Newfoundlands, or Newfs - as they are fondly called, are an extremely large breed of dogs used primarily within the fishing industry. Newfoundland dogs are said to be part descendants of the large sized Viking black bear dogs, though this may be myth rather than reality. Fisherman making their way from Ireland and England reached Newfoundland to find two types of working dogs. One was a kind of water dog of light build and a smooth coat. That was the predecessor of modern Labrador Retrievers. The other kind was heavily built, large sized and with a long coat. This was the Newfoundland breed of fishing dog. Fishermen used these dogs to pull in fishing nets to the boat, save men who fell into the sea from drowning and retrieve objects that went overboard.

The Newfoundland breed of dogs is as much at home on land as it is on water. The large size of the dog makes it easy for this breed to break through ocean currents and swim for great distances out in the sea. The average height of a Newfoundland male is around twenty eight inches at the shoulders while females stand at approximately twenty six inches. The weight varies from one hundred and ten pounds to hundred and twenty pounds.

The large bone structure of the Newfoundland dogs provide them with mass and the strong muscles impart the strength to dive and swim through icy tides. This breed of dogs has excellent lung capacity to enable them to swim for a long time. The swim strokes of a Newfoundland are different than those of other dogs. It is more of a breast stroke rather than a paddle. To help in swimming, Newfoundlands have special webbed paws that provide maximum propulsion. If the owner wants, dewclaws of this dog can be removed.

The Newfoundland has a number of other adaptations too, which facilitate easy swimming. The head of the dog is wide and ample sized. The deep set dark colored eyes are tight and have no third eyelid. This helps them to keep out water and infections at bay. Newfoundlands have drop ears, which keep out the water. They have droopy lips, which help them to breathe even if they are carrying something in their mouth.

The coat of a Newfoundland is double layered. The undercoat is fleecy to enable the dog to cope with the harsh winters. The top coat is thick and oily, which makes it water resistant. Even after hours of swimming, a Newfoundland will emerge with dry and warm skin. The coat colors of a Newfoundland are usually black, gray or brown. Some unusual types, called the Landseer, have a black head and a black-and-white body. However, Landseer is considered to belong to this breed only in Great Britain and USA, as some European countries consider it to be a totally different breed from the Newfoundland.

In spite of their size, Newfoundlands are very gentle dogs. They can be raised indoors as long as they get sufficient exercise. They are loyal pets and very protective of their masters. In case of someone threatening the family, a Newfoundland will bravely stand in between the intruder and others in order to protect its family members.