How to Groom a Newfoundland

Newfoundlands are sturdy, healthy, brawny dogs. Enormous in size, but very gentle in nature, they have an oily double coat that is flat to wavy in texture and usually dark in color. The coat is also long and water-resistant. Newfoundlands require a full grooming every 4 to 6 weeks and a general grooming 2 times per week. Read on to learn more.

Things You'll Need

• Pin brushes
• Slicker brushes
• Metal combs
• Mat rakes
• Scissors
• Thinning shears
• Ear cleaner
• Cotton balls

Instructions

1. Brush out the coat at least twice a week with pin brushes, slicker brushes and metal combs. Lift the topcoat with one hand and brush out the undercoat in the direction which the hair grows. Newfoundlands shed year round, but have a massive shed twice a year, once in the spring and once in the fall. During these heavy shedding times, brush your Newfoundland more often to prevent shed hair build-up.

2. Bathe only when it's absolutely necessary. The coat of the Newfoundland has natural oils which keep it shiny and healthy, and bathing them strips away all of these oils. If possible, give them only a dry shampoo when they are dirty. If you do bathe your dog, make sure you give her a thorough combing and brushing prior to the bath. If mats in the coat get wet, they turn in to knots. After bathing, dry the dog as quickly as possible.

3. Use scissors and mat rakes to cut off excess hair from the coat. If you leave them untended, these can become tangled and be very painful to remove. The most likely spots for mats on Newfoundlands are between the back legs, under the front legs and behind the ears.

4. Trim ear and foot hair regularly to protect against bacterial infections. Trimming the chest area can also be beneficial. If you wish to reduce the amount of hair shed around the house, you can also trim the hocks. Use scissors or thinning shears.

5. Clean the dog's ears once a month minimum. Put ear cleaner in to the ear canal if the ears smell normal. Massage the ear for at least 10 seconds and then remove excess cleaner and other grime with cotton balls.

Tips & Warnings

• Newfoundlands live between 9 and 15 years.

• There are many different theories about the origin of the Newfoundland. Some believe they are descended from Viking bear dogs, other believe their ancestors were nomadic Indian dogs. Another theory is that they are the result of cross-breeding between Tibetan Massifs and local Canadian dogs from the early 18th century.

• Never put objects that are smaller than your finger inside your dog's ears.

• Newfoundlands are susceptible to a hereditary heart condition called sub-aortic stenosis (SAS). Don't let them become overweight. They are also sometimes afflicted with hip dysplasia.