog" for his Newfoundland, Boatswain; a Newfoundland named Seaman travelled with the Lewis and Clark expedition of 1804 to 1806; and J. M. Barrie's dog Luath inspired Nana, the nursemaid dog in Peter Pan. If you enjoy big dogs, you may also like our caracal kitten gallery and the related reading below.
Sources: Photos by their owners, credited under each picture (Reddit, Instagram, Imgur); breed facts from Wikipedia: Newfoundland dog and the American Kennel Club breed page.
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