10 Things You Didn’t Know About the Landseer Newfoundland

Newfoundland dogs are some of the most amazing dog breeds around. In the US and Great Britain, the Newfoundland dog breed includes the Landseer variety. However in most other European countries, the Landseer is completely its own breed separate from the Newfoundland. Regardless of where you’re from or how you see it, the Landseer Newfoundland is a wonderful creature that makes an even more wonderful pet. If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to own a Landseer Newfoundland dog, here are 10 things that you should know before you get your hands full with one of these jumbo dogs.

1. Most well-behaved animal

When it comes to temperament, the Landseer is wonderfully incomparable. They’re known as a gentle giant because they’re one of the most well behaved pets you could ever have. They’re courageous and patient; they listen very well to their human companions. Landseer dogs are very devoted to their owners. If you have a Landseer for a pet, you will also have a protector by your side.

2. Intelligent protectors

It has long been known that Landseers are highly intelligent creatures. They have very strong instincts, especially when it comes to protecting someone they care about. These dogs will literally jump in front of danger to keep you from harm’s way. It’s one of the reasons why Landseer dogs are much loved all over the world.

3. Heavy droolers

Much like other giant dogs, the Landseer Newfoundland breed tends to drool a great deal. You have to be prepared to handle all the drool if you ever decide to have one of these dogs for a pet. It’ll sure be a lot of cleaning, but don’t worry; it won’t be as much compared to other bigger dogs.

4. Water lovers

These dogs are known for their love of water. Landseer dogs love to play in water, and they also love to swim. In fact, these dogs are incredible swimmers, which make them great as rescue workers. The truth is many Landseer dogs have saved hundreds upon hundreds of lives throughout history.

5. Light eaters

This fact may come as a surprise and even as a good thing for many dog owners. As big as these dogs are, they’re actually very light eaters considering their size. Adult Landseer dogs only eat as much as an average Retriever, which isn’t really much considering. It’s difficult to imagine where these dogs get their extra energy from.

6. Difficult to train

As lovable and gentle as these dogs are, they can be a bit difficult to train because of the fact. Landseer dogs are very sensitive to the tone of your voice when you’re training them. While you have to be confident and firm with your training, you also have to be very calm. Otherwise, they won’t respond at all.

7. Health issues

Much like other large dogs, Landseers are prone to developing hip dysplasia. In addition, if these dogs ever get bigger than normal, they are likely to develop a condition known as SAS or sub-aortic stenosis. This is a hereditary heart disease that can be monitored by the time a Landseer is at least 8 weeks old.

8. Restful dogs

We don’t want to call Landseers lazy, but they tend to be that way if they’re not around water. They’ll be content to just hang around the house, but you should know that these dogs need exercise just like any other dog breeds. A daily walk should suffice, unless you have water close by for them to frolic in.

9. Frequent grooming

These dogs have to be groomed more often than other breeds because of the nature of their coats. Their thick and coarse double coats have to be brushed weekly and bathed occasionally. They shed twice a year, and their coats need extra attention. You don’t want to strip the natural oils off their coat, and you also don’t want their coats to get all tangled up.

10. Life expectancy

Unfortunately, Landseer dogs have a very short life expectancy of less than 10 years. This is fairly normal for giant dogs; but with proper care, diet, and exercise, this could easily extend by a couple to a few years. You’ll want to have that extra time once you’ve bonded with a Landseer.

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