Leonberger vs Newfoundland
Side by side
Leonberger
Newfoundland
Adult weight
Males 50–77 kg (110–170 lb); females 41–64 kg (90–141 lb) (breed club figure)1
Males 59–68 kg (130–150 lb); females 45–54 kg (100–120 lb) (breed club figure)2
Shedding
Moults most as the seasons change
Grooming
Daily brushing
Exercise
A moderate amount
Health
Bone cancer (far more likely)7
Inward-rolling eyelid (far more likely); Outward-drooping eyelid (far more likely)8
Class
Family
Family
Which suits you
Lifespan
In UK vet records the Newfoundland lives longer: a median of 11 years, against 10 for the Leonberger.
Temperament
They differ most on loyalty (Leonberger: bonded to its family; Newfoundland: friendly with everyone).
Alike
They are much the same size as adults, about 58 kg (128 lb) for the Leonberger and 57 kg (125 lb) for the Newfoundland.
Alike
Both are rated the same on affection: a lap or leaning dog.
Neither is the better dog in general. Which suits you depends on your home, your days and the care you can give.
What they're like
Leonberger
Pinschers & molossoids · Giant
In temperament the Leonberger is calm, self-assured and even-tempered, affectionate with its family and steady with strangers.
Newfoundland
Pinschers & molossoids · Giant
In temperament the Newfoundland is sweet, patient and devoted, with a calm, gentle manner and a long-standing reputation for kindness to children.
Breed traits
Day to day
Leonberger
Newfoundland
Activity
Differs
A good daily walk and play
Happy with modest walks
Intelligence
Learns readily, likes games
Learns readily, likes games
Handler demand
Needs steady training
Needs steady training
With people
Leonberger
Newfoundland
Affection
A lap or leaning dog
A lap or leaning dog
Loyalty
Differs
Bonded to its family
Friendly with everyone
Independence
Cooperative, with its own ideas
Cooperative, with its own ideas
Around the home
Leonberger
Newfoundland
Sensitivity
Average
Average
Voice
Quiet
Quiet
Prey drive
Usually fine with small pets
Usually fine with small pets
Puppy growth
Reference curves · both sexes
Summary
Detail
Both grow to much the same adult weight, about 58 kg.
Leonberger
Newfoundland
More comparisons
Compare the Leonberger with
Sources
- 1American Kennel Club. Leonberger breed page. ↑
- 2Newfoundland Club of America. Newfoundland breed page. ↑
- 3
- 4Hawthorne et al., 2004. Body-weight changes during growth in puppies of different breeds. Journal of Nutrition 134(8 Suppl): 2027S–2030S (WALTHAM). ↑
- 5
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- 8
- 9Morrill et al., 2022. Ancestry-inclusive dog genomics challenges popular breed stereotypes. Science 376: eabk0639 (Darwin's Ark). ↑
- 10Dogs Trust. Finding a good, responsible breeder. ↑
- 11American Kennel Club. Screening puppy buyers: how top breeders find the best homes. ↑
Parts of this page were written by AI ·