The Newfoundland is renowned for his gentleness, protectiveness and love for children. He is tolerant of behavior by children far beyond that which would make other breeds snap or walk away. Because of this he is ideally suited to being a child's companion, but the adult must accept the duty to protect the dog from abuse by the child. It is no accident that the Nana in the original Peter Pan was a Newfoundland.

The Newfoundland makes a great watchdog for the family. The Newfie is a little more laid-back in its protectiveness as compared to other breeds. He is less likely to put on a show of barking & growling, relying instead on his size and concerned watchfulness to send a message to an unwanted intruder.

It is very typical that a Newfoundland will stand physically between his family and any stranger. He will not threaten nor growl, merely remain in a position which indicates that he is on duty. He will not hesitate to act, however, if his family is physically threatened.

During their first year, Newfoundlands grow from about a pound to over a hundred pounds. They require plenty of food to support such rapid growth. Once they reach adulthood, however, they have a very low metabolism, and Newfie owners find that their dog food bills are lower than those of friends with Labs or Shepherds.

This plush Newfoundland measures 16 inches long.