Landseer: Personality, Health, Grooming

Group: Mastiff.

About Landseer

Origin and History of the Breed Sir Edwin Henry Landseer was a notable figure in 19th Century British art. Landseer came to be the official name for the breed of Newfoundland dogs that the painter popularized in his paintings. The origin of the Landseer stems back to Germany and Switzerland. In the USA and Great Britain, the Landseer is considered the same breed as the Newfoundland.

However, the Fédération Cynologique Internationale and people in some European countries consider the Landseer as a breed totally different from the Newfoundland. There is no appearance of cross-breeding in Landseer’s dog; on the contrary, he reveals all the characteristics of a thoroughbred.

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A General Description of the Breed

The Landseer conveys the impression of being a tall, powerful and well-balanced dog. The white, wide muzzle is rather short and squared-off. The small triangular ears are pendant. The small eyes are dark brown. The nose is black. The feet are webbed for better swimming. The tail hangs down. The water-repellent long outer coat is flat, oily and slightly wavy with a thick oily undercoat. Dogs that live indoors, however, tend to lose their undercoats.

Coat

The top coat, with exception of the head, is long, straight and dense, soft to the touch. When brushed in the wrong way, it falls back into place naturally. The main color of the coat is a clear white with distinct black patches on body and croup. Collar, chest, belly, legs and tail are white. The head is black, with a white symmetrical blaze. It has a slight roll in gait.

Height

Male: 28 ½ -31 ½ inches (72-80 cm.)
Female: 26 ½-28 ½ inches (67-72 cm.).

Weight

Male: 130-150 pounds (59-68 kg)
Female: 100-120 pounds (45-54kg).

Personality

Temperament of the Breed

The Landseer possesses all the qualities required to make a treasured pet. It is of an extremely sweet disposition, courageous, intelligent, patient, noble, calm, gentle, trustworthy, dignified and peaceable. The Landseer is fiercely protective of and devoted to its master and mild with guests and other animals. Playful, sociable and loving, specially with children, it makes a “natural babysitter”. Makes decisions and acts quickly and with admirable accuracy, specially when the family is threatened. They may be slightly difficult to train as their huge bodies move rather slowly. They are very sensitive to the tone of their masters' voices.

Better suited to outdoor or indoor lifestyle?

The Landseer is well suited to apartment life. It craves for companionship and gets terribly upset if left alone. They are relatively inactive indoors and a small yard is sufficient for them. They are sensitive to heat. So it's vital to provide them with plenty of shade and cool water in warm weather. These dogs prefer cool climates.

How active is the breed?

This breed prefers lazing around the house and would be quite content to sleep away for hours at a stretch. However, it's very important to ensure that the dog gets its daily requirement of exercise so that it doesn't get overweight. A daily brisk walk should suffice. It also enjoys playing, swimming and frolicking with its owner.

Grooming

The coat of the Landseer is thick and coarse, so daily brushing with a hard brush is necessary. The undercoat is shed twice a year, in the spring and fall. Frequent bathing will strip away the coat's natural oils, so only dry shampoo is recommended.

Health Problems

The Landseer is prone to hip dysplasia (a malformed ball and socket in the hip joint) and a hereditary heart disease called sub-aortic stenosis (SAS). Breeders should have the puppy's hearts checked by a veterinary cardiologist at 8-12 weeks of age.

Life Expectancy: The Landseer is expected to live for around 10 years.