Newfs and Labs- differences and similarities?

[Karenvm]

Hi all.
I am not a Newf owner...yet. But it has always been my dream to have one. I have always had labs, and adore them. I just had to put my 14 year old chocolate boy to sleep recently, but I still have a 4 year old female, who is a dream dog!

I am wondering how the temperaments compare? How are they similar, and how are they different? I always saw Newfs as being similar in temperament to Labs, sweet, wanting to please, gentle, playful. My current Lab came to me when she was almost five months old, so she was perfect- never chewed anything, not "mouthy", never leaves my side. My male lab was wonderful, but no where near as attached as my female, and when given the opportunity, he would take off. He could never be off leash ( unlike my female who won't go more than 20 steps in front of me!).

I want to continue my research, and maybe some breeders will allow me to visit their dogs to get a better sense of the "typical" (if there is one) personality. It will be a few months before I get serious about searching for the right dog ( Lab, or Newf), so I have some time. Want to be sure to get the right dog for my family (i have three boys- 17, 15, and 10). i know Labs so well, and Newfs are a bit more foreign to me, as I have never known anyone personally who has one, I only know what I read and see. Just wanted to see what you Newf experts thought!

Thank you!

 

[lmfoltyn]

I have both and although I love them all, newfie, newfie/lab mix and pure lab, the newfie and the newfie/lab mix are the most attached dogs. They won't leave your side. And both of these were rescues where the lab was ours from 6 weeks old. The lab is more independent than my newfies. The lab is also more rambunctious even at the age of 4. He is wonderful and so sweet but such a little stinker...good luck on your research...

 

[TerriW]

You've come to the right place. Newfies are *generally* more laid-back than Labs. They are larger - up to 50-60 pounds heavier. They are much hairier - that is, they have a long flowing double coat that needs regular (read 3 or 4 times a week) brushing. Some people brush them daily. They shed their downy undercoat 2 times a year and there always seems to be Newf hair in the house! We say you can peel a hard-boiled egg and find a Newf hair in it.

If hair bothers you, don't get one! If drooling bothers you, or drinking and splashing everywhere bothers you, don't get one!

Most are 'velcro' dogs and don't want to leave your side, literally. If that bothers you, don't get one! They are more expensive to groom, feed and to take to the vets. Again, if that is a problem, don't get one!

I say that ^ somewhat tongue in cheek, but what you will get in a Newf is a devoted companion who will live 10-12 short years and leave a huge hole in your heart when he's gone. If THAT bothers you.....get one anyway. You'll be glad you did. :heart:

PS - if you didn't already, go to the Newfies Photos and Videos forum here, and click on A Sad Tail (Pun Intended). You'll get a good idea what you're getting into. It's awesome.

 

[BLCOLE]

I have also had both Labs AND Newfs. I agree that the Newf's coat is MUCH higher maintenance. My Newfs have also drooled MUCH more than the labs ever did.

As far as personality, my Newfs have been more like Golden Retrievers than Labs. The Newfs have also been much better with other dogs, in my experience. All of my Newfs have come to me as adults, so I really can't talk about puppyhood differences.

 

[shellyk]

We have a 6 mo female newf puppy and a 3 yr old male large field lab. This is our 2nd lab but our first Newfie. The fur on the Newf does require grooming! The lab can be toweled dry and they are ready to go. The Newf needs to be power dryed when wet and brushed regularly. We haven't had a coat blow with our Newf yet but the typical lab shedding 365 days per year and then twice a year coat blows seems similar to the Newf amount of shedding.

Our Newf puppy has just started to drool a bit and she makes more of a mess with her water than the labs do. She slimes my clothes and the lab on a regular basis. If this would bug you go with the lab.

The lab puppies were more intense and demanding of attention and exercise than our Newf puppy is. She loves to chase the lab but will often stop chasing and ambush him or try to cut him off. The newf puppy seems a little smarter and more independent than the labs were as puppies. The newf puppy doesn't fetch like a lab and isn't ball obsessive like our labs have been.

They are different but very much the same. What was really important to us was that they both are really friendly - they like people and dogs. They both like the water. They both want to be wherever their owners are.

 

[estacey]

Labrador is only half of NEWFOUNDLAND. :whistling:

 

[TerriW]

Labrador is only half of NEWFOUNDLAND. :whistling:

:roflmao:


Also, it's true many Newfs don't retrieve. In fact, I've never had one retrieve. I throw the ball and they watch it arc away from them, and then look at me expectantly. On the other hand, I've known labs who would die (literally!) from obsessive retrieving if we let them.

So you may get a playful Newf, or a retrieving Newf - or not!

 

[blaue_augen]

Labrador is only half of NEWFOUNDLAND. :whistling:

lol! Sadly, I wouldn't have understood this if my husband wasn't Canadian.

 

[R Taft]

:lol: Well the lab is the lesser newfoundland after all...I train and have owned both. I have found that the "old-fashioned" English type of Labrador with recent working history is very much like the newfie in many ways.......I love them and we are now training with a few of them at Water training for Water Rescue...the labrador has changed in many ways and I do not like the new lines. But I adore the working lines. We are lucky here in Australia, because there are still many people using labradors for duck shooting and just general retrieving work.these are the large stocky big boofy headed ones........
So easy to train and guide......The best ones here are the ones that are bred for Guide dogs for the blind and assistance dogs and I have worked with many. I love my newfies, I have very independant newfies, becuase I train mine to be that way....And they love being that way. I find the dogs I have from puppy (newfs) are independent. My Rescue dogs are more velcro, but I try hard at making them feel more secure and independent. We have found both breeds train well...But you just cannot get past the fluffy adorable face of a newf and just their presence........No matter how hard the lab tries. I also love working with Golden Retrievers and again find the working lines just great to deal with. As Dog trainer I also get to deal with many BYB or badly bred Goldens and labs and it really comes out in the temperament. Often silly forever and over active. The Lab and Golden are gundogs and gundogs are bred to be social and workers, how else can you have a whole lot of folk on an English hunt with all their dogs. I love my newfies, but my 3 Foster dogs that live with their own folk are labradors and I adore them and they are great dogs....I would gladly own a well bred labrador. But that said I will always have at least one newfie, I have had newfies since the early 80's (newf x lab too) . Cannot imagine life without........Good luck in your search

 

[victoria1140]

l'm not so sure about the gentle part as we have all been reciepients of over enthusiasm with our newfs and it hurts a lot.

my lab cross was a chewer, Max is not nicknamed the Munchkin for nothing

you cant go anywhere fast with a newf due to people, also people recognise labs they dont generally newfs.

both can be trained well though with a newf its a must as they are so much bigger.

can you attend any water training so you get the idea

l did loads of research for over 2 years and thought how much different can it be from my other dogs i've had, enter the hellraiser and it was a rollercoaster ride

 

[lacey9875]

I had an English Lab ( yellow ) for 13 years, and decided on a Newf because of the similarities between the two, but couldn't bear to have anything that looked like a lab.

They are both loving, loyal, wonderful family dogs. My lab was more independant-I could board her and not worry about her missing me. She'd usually come back weighing more than when she left because the girls would bring her into the office and give her treats. She was always by my side, and very high energy until the day I had to have her put down, she just needed more rest.

My Maggie ( Newf ) has to be spoon fed wet food because she refuses to eat. She falls asleep watching me and makes me feel bad when I leave. When I come home, I can see her through the window, watching for me to come home. She also never leaves my side. They are both great dogs, and I've been thinking of getting another lab. I think the biggest difference is the hair-although I really think my Lab shed way more than the Newf.


Maggie will retrieve a ball, but only if there is food involved, and only about three or four times. Then she takes it with her so I can't throw it anymore. :lol:

 

[YorkvilleNewfie]

In my experience, Newfs and Labs are very similar in their sociabilty and their love of life and everyone/everything in it. Happy and loving and joyful both. They're both mouthy breeds, both love water and both benefit from having jobs to do.

That having been said, Newfs are *typically* much lower key as adults compared to Labs. They're still hellraisers as pups though. And much more stubborn/independent than Labs. Again, *typically*. Most Newfs aren't all over you all the time, trying to soak up attention and physical interaction the way that Labs seem to, but they do seem to be "velcro" in the way that they have to always be in the same room as you/be able to keep an eye on you at all times. My girl follows me from room to room to room, napping wherever I happen to be.

As pups, Newfs are much more difficult to raise based purely upon the fact that they do require special care with feeding/exercise/etc. as they grow into the giants that they'll one day become. That giant size also means that you could very well end up with a mouthy, tantrum-ing, sassy ENORMOUS puppy. It can really be a challenge because they grow so, so quickly. My girl was over 100 pounds at 8 months and still very much a puppy. And even though they grow so quickly as pups, they mature (mentally) very slowly. They aren't officially considered adults until 3 years of age. Because of that, they have a looooooooong puppyhood.

The coat is a part-time job to manage and plan on once weekly (or so, depending on your preferences) wiping the randomly flung bits of slobber off of your walls, tv screen and cabinets. In some cases, even your ceiling (thank the gods I haven't experienced that yet).

Another thing is that, generally speaking, people tend to not be bothered by being welcomed by a Lab when they walk into a home. Newfs are another matter entirely. Expect that some of your friends and family will not enjoy your Newf the way that you do. They are huge, they are hairy and they tend to drool. Some people do not like that. At all. You'll learn quickly who loves your Newf and who does not. And some of the people that won't be fond of your Newf will even be dog people themselves. They're an aqcuired taste. It's sad, but true.

 

[YorkvilleNewfie]

That all having been said, Newfs are really and truly amazing dogs. My Newf is just about as stubborn and willful as they come, and at not-quite 3, she still can raise some serious hell (last night she stole the patties of organic, grass-fed beef my hubby had picked up on his way home from work to make special gourmet hamburgers for dinner, RIGHT OFF OF THE PLATE, on the counter, while my hubby seasoned them. Needless to say, he didn't find it very funny. Then this morning I awoke to her throwing up a toy shark onto my foyer rug. :lol, but she is my heart. She's my child's best friend and she's everything I'd ever dreamed a dog would be. My dream dog (well, except for the counter surfing and sassiness!). I mean, just look at my avatar! :heart:

 

[slilli]

As having had a lab that lived to be 11 years old and now with Emma the Newf who is 7 months old... here's my take.

Our lab Murphy was one of the sweetest most happy boys ever, right up until the day we had to have him put down. But.. he was such a hellraiser as a puppy and young adult dog. Remember Marley from "Marley and Me"? Well that was Murphy... I watched that movie with his head on my lap and bawled like a baby. He would steal things, eat things, knock over anything and anyone to get to an open door. We even had to have our daughter's ankle x-rayed when she was 6 because she had a feathery branch in her hand and Murphy the wild 75 pound pup decided he wanted it and hit Katie so hard he knocked her out of her shoes. Thankfully just a sprained ankle. It took a loooong time for Murphy to grow up.

Emma is somewhat of a hellraiser herself. She counter surfs, will jump up on you when playing and is a fabulous sock thief. She has destroyed a pair of prescription glasses, cracked the face of my Kindle Fire and right now... I'm pulling my hair out because she refuses to stop chewing on the edges of my area rugs!! BUT, I do find that Emma is calmer than Murphy was for the most part and already seems to have this knack of looking at me with the most soulful eyes ever and I believe she knows exactly what I am feeling and what I am saying to her. Murphy could have cared less until he was about 5 years old. He was kicked out of obedience class because he would not stop barking. Seriously, he would bark the ENTIRE time at class. Emma is a very intellegent and a respectful girl in her classes and has learned so much. We can take her just about anywhere, whereas poor Murph wasn't allowed very many places because he was just too out of control.

I also believe he shed more than Emma does but its a different kind of fur that coated everything.

Both are fabulous breeds and I would own either one again in a heart beat. Murphy had not a care in the world and loved everybody ...just a little too much :lol:

 

[lacey9875]

That all having been said, Newfs are really and truly amazing dogs. My Newf is just about as stubborn and willful as they come, and at not-quite 3, she still can raise some serious hell (last night she stole the patties of organic, grass-fed beef my hubby had picked up on his way home from work to make special gourmet hamburgers for dinner, RIGHT OFF OF THE PLATE, on the counter, while my hubby seasoned them. Needless to say, he didn't find it very funny. Then this morning I awoke to her throwing up a toy shark onto my foyer rug. :lol, but she is my heart. She's my child's best friend and she's everything I'd ever dreamed a dog would be. My dream dog (well, except for the counter surfing and sassiness!). I mean, just look at my avatar! :heart:

I believe the cat stole the hamburger. Mila was framed.

Also, no wonder he won't commit to another Newf! :lol: ETA: "He" being Mila's Daddy. Sorry, too little sleep.

 

[NewfieMama]

My sister had a black Lab, Barney, who was Cooper's soul mate (though they never met) - both big, gentle, sweet, loving, velcro-attached mooshy mama's boys. Love of children, animals, rarely bark, rarely protective...

Now my sister has Major a big blocky stocky yellow lab who - really - ate her kitchen when he was about 9 months old. The baseboard, half the wallpaper, and the dinette set - shredded. She has confessed to me that she loved him, but didn't really like him, till he was about 2. Now at age 7 he is the sweetest, gentlest boy. BUT he can't be off leash, he chases cars. He also has a strong prey drive and if you want to get him moving fast in the yard you just have to say "squirrel".

My Zuzu is sort of between Cooper/Barney and Major. She ate her share of stuff, she was a jumper, a bit of a nipper, she was (and sometimes still is) very in your face because (it took me a while to figure this out) she is focused. Cooper will pretty much do whatever, including just hang out like a lump, whereas Zu tends to be often looking for adventure. One day if I can get her legs stable again I'd like to do more water training with her. She'll never jump from a boat or a dock but she's a good swimmer and has that Newfie rescue instinct. She's very vocal and she "talks" all the time.

Zuzu is clearly protective of my daughter and to some extent of me and my husband. She does not growl or posture but she physically blocks people and dogs from coming close (best time recently: she blocked the ortho surgeon from coming close to Sophie at an appointment - on 3 legs. Vet was LHAO.) Cooper is selectively protective of me - his radar has gone off a handful of times and I respect that because it is so, so rare. Neither one is a watchdog when I am home and about; both of them bark if I am asleep or in the shower. Neighbors say they don't bark when we're not home.

Both of my dogs can take me down with an unintentional move; then again, my sister tripped over Major on a walk and ended up in the hospital with stitches in her chin and a sprained ankle. Even though she fell over him, Major would not let anyone near his mama - he growled when anyone came close until her husband came. He looks about half the size of the Newfs but he's 95 lbs, big blocky head and sturdy.

Welcome and good luck!!!

 

[NinaA]

I, too, have both. In fact, a year ago I had two newfs and three labs. My experience has been about the same as those above. I will say that I started with a Lab about 35 years ago when people didn't know what they were and then advanced to a Newf about 25 years ago when people didn't know what they were. There are similarities, but once you have a Newf you will see that there is nothing like a Newf. While the Labs that I have had have been sweet, good, people dogs, I am always reminded of one of our favorite sayings, "A Newf is a person in dog's clothing." The main difference, other than size - which is a huge difference, is shedding. You have never seen shedding like a Newf. But, it's something you get used to, and we really don't think much about it any more, but I always remind people who want a Newf - don't worry about the drool, it's the hair that is excessive. Our dogs are always house dogs which means they tend to shed year round. Labs and Newfs go well together, and you would have no problem bringing one home to your Lab. If you do, all of us here will be happy to offer any help that we can. As you can see, we have a lot of experience.

 

[NewfieMama]

That all having been said, Newfs are really and truly amazing dogs. My Newf is just about as stubborn and willful as they come, and at not-quite 3, she still can raise some serious hell (last night she stole the patties of organic, grass-fed beef my hubby had picked up on his way home from work to make special gourmet hamburgers for dinner, RIGHT OFF OF THE PLATE, on the counter, while my hubby seasoned them. Needless to say, he didn't find it very funny. Then this morning I awoke to her throwing up a toy shark onto my foyer rug. :lol, but she is my heart. She's my child's best friend and she's everything I'd ever dreamed a dog would be. My dream dog (well, except for the counter surfing and sassiness!). I mean, just look at my avatar! :heart:

Cooper and Mila are truly cut from the same cloth. There is nothing stealthy about Cooper except when there is food involved...

 

[YorkvilleNewfie]

There is nothing stealthy about Cooper except when there is food involved...

Yes! This! Mila is like a freaking NINJA when there's food around. Any other time she's about as subtle, quiet and graceful as Rodney Dangerfield.

 

[slilli]

Yes! This! Mila is like a freaking NINJA when there's food around. Any other time she's about as subtle, quiet and graceful as Rodney Dangerfield.

:roflmao::roflmao::roflmao: