| General Appearance The Newfoundland is a sweet-dispositioned dog that
acts neither dull nor ill-tempered. He is a devoted companion. A
multipurpose dog, at home on land and in water, the Newfoundland is
capable of draft work and possesses natural lifesaving abilities. The
Newfoundland is a large, heavily coated, well balanced dog that is
deep-bodied, heavily boned, muscular, and strong. A good specimen of
the breed has dignity and proud head carriage. The following
description is that of the ideal Newfoundland. Any deviation from this
ideal is to be penalized to the extent of the deviation. Structural
and movement faults common to all working dogs are as undesirable in
the Newfoundland as in any other breed, even though they are not
specifically mentioned herein. Size, Proportion, Substance Average
height for adult dogs is 28 inches, for adult bitches, 26 inches.
Approximate weight of adult dogs ranges from 130 to 150 pounds, adult
bitches from 100 to 120 pounds. The dog's appearance is more massive
throughout than the bitch's. Large size is desirable, but never at the
expense of balance, structure, and correct gait. The Newfoundland is
slightly longer than tall when measured from the point of shoulder to
point of buttocks and from withers to ground. He is a dog of
considerable substance which is determined by spring of rib, strong
muscle, and heavy bone. Head The head is massive, with a broad skull,
slightly arched crown, and strongly developed occipital bone. Cheeks
are well developed. Eyes are dark brown. (Browns and Grays may have
lighter eyes and should be penalized only to the extent that color
affects expression.) They are relatively small, deep-set, and spaced
wide apart. Eyelids fit closely with no inversion. Ears are relatively
small and triangular with rounded tips. They are set on the skull
level with, or slightly above, the brow and lie close to the head.
When the ear is brought forward, it reaches to the inner corner of the
eye on the same side. Expression is soft and reflects the
characteristics of the breed: benevolence, intelligence, and dignity.
Forehead and face are smooth and free of wrinkles. Slope of the stop
is moderate but, because of the well developed brow, it may appear
abrupt in profile. The muzzle is clean-cut, broad throughout its
length, and deep. Depth and length are approximately equal, the length
from tip of nose to stop being less than that from stop to occiput.
The top of the muzzle is rounded, and the bridge, in profile, is
straight or only slightly arched. Teeth meet in a scissors or level
bite. Dropped lower incisors, in an otherwise normal bite, are not
indicative of a skeletal malocclusion and should be considered only a
minor deviation. Neck, Topline, Body The neck is strong and well set
on the shoulders and is long enough for proud head carriage. The back
is strong, broad, and muscular and is level from just behind the
withers to the croup. The chest is full and deep with the brisket
reaching at least down to the elbows. Ribs are well sprung, with the
anterior third of the rib cage tapered to allow elbow clearance. The
flank is deep. The croup is broad and slopes slightly. Tail--Tail set
follows the natural line of the croup. The tail is broad at the base
and strong. It has no kinks, and the distal bone reaches to the hock.
When the dog is standing relaxed, its tail hangs straight or with a
slight curve at the end. When the dog is in motion or excited, the
tail is carried out, but it does not curl over the back. Forequarters
Shoulders are muscular and well laid back. Elbows lie directly below
the highest point of the withers. Forelegs are muscular, heavily boned,
straight, and parallel to each other, and the elbows point directly to
the rear. The distance from elbow to ground equals about half the
dog's height. Pasterns are strong and slightly sloping. Feet are
proportionate to the body in size, webbed, and cat foot in type.
Dewclaws may be removed. Hindquarters The rear assembly is powerful,
muscular, and heavily boned. Viewed from the rear, the legs are
straight and parallel. Viewed from the side, the thighs are broad and
fairly long. Stifles and hocks are well bent and the line from hock to
ground is perpendicular. Hocks are well let down. Hind feet are
similar to the front feet. Dewclaws should be removed. Coat The adult
Newfoundland has a flat, water-resistant, double coat that tends to
fall back into place when rubbed against the nap. The outer coat is
coarse, moderately long, and full, either straight or with a wave. The
undercoat is soft and dense, although it is often less dense during
the summer months or in warmer climates. Hair on the face and muzzle
is short and fine. The backs of the legs are feathered all the way
down. The tail is covered with long dense hair. Excess hair may be
trimmed for neatness. Whiskers need not be trimmed. Color Color is
secondary to type, structure, and soundness. Recognized Newfoundland
colors are black, brown, gray, and white and black. Solid
Colors--Blacks, Browns, and Grays may appear as solid colors or solid
colors with white at any, some, or all, of the following locations:
chin, chest, toes, and tip of tail. Any amount of white found at these
locations is typical and is not penalized. Also typical are a tinge of
bronze on a black or gray coat and lighter furnishings on a brown or
gray coat. Landseer--White base coat with black markings. Typically,
the head is solid black, or black with white on the muzzle, with or
without a blaze. There is a separate black saddle and black on the
rump extending onto a white tail. Markings, on either Solid Colors or
Landseers, might deviate considerably from those described and should
be penalized only to the extent of the deviation. Clear white or white
with minimal ticking is preferred. Beauty of markings should be
considered only when comparing dogs of otherwise comparable quality
and never at the expense of type, structure and soundness.
Disqualifications-- Any colors or combinations of colors not
specifically described are disqualified. Gait The Newfoundland in
motion has good reach, strong drive, and gives the impression of
effortless power. His gait is smooth and rhythmic, covering the
maximum amount of ground with the minimum number of steps. Forelegs
and hind legs travel straight forward. As the dog's speed increases,
the legs tend toward single tracking. When moving, a slight roll of
the skin is characteristic of the breed. Essential to good movement is
the balance of correct front and rear assemblies. Temperament
Sweetness of temperament is the hallmark of the Newfoundland; this is
the most important single characteristic of the breed.
DISQUALIFICATIONS Any colors or combinations of colors not
specifically described are disqualified.
Approved May 8, 1990 Effective June 28, 1990
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