Size range:
Extra Large: 40 inches and up; 65 pounds and up.

Kid-tolerance scale:
Excellent

Average lifespan:
10 years

Overall behavior of breed:
Newfs are extremely friendly and loving dogs. They are fiercely loyal and very protective. They are also easy to train. For these reasons, they are called the "Gentle Giants."

Explain why this breed was good/not good with your kids:
Because of the Newf's protective nature, especially towards children, our Newf got along with our two girls ages 10-1/2 and 18 months) very well. We had absolutely no problems. They are also very patient and can tolerate anything my toddler dishes out.

Typical colors:
Black, black and white combined, or bronze.

Does this breed shed?
Yes

Special grooming needs:
Because they have a double coat, it takes awhile to comb them out. They also love the water, therefore their fur needs to be combed out after a swim. The Newf has a thick coat in the winter and when it is time to shed it, watch out! They don't require any special shaving or haircuts though.

Daily exercise requirements:
The Newf is pretty much a couch potato, but it does need to be exercised every day because it is a large breed and needs to work its heart and lungs to maintain its health. We take ours on a 1-2 mile walk every day and take her to the park to get even more exercise once or twice a week.

Other comments or suggestions
The Newf is a very large breed, but I think it is one of the best dogs around children. Newfs drool a lot and can knock things over in your house because of their size, but they are definitely worth the trouble. I would never own another breed.