Official ICCF Breed Description
Brief Historical Summary
The Newfoundland is an ancient working breed that originated on the island of the same name off the coast of Canada. Its ancestors are believed to include native water dogs as well as European working and fishing dogs brought by settlers. Newfoundlands were used by fishermen to haul nets, transport cargo, assist with boat work and rescue people from icy waters. They were valued for their strength, endurance and ability to operate in harsh climatic conditions. In the 19th century, the breed became widespread in Europe, where selection focused on enhancing its working and lifesaving qualities. Over time the Newfoundland became known not only as a water rescue dog but also as a reliable, gentle family companion, combining strength with a soft temperament.
General Appearance
The Newfoundland is a large, powerful yet harmonious dog with strong bone, a deep chest and well-developed musculature. The outline is slightly elongated; the body is broad and voluminous. The head is massive but not coarse, with a soft and gentle expression. The neck is strong, of medium length, blending smoothly into heavy shoulders. Limbs are straight, heavy and stable, adapted for work in water. Feet are large with pronounced webbing between the toes. The tail is thick and functions as a rudder when swimming. The coat is dense, water-repellent and equipped with a heavy undercoat. Movement is free, even and powerful. The overall appearance conveys strength, calmness and confidence, emphasizing the breed’s working origin.
Important Proportions
The Newfoundland must be large, yet proportional and functional. The body length slightly exceeds the height at the withers, ensuring stability and strength. The chest is deep and broad with long, curved ribs. The head is large but not coarse; the muzzle is nearly square and approximately equal in length to the skull. The neck is strong without excessive dewlap. Limbs are heavy with correct angulation, enabling efficient movement on land and in water. Feet are large and webbed — a key working characteristic. The tail is straight and broad at the base. Any disproportion causing excessive heaviness, weakness of limbs or restricted movement is undesirable.
Behavior and Temperament
The Newfoundland is known for its gentle, kind and well-balanced temperament. The breed combines serious working endurance with natural kindness, making it a reliable partner and family companion. Newfoundlands are emotionally stable, not prone to aggression and display patience even under stress. Their developed lifesaving instinct is expressed through caution, attentiveness and readiness to help a person in distress. They are gentle and patient with children. With proper socialization and training, they become calm, disciplined dogs with high trainability. Close contact with the owner, respectful handling and opportunities to express their working qualities are essential.
Head
The head of the Newfoundland is large and massive but not coarse, with smooth lines and an expressive, gentle type. The skull is broad and slightly arched, free of abrupt transitions. The stop is moderate but clearly visible. The forehead is broad without deep wrinkles. Cheeks are strong but not protruding. The muzzle is relatively short, broad and deep, nearly square, tapering slightly toward the nose. The nose is large with well-opened nostrils and always dark pigmentation. Jaws are strong with a scissor or level bite. Lips are moderately pendulous without excessive looseness. Expression should convey calmness, intelligence and softness. Coarseness, narrowness or flattening of the skull are faults.
Facial Region
The facial region is broad, deep and well defined with correct proportions. The muzzle is short, broad and deep, maintaining nearly the same width throughout. The nose is large, dark and with wide nostrils. The nasal bridge is straight. Lips are full, tight, slightly pendulous but not excessively loose. Jaws are powerful; teeth are large with a full set. Zygomatic arches are smooth, emphasizing expression. Skin is tight without excessive folds. The facial region must combine strength and softness, reflecting the breed’s working and aquatic nature. A narrow muzzle, light pigmentation, weak jaws or coarse features are undesirable.
Eyes
Eyes are medium-sized, slightly oval, moderately deep-set and express calmness, softness and attentiveness. The set is straight, with slight obliqueness permissible. Color is dark brown or brown, matching the coat. Eyelids are tight and well fitting without excessive droop. Red rims, light eyes or signs of ectropion or entropion are undesirable. Expression must be kind, calm and serious, reflecting the breed’s balanced temperament. The “gentle eye” is a hallmark of the breed. Aggressive, fearful or overly tense expression is incorrect. Proper eyes create a typical, trusting look.
Ears
Ears are small, triangular, set high, lying close to the head with slightly rounded tips. At rest they hang closely, creating a harmonious outline. The length should fit the head size; overly long, heavy or low-set ears are undesirable. The inner ear is covered with dense hair protecting the canal. When alert, the ear base lifts slightly, emphasizing attentiveness. Thick, coarse ears or ears set too far back or too low are faults. Correct ears reinforce the gentle expression and overall harmony of the head.
Neck
The neck is strong, muscular and of medium length, well set and blending smoothly into the powerful shoulders and strong body. The base is wide, indicating strength and working ability. The topline is slightly arched; the underside has a moderate dewlap typical for large water dogs but not excessive. The neck must allow the dog to hold its head above water easily and maintain stability while swimming. An overly thick neck giving a coarse appearance, as well as a weak or overly short neck that restricts movement, is undesirable. Proper neck structure contributes to overall balance and functionality.
Body
The body is powerful, compact yet elongated with significant depth and width. The chest is broad and very deep with long, curved ribs providing ample lung capacity — essential for a water working dog. The back is straight, broad and strong; the loin is short and muscular. The croup is broad, moderately sloping and well developed. The abdomen is tucked up but not exaggerated. The topline must be firm and level. The body must convey strength, endurance and ability for powerful swimming. A narrow chest, weak back, excessive length, looseness or lack of muscle are faults.
Tail
The tail is one of the breed’s key working features. It is thick at the base, tapering toward the tip and reaching the hock. At rest it hangs down with a slight curve. During movement and swimming, it acts as a rudder and must therefore be strong, flexible and straight. Moderate elevation when excited is allowed but the tail must not curl or rest over the back. Coat on the tail is dense and even, providing volume but not excessive feathering. Short tails, kinks, breaks or signs of weakness are faults. A correct tail supports the silhouette and working type.
Forequarters
Forequarters are strong, straight and heavily boned. Shoulder blades are long, sloping and well attached; shoulders are powerful with well-defined angles, enabling wide movement both on land and in water. Elbows are directed straight back without turning. Forearms are heavy and straight; pasterns are strong and slightly sloping. Feet are large, round, thick-padded with well-developed webbing between toes — a vital aquatic trait. The limbs must support great body weight and provide stable movement. Weak pasterns, narrow stance, turned elbows or insufficient bone are faults.
Hindquarters
Hindquarters are powerful, broad and deeply muscled, providing strong propulsion on land and in water. Thighs are long and well developed. Stifles are strong with well-defined yet balanced angulation. Lower thighs are powerful and not elongated. Hocks are low, firm and correctly aligned. Metatarsi are vertical and strong. Feet are large, compact and webbed. Incorrect features include narrow stance, close hocks, crossing, weak hind limbs or overly straight angulation, all of which impair drive. Hindquarters must support the heavy body and ensure stability.
Gait and Movement
Movement is powerful, smooth and free, reflecting the breed’s aquatic working type. At the trot, stride is long and even with good reach in front and strong rear drive. The topline remains stable. The dog must show coordination without body sway. In water, the Newfoundland swims confidently, using its webbed feet as paddles and tail as a rudder. Movement must not be heavy, short or restricted. Cow-hocking, paddling, rolling, weak push-off or lack of straightness are faults. Ideal movement demonstrates strength, endurance and structural correctness.
Coat
The coat is dense, heavy and water-repellent with a well-developed undercoat protecting against cold and moisture. The outer coat is medium in length, straight or slightly wavy but never curly. Texture allows water to roll off without penetrating to the skin. Feathers may be present on hind legs and tail, emphasizing type. Coat is especially dense around the neck. Soft, overly long, curly or sparse coat, lack of undercoat or oily/matted hair are faults. Proper coat is essential for prolonged work in cold water and must be healthy, clean and thick.
Permissible Colors
Permissible colors include black, brown, gray and black-and-white (Landseer type under American tradition). Black is preferred and must be rich and solid. Brown varies from dark to lighter shades. Gray is rare and accepted by some standards. Black-and-white dogs display well-defined patches on a white background, typically on the head, body and croup. White markings on chest, feet and tail tip are permissible in solid colors. Disallowed colors include red, fawn, spotted, pale or any nonstandard shades. Nose and eye rim pigmentation must match coat color: black for black dogs, brown for brown dogs.
Size
The Newfoundland is one of the largest water working breeds. Height at the withers is typically 71 cm for males and about 66 cm for females. Weight is substantial but the dog must remain functional, without signs of obesity or excessive heaviness. Harmony of structure is more important than absolute measurements: strong bone, broad chest, developed muscles and balanced proportions are essential. A light type, insufficient height or weak bone are undesirable; excessive mass hindering mobility is also unacceptable. Correct size emphasizes working capability, power and breed expression.
Faults
Faults include any deviations affecting type, function or harmony. Weak bone, insufficient musculature, narrow body, shallow chest or excessive looseness are important faults. Light eyes, weak pigmentation of eyelids or nose, incorrect ear shape or excessively long/soft coat are undesirable. Coarseness of head, excessive wetness, insufficient muzzle width and poor proportions are faults. Movement faults include short stride, rolling, weak push or lack of coordination. Shyness, nervousness or poor sociability are behavioral faults. Any characteristics decreasing ability to work in water or on land are considered faults.
Disqualifying Faults
Disqualifying faults include serious deviations that distort type or threaten health. These include marked cowardice, unwarranted aggression or unstable temperament. Severe bite faults, significant undershot or overshot, multiple missing teeth or jaw deformities are unacceptable. Blue eyes, heterochromia, severe ectropion or entropion are disqualifying. Incorrect coat (curly, long, lacking undercoat) or nonstandard colors and weak pigmentation of nose or eye rims also exclude a dog. Severe limb defects, paralysis, congenital abnormalities and cryptorchidism are disqualifying as well. Such flaws are incompatible with the breed’s working purpose.
Important Notes
As a working water breed, the Newfoundland must be evaluated with regard to its function, endurance and aquatic anatomy. Puppies and young dogs mature unevenly, and temporary disproportions should not be penalized if overall development is normal. The breed must demonstrate a soft temperament, stable psyche and willingness to cooperate. Coat must remain dense and water-repellent; grooming practices that alter texture are unacceptable. Physical condition must be considered: working type is best expressed with regular exercise. Joint health, body strength and ability for prolonged swimming are key.
Conclusion
The Newfoundland is an outstanding working breed combining strength, gentleness and exceptional lifesaving abilities. Its history and anatomy are shaped for water work, yet it is equally valued as a reliable family companion thanks to its soft disposition and stable character. A correct Newfoundland conveys power, harmony and calmness: a large frame, dense coat, confident movement and expressive head create a unified breed image. The breed requires respectful handling, consistent training and proper care to realize its full working and companion potential. The Newfoundland remains a symbol of devotion, strength and endurance.
