120-145 lbs
27-29"
Germany/Switzerland
While many people in the United States and Canada refer to any black and white Newfoundland dog as a Landseer, fewer on this continent are aware of the Landseer ECT, or European Continental Type. Although only the Federation Cynologique Internationale recognizes the Landseer ECT as a separate breed, there are a few physical differences between this breed and the modern Newfoundland that can be used to differentiate the two. The Landseer, like the Newfoundland, is known to be a breed of gentle giants, although they are a little less giant and a little more energetic. Although interactions between canines and young children should always be supervised this is typically a breed that is gentle enough to be trusted around children and other animals, but imposing and protective enough to deter most threats.
The ancestor of the Landseer European Continental Type (ECT), came to England in the early 1800s with fishermen from Newfoundland. These large shaggy dogs were gentle towards people and loved to swim, and their impressive appearance and winning personality made them the subject of many stories and art pieces. Around that time, an artist by the name of Sir Edwin Henry Landseer became well known for his paintings of animals, particularly horses, stags, and dogs. He used these Newfoundland dogs as subjects in his paintings multiple times, particularly those that had black and white coloration, who then began to be known as Landseer Newfoundlands. The dogs that were originally brought to England were bred with other European dogs and by the end of the 1800s, the modern Newfoundland dog had little resemblance to the dog illustrated by Sir Edwin. While breeders in the early 1900s were thwarted in their efforts to reconstitute this dog by the ravages of World War I, enthusiastic and dedicated breeders, mainly from Germany, Sweden, and the Netherlands were able to restart the breeding program after the war ended. They were bred as a part of the Newfoundland Clubs in Europe starting in 1945 and continuing until they were recognized by the Federation Cynologique Internationale as a breed in their own right in 1960. Despite consistent differences in physiology, the American Kennel Club of the United States, the United Kennel Club of England, and the Canadian Kennel Club all consider the Landseer to be a variety within the Newfoundland breed.
The Landseer is a giant, well-proportioned canine with longer legs than the Newfoundland breed, giving this breed a slightly square silhouette. They are generally a solidly built, broad canine though not quite as broad or as deep chested as the average Newfoundland. This makes them a slightly more agile canine and slightly reduces the chance of developing bloat. The Landseer dog will have a large head with a broad, slightly arched skull, a clean-cut, broad muzzle of medium length, and deep-set, almond-shaped eyes in dark brown. Their triangular ears are somewhat short and are carried flat to the side of the head and their medium-length tail is either carried straight out behind them when in motion or excited, or downwards if standing or relaxing. Rather than the pendulous lips of the typical Newfoundland, the European Continental Type Landseer has lips that are tighter to their face, somewhat reducing the amount of drooling that they do. This breed comes in only one color combination, black and white.
The Landseer sports a double-layer coat consisting of a soft, insulating undercoat protected by a harsher outer layer of short to medium-length fur. While the coat of a Landseer ECT dog is somewhat thinner than the coat of the Newfoundland, it still requires a significant time commitment to keep this canine’s coat clean and healthy. This breed does best with somewhat frequent bathing, typically a bath every four to eight weeks, and brushing should occur at least every other day in order to prevent any mats from forming and to remove any dirt and debris from the coat. This dog is also prone to shedding more heavily during the change of seasons and may require daily brushing during those times. Care of the teeth and nails is also a necessity; the teeth can be brushed a few times a week and the nails trimmed monthly.
This breed is known for their positive interactions with children as they tend to be extremely gentle and patient with the younger set. Because of their large size, however, interactions between Landseers and children should be closely monitored at all times as these canines can occasionally become overly exuberant and knock over smaller children in their excitement. They are a loyal and intelligent breed that is generally obedient but also able to think on their own and make independent decisions when it is needed. They do have strong protective instincts but they are more likely to place themselves between you and the threat than to try and drive it off with barking or aggression. In most circumstances, these dogs are friendly with most other pets but a few Landseers have been known to develop same-sex dominance and aggression issues. This is more common with male dogs of this breed than it is with female.
For their size, the Landseer has somewhat undemanding requirements when it comes to getting their exercise needs met and about 45 to 60 minutes of good solid activity per day will usually keep your canine companion happy and healthy. This breed is somewhat more likely to be affected by heat than other breeds but can typically handle colder temperatures with ease. It is also important to keep exercises and activities low impact during this dog’s formative years as higher impact activities can cause permanent damage to the bones and joints that are developing at this time. While these gentle giants are quiet and calm enough to manage in an apartment living situation, they are usually happier with a yard to roam in.
Written by a Irish Setter lover Penny Sebring
Published: 04/13/2018, edited: 10/30/2021
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