Have you heard about the Newfiedoodle yet? These large, family oriented dogs are fast becoming a popular option for people who love the doodle breed but are looking for a doodle that is less active then a Goldendoodle or Labradoodle.
Praised for their gentle disposition, loyalty, and intelligence, the Newfiepoo also makes a great alternative to the Bernedoodle. That’s because they are easier to train and lack the stubborn streak associated with the Bernie.
So what is a Newfiedoodle? We are glad you asked. Join us as we go over everything you will want to know about this wonderful doodle.
What is a Newfiedoodle?
A Newfiedoodle, also commonly called a Newfypoo, is a crossbreed between the Newfoundland and Standard Poodle. This is a fairly new pairing that is believed to have been started sometime around 2009.
How did the Newfiedoodle get its name?
Like the naming of most doodles, the breed names of the dogs crossed are blended into one. In the case of the Newfoundland poodle mix, the nickname of the Newfoundland was used for the blend.
In case you didn’t know the Newfoundland is commonly referred to as a Newfie. Hence, the blended names of Newfiepoo or Newfiedoodle.
The Newfoundland and poodle mix has several other names too. Even the spelling of the same sounding name can be different as in Newfypoo vs Newfiepoo. Other names include Newdle, Newfiedoo, Newfoundlandpoo, Newfoundoodle, and Poofoundland.
When you are looking for a Newfie doodle, especially if you are looking for a Newfypoo rescue, make sure you are looking for all the possible names.
Understanding the Newfypoo
Since the Newfydoodle is a relatively new type of doodle we need to look at the parent breeds to understand what they will be like.
Newfiepoo: The Best of both worlds?
Before we get started I want to point out that breeders often describe these dogs as the best of both worlds. In reality there is no way breeders can accurately predict what the dog will be like. Especially when they are a first generation Newfiepoo. These dogs will inherit random dominant traits from both breeds.
Later generations of Newfypoos will take after whichever breed is used in the cross-back. So a F1B Newfiepoo that is crossed with a Poodle will have more of the poodles tendency since more of the dog’s genetic makeup will be related to the poodle.
Because of this you will see a lot of F1b Newfiepoos that are cross breed back to Newfoundland so that they keep more of the Newfies personality and charm. But these dogs may also inherit the Newfies smooth face.
The good news is that both the Newfoundland and the poodle make great companions, are wonderful family dogs and both love the outdoors. So if these are the traits you are looking for you can’t go wrong with one.
The Newfoundland
The Newfoundland originated from it’s namesake, Newfoundland, Canada. Newfoundland along with Labrador are located in the easternmost province in Canada and borders the Atlantic ocean. It was here that the Newfoundland dog was bred and used as working dogs for local fishermen.
The Newfoundland is known for their giant size, gentle nature, high intelligence and calm disposition. They excel at swimming thanks to their muscular build, their thick, oily double coat and large webbed paws.
While primarily bred to work in the icy waters of the Atlantic or to pull nets, they are also known for their lifesaving skills and natural instincts for water rescues.
The best known Newfoundland is probably the fictional dog “Nana” in the story Peter Pan. If you have never seen Peter Pan, Nana is the children’s nanny who is there to watch over them.
The portrayal of being a nanny fits the Newfie well, as they are extremely loyal to their family and will protect them by placing themselves between their family and a perceived threat.
Because of their calm and loyal nature the Newfoundland is also commonly used as therapy dogs and service dogs.
The Poodle
According to the American Kennel Club the Poodle originated in Germany, even though it’s the national dog of France and the French claim it as their own.
This belief stems from the fact that the name “poodle” is believed to come from the German word “Pudel” which means to splash in the water.
Regardless of where they come from, Poodles are highly intelligent, natural athletes and have a wonderfully goofy personality. Plus they don’t shed, which is why they are paired to so many other breeds.
As water dogs the poodle shares the ability to swim and be active in the water just like the Newfie. Unlike the Newfie they are high strung and require more exercise and mental stimulation to keep them happy.
Is the Newfiedoodle a good family dog?
The Newfypoo is a wonderful family dog. Their gentle nature and intelligence makes them a great dog for kids. Plus they are easy to train and are protective of their family.
Just be careful of young children if you get a full sized Newfiepoo. The kids may accidentally get knocked down due to their large size. Remember you should never leave small children alone with a dog.
Newfiepoo Dog Training
Newfoundlands and poodles are both easy to train which means your newfiepoo should be easy to train too.
Remember to socialize your puppy early on so they will be comfortable with the world around them. Last thing you need is a 120 pound that reacts to fear.
What does a Newfypoo look like?
Most Newfypoos will have long, thick black or brown fur on their bodies. But they do come in other colors, see below. They can lean towards the poodle and have a smaller build or they can inherit the large, bulky muscular frame of the Newfie.
An F1 Newdle will also have the long eyebrows and beard that is typically associated with poodle crossbreeds. This is because the furnishing genes that control the long eyebrows and beard are dominant. Therefore the dogs only need one furnishing gene to have the teddy bear look.
But later generations like an F1b that is crossed back to a Newfie may not inherit the furnishing genes. If this is important to you, stick with an F1 or buy from a breeder that does genetic testing for these genes.
An F1b that is a cross back with a poodle will have the furnishing but they will also lose some of the Newfie personality.
Newfypoo Colors
According to the Newfoundland Club of America, the breed standard for Newfoundland colors are black, brown, gray and white and black. Dogs can be a solid color or have some white mixed in on the chin, chest, toes and tip of tail.
Black is the traditional color of the newfoundland and most common. A white Newfoundland with black marking is known as a Landseer Newfoundland.
Poodles come in an assortment of colors including; black, black and white, brown, gray, sable, silver, apricot, red, cream and white.
The color of your Newfiepoo will be based on the colors of the parents and which doodle generation they are, but most Newfypoos come in Black, Brown, White with black and gray or silver. Later generations that are crossed back with a poodle will lean towards the poodle colors.
Newfydoodle Temperament
As I mentioned above just mating to dogs does not mean you will get the best of both worlds but in the case of the Newfiepoo, the Newfie and the Poodle have a lot of traits in common.
Both dogs are intelligent, working breeds that like to be active and have a purpose. They also want to be around people most of the time. They are both very family friendly and lovable.
Newfydoodles that take on the Newfie personality will be patient and devoted to their family. Ones that take after the poodle will be more energetic and a bit silly.
How big is a Newfypoo?
Newfiedoodles come in many different sizes. The two common sizes are standard and mini. But there are variations in each of these categories that range from giant to medium to small.
A standard sized Newfiepoo will be smaller than a Newfoundland. They generally fall between 65 and 120 pounds and stand between 22 and 25 inches in height at the shoulder.
F1 Mini Newfiepoos are large to medium sized dogs. Ranging between 18-21 inches height at the shoulder and 35 to 65 pounds. Because of the large size difference between the Newfoundland and a poodle, some breeders may choose to use a Moyen Poodle in place of the mini poodle.
If you want a smaller mini Newfiepoo you should look for a F1B that is crossed back with a mini poodle. They will range in size from 25 to 50 pound and 16 to 20 inches tall, which is closer in size to the Mini Goldendoodle.
Is the Newfiedoodle high maintenance?
The Newdle is a high maintenance pup. Although they will shed less than a Newfoundland, they will still shed. Plus you will need to brush and line comb your pup a few times a week to ensure their fur doesn’t become matted. BTW brushing them every few days will keep the loose hairs in the brush rather than on your floors.
The Newfoundland has an oily coat to protect them from the cold waters of the Atlantic, but that oily fur can get smelly if not washed out at least monthly. Newfiepoos may or may not inherit the oily fur.
Also it’s common for them to pick up stuff in their fur when they are outside. Their long fur is a magnet for leaves, twigs and pollen. Our long haired English Springer Spaniel had the same issue which is why we built a dog room with a bath.
Keep in mind a full sized Newdle is not going to fit in the sink, they may not even fit in your shower, which means you may have to pay for bathing and grooming every month.
Newfiedoodle Exercise Requirements
Adult Newfiedoodles require daily exercise such as daily walks or swimming, but they also need mental stimulation. Since they come from two working breeds, training them to do tasks is a great way to keep them mentally happy.
Newfiepoo puppies are full of energy and will need more exercise and training to keep them from getting into trouble. But be careful not to put excess stress on their growth plates until they are full grown.
Newfiedoodle Lifespan
Like most large breed dogs, the Newfoundland has a short lifespan. On average they will live between 8 and 10 year, but some have been known to live up to 16 years.
The Standard poodle generally lives between 12 and 15 years.
Full sized Newfiepoos will generally live between 9 and 12 years. Smaller versions will live a little longer.
Do Newfiepoos Drool?
I asked this question to some people that live with these dogs and this is what I found out.
Regardless of the generation, most reported that their Newfiepoo does not drool, but a few did report some drooling. However the drooling was much less than a Newfoundland.
It will really depend on how much they take after the Newfoundland vs the poodle.
Many of the people stated that their pups had chin drips which is a common issue for doodles in general. My poodle mix gets this too even though she is small.
This is due to the long beards that may fall into the water bowl and then become drenched with water.
Are Newfie doodles Hypoallergenic
Newfoundland’s are not considered to be hypoallergenic. This is because they have a heavy double coat that sheds.
When dogs shed they release small particles of skin (aka dander) into the air that contain a protein which some people are allergic to. The theory is that less shedding, equals less dander in the air so less allergies.
The Poodle on the other hand, shed very little and are considered to be allergy friendly.
When you pair a poodle with a shedding dog the result is generally less shedding.
But that doesn’t necessarily mean you won’t be allergic to the dog. There are other ways to come in contact with the protein, including saliva and urine.
Plus just petting a dog might cause you to get the protein on your hands.
Before committing to a Newfiepoo, spend time with one, if you have concerns about allergies.
Where to find a Newfie doodle
Breeder
The best way to get a Newfypoo is to buy one from a reputable breeder. But finding a reputable breeder can be difficult. Since the Newfypoo is less popular than other doodle breeds there are fewer breeders.
Currently, there is not a Newfiepoo Club of America, nor is the Newfiepoo recognized by the American Kennel Club.
Instead look for an experienced Newfoundland breeder that also breeds Newfiepoos. Also look for a breeder that conducts the required health tests for the Newfoundland and the required Health tests for the Poodle.
Rescue
Another option is to look for a Newfie doodle at a rescue or on petfinder.com
How much does a Newfypoo cost?
Newfiepoos are less popular than some of the other doodles, therefore they are less quality breeders to get one from. In looking around I found that a Newfypoo cost between $2,000 and $3,600. Though you can find them as low as $500 on Puppy Broker sites. While $3,600 is a lot of money it is still lower than the cost of a Bernedoodle that is a health tested.
Size, color, gender, fur type and training will affect the price.
While most breeders charge the same price for the entire litter some will offer an al-a-cart menu of options. Typically they start with a base price and then add on charges for premium colors, fur type, size and gender. Some will charge extra for Christmas delivery.
3 Things You should Know About the Newfiedoodle
1. They run hot
Don’t be surprised to find your Newfiedoodle in the lying in the shower or on the bathroom floor. No, they are not looking for a bath. They are looking for the coolest place in the house. That’s because both the poodle and Newfie were bred to stay warm in the cold water. The Newfie has a thick water resistant double coat and the purpose of the poodle’s curl is to keep them warm while retrieving waterfowl for hunters. Put them together and you get one hot dog.
Before you bring home your Newfydoodle, think about how you will help them stay cool in the summer or even during the winter, when the heat is on inside.
2. Their colors may fade
It’s not uncommon for poodle mix breeds to have their dark coats fade overtime. This is because it’s a common trait in the poodle. Fading is caused by the combination of dominant and recessive genes handed down to the offspring.
There is still much to learn about dog genetics If you get your Newfypoo from a breeder that does genetic testing they should be able to tell you what the chances are that your pup will fade.
3. They need exercise and mental stimulation
Don’t let their large size and gentle nature fool you into thinking they don’t need much exercise. Although they may not be as active as a smaller Labradoodle, they still need mental and physical exercise everyday or they will get bored.
And what does an oversized, bored dog do? They get into oversized trouble like chewing the furniture.