Ok, so everyone who stays on top of the show dog world knows that a Newfoundland won Best in Show at the Westminster Dog Show in 2004. That was a shock to many of the traditionalists who think that the smaller and more assertive dogs are the ideal and drool does not belong on the show floor. The win also caused an inflation in the price of Newfoundland puppies, which was bad for the average income household, but good for some dog breeding operations. Despite the Westminster win, the Newfoundland breed was not elevated to the "Most Popular Breed" spot with the AKC. Which was a relief to many Newfoundland lovers who take to heart a deep responsibility for the well-being and protection of the breed.

So what is a Newfoundland dog all about? There are 3 main recognized color types of Newfoundland dog, also affectionately known as "newfs", or "newfies". They are Bronze, Black and Black/White (Landseer). Which color to choose from?

Unless you are going to dive into the serious side of breeding and showing, it doesn't matter! Enjoy whatever color comes with your new, big, floppy bundle of happiness.

There is no base personality difference between the three color variations of Newfoundland dogs, however, some breeders will maintain that the Landseer is a breed unto itself and should be classified as such.

Newfoundland dogs are big, getting up to 150 pounds and more. They are not for everybody as they require a different level of care, more space and more companionship than the average sized dog. Contrary to what many may think, a newf will not eat you out of house and home. Their metabolism is slower and feeding them too much will compromise their health. A fat newfy is a very unhealthy newfy!

Their double layer coats require a regular grooming routine, and supplementing their chow with certain vitamins and minerals is recommended to help ward off some joint problems common to newfs.

Overall, anybody who is contemplating the addition of a Newfoundland dog into their home should keep in mind some of the following important points: