I am sure that your Newfoundland dog won’t look at himself in the mirror and realize that he is overweight, but that doesn’t mean that you should ignore the fact that your dog might be obese. According to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention, 56% of pet dogs in the USA were obese in 2018. If we add the fact the Newfoundland dogs are genetically prone to obesity, you realize how important it is to double the precautions.
Although Newfoundland dogs are a giant breed, their size shouldn’t be at the expense of their health. They are working dogs that should be lean and you should be able to feel your dog’s body contour no matter how dense and big coat he has. Adult males should weigh somewhere between 130 and 150 pounds while females should be slightly lighter 100-120 pounds. Don’t forget to consider your dog’s height, some average for males is 28”, while females are around 26” tall. So if you have a male that is 28” tall but weighs almost 200 pounds, you have the overweight dog!
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How Much Should A Newfoundland Weigh?
This breed is known as a large or giant breed. There are some people who pick this dog because he is big while for others his size might be a deterrent. What is the right size for a Newfie? How much one Newfie should weigh? How fast do puppies gain weight? If Newfoundland dogs are new to you, it’s normal that you are interested in these questions.
How Much Should A Newfoundland Puppy Weigh?
Newfoundland puppies usually weigh only a couple of pounds at birth. Until they hit two months of age they should have 15-20 pounds. Of course, not all dogs are the same and the weight depends on the gender as well.
| Age | Male Weight in lbs | Female Weight in lbs |
| 1 Month | 8 lbs – 12 lbs | 7 lbs – 11 lbs |
| 2 Months | 15 lbs – 25 lbs | 14 lbs – 20 lbs |
| 3 Months | 39 lbs – 51 lbs | 36 lbs – 46 lbs |
| 4 Months | 55 lbs – 62 lbs | 42 lbs – 53 lbs |
| 5 Months | 63 lbs – 75 lbs | 54 lbs – 67 lbs |
| 6 Months | 74 lbs – 87 lbs | 59 lbs – 71 lbs |
| 7 Months | 82 lbs – 97 lbs | 66 lbs – 75 lbs |
| 8 Months | 92 lbs -101 lbs | 69 lbs – 78 lbs |
| 9 Months | 102 lbs – 114 lbs | 75 lbs – 84 lbs |
| 10 Months | 109 lbs – 121 lbs | 83 lbs – 92 lbs |
| 11 Months | 112.5 lbs -127 lbs | 88 lbs -99 lbs |
| 12 Months | 114lbs – 130 lbs | 92 lbs – 106 lbs |
| 24 Months | 130 lbs – 150 lbs | 100 lbs – 120 lbs |
arcanapets.com
There is also a puppy weight calculator you can find online. It’s easy to use, you have a few steps to make and you get the answer soon.
Again, all these numbers are average weight and you should consult your vet if you assume that your puppy is heavier than it should be. Bear in mind that every dog grows at its own pace (like humans)so there is no way that your Newfie weight will match every number from the chart but it’s good to keep it as a guideline.
Newfoundland puppies usually are fully grown between the age of 2 and 3 years but there are exceptions of course. Some of them won’t reach their full height before their 4th birthday. Even when they are full-grown, they still can gain weight, that’s why you should take all the precautions and don’t let your dog become obese.
Besides proper food and portion size as well as regular exercise and physical activity, it’s recommended to weigh your puppy on a regular basis ( you can do it once a week or once in two weeks) and keep the weight record.
How Much Should A Newfoundland Adult Male Weigh?
Male Newfies that are fully grown should weigh somewhere between 130 and 150 pounds. That doesn’t mean that something is wrong with your dog that has 165 pounds. Before you jump to the conclusion that your dog is obese, consider his height and his general appearance.
If he is taller than 28” then might be ok to have that weight. If you can feel his ribs, then most probably he is not fat. If you look at him from above, you should see a waistline (narrowing) behind the ribs but before the hips.
How Much Should A Newfoundland Adult Female Weigh?
Females are generally smaller in size, they usually weigh between 100-120 pounds. The average height for Newfie girls is around 26” but take this as a guideline only.
What applies to males, applies to females as well. Try to feel your dog’s spine and ribs. If you cannot see the waistline or your dog struggles to get up from a sitting or lying position, she might have a problem with the weight.
How To Recognize An Overweight Newfoundland Dog?
Overweight Newfoundland dogs usually:
- pant constantly
- appear winded even after a small movement
- wheezing while breathing
- need your help to get in/out of the car
- struggle to get up
- have fat deposits on waist and limbs
- don’t have a visible waistline
- you cannot easily feel the ribs and the spine
What To Do If My Newfoundland Is Overweight?
If your Newfie seems to have more pounds than it should, you should definitely do something about it. Excess weight affects not only joints and bones but also causes numerous health problems like respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, hypertension as well a shortened life span.
The first step is to try to find the cause, how did your dog become obese? Have you been overfeeding him? Have you been giving him a lot of treats? Does your dog eat quality food ( low in carbs but high in proteins)? Does he have enough physical activity? … The more honest you are with yourself, the faster you will find the core of the problem.
The next step is a visit to the vet. A professional should determine if your dog is obese or not. Even if the numbers ( weight and weight-height ratio) without any doubt refer to obesity, you should consult your vet. He/she will also give you some good advice on how to solve this situation.
If your dog is definitely obese, you should make some changes in everyday routine and here is what experienced owners and vets recommend
- Newfoundland dogs are usually overfed. People think they need a lot of food since they are big. This is a huge mistake. Normal daily portion for Newfoundland adults 2-3 cups of kibbles, two times a day.
- Another thing many people don’t realize is that you cannot feed your dog every day with the same quantity. Especially not the breed that gains weight so easily like Newfies. For example, if you have given more treats than usual to your dog today then the regular meal should be slightly smaller. if your dog has eaten something from your table, again you need to cut his regular portion. Let’s say it’s a rainy day today. Your dog will spend most of his time inside, without any physical activity. He cannot get the same portion size as when he does 30 minutes of cardio training running and playing with you. If you think about this, you will realize how logical it is.
- Naturally, if your dog needs to lose some weight you should cut the treats, even the regular meals if necessary( consult the vet first but usually it’s recommended to cut the quantity by 15-20% for a period of 6 weeks). Avoid free feeding ( if you practiced it earlier). Your dog needs to have a proper routine that includes two main meals a day, not to eat whenever he likes. If your dog seems hungry after his meal begging for more food, maybe you should ‘trick” him by adding some rich in fiber veggies like broccoli, celery, cauliflower. These will healthy add-ins will bulk out his food.
- Of course, you still need to give some treats to your dog but make sure you switch to more healthy ones. Avoid commercial treats you can buy in local pet stores and serve something like a piece of carrot or other veggies. A good treat could be a piece of chicken or some other lean meat. Bear in mind that treats should be less than 10% of daily calorie intake, stick to that.
- If your Newfie has a big problem with his weight, your vet will recommend specially formulated dog food that can help him to lose weight.
- Don’t forget that physical activity is equally important. Brisk walks, some cardio exercises, playing with a ball, Frisbee or Fetch, running, swimming would be great for your dog’s shape and health. The Kennel Club recommends an hour of daily exercise for normal weight Newfies. If that exercise could include swimming, even better as they are built to swim and most of them enjoy this activity.
- Weekly weigh-ins are a must to monitor your dog’s progress. If you have a really large dog, maybe your home scale won’t be appropriate. You can either buy a large dog scale online or go to the vet where you can weigh in your pet. There is also a possibility of convincing an employee at the counter of some long-distance bus travel station to let you weigh in your dog on oversize scales designed to measure the luggage weight.
Conclusion
Newfoundland dogs gain weight easily. That’s why you need to learn how to recognize a dog that needs a weight loss regimen. Observe your dog, can you feel its ribs, spine? Is his/her waistline visible? How many pounds does he /she have? No matter how dense your dog’s coat is, you have to be able to palpate his /her body contour.
If you cannot do that, it means that your dog is probably overweight. Do consult with your vet who will advise you about proper diet and physical activity that should help your dog lose some weight.
