At a glance the quick version
Wikipedia gives 45-68 kg (100-150 lb); the FCI standard sets no weight.
Coat and looks how to spot one
long, dense double coat
A long, straight and plentiful coat that feels soft, with a good undercoat beneath; the head hair is shorter. Compared with the Newfoundland it stands taller on longer legs, with a lighter build and a longer head.32
Personality what they are like
A friendly-looking giant kept as a guard and family companion. The standard asks for a steady dog that is neither sharp nor timid.3
Grooming and care the hands-on bits
The long, dense coat and thick undercoat call for regular, thorough brushing.3
Home where they are happiest
The story where it all began
Its roots lie in the Newfoundland, the fishermen's dog of Canada's east coast. Black-and-white Newfoundlands became famous through the paintings of Sir Edwin Landseer, and in the 1930s continental breeders set out to recreate that look. Germany founded a separate breed club in 1960, and the FCI recognised the Landseer as its own breed the same year.21
Fun facts for the dinner table
- 1
The breed is named after the Victorian painter Sir Edwin Landseer, who often painted black-and-white Newfoundlands; the name was in use by 1896.2
- 2
Lord Byron's beloved dog Boatswain had Landseer colouring, and Byron raised a memorial to him at Newstead Abbey.4
- 3
J.M. Barrie's dog Luath, a Landseer, inspired Nana, the canine nursemaid in Peter Pan.4
- 4
The head is black with a white blaze, while the collar, chest, belly, legs and tail are white.3
- 5
In Britain and North America the Landseer counts as a Newfoundland colour rather than a separate breed.2
Recognised by the official bits
- FCI
- Standard no. 226, Group 2, Section 2.2 Molossian type, mountain type; definitive recognition 24 August 1960; countries of origin Germany and Switzerland.1
- The Royal Kennel Club / AKC
- Not a separate breed in Britain or North America, where the black-and-white pattern is treated as a colour of the Newfoundland.2
The care rhythm Furry Diary remembers it for you
A typical home-care rhythm for a Landseer. It is our own starting plan, not a vet's advice, and you can change every line in the app.
- Brushingevery week
- Bathevery 8 weeks
- Nail trimSooner if you hear clicking on the floorevery month
- Ear checkFloppy ears trap moisture, so check and dry themevery week
- Teeth brushingDaily brushing is idealevery 2 days
- ExerciseDaily walks and playevery day
- Flea, tick and worm protectionSchedule as your vet recommendsas your vet recommends
- Vet check-upSenior years usually start around age 6every year
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Where this comes from
Every breed page shows where each fact comes from. If we got something wrong, sorry, we are pet people, not a science magazine. Tell us at [email protected] and we will fix it.
- FCI nomenclature: Landseer (European Continental type) (226) fci.beused for recognition, origin
- Landseer (dog) - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.orgused for history, weight, build, recognition elsewhere, fun facts
- FCI standard 226 Landseer fci.beused for height, coat, colours, temperament, use
- Newfoundland dog - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.orgused for famous Landseer-coloured dogs
Checked 2026-09-30. Text is written in our own words from these sources.