When seeing the landseer, many may think that it is a black and white Newfoundland, because its similarity with this breed is really amazing, but they are different breeds. The Landseer is a Molossian-type dog, like the Newfoundland, however, its peculiarities have led it to be officially recognized as a completely separate breed.
The Landseer dog is characterized by its friendly and social character, as well as its strong and robust appearance and its great abilities to learn quickly. Do you want to know all the characteristics of the landseer? Read on and discover them on our site.
Landseer Origin
The Landseer dog breed shares its genealogy with the Newfoundland dog, as well as with multiple European Molossian breeds, especially from the central regions of Europe. According to the first records, the breed originated in a place located between Germany and Switzerland, around the beginning of the 19th century. Subsequently, landseer specimens were exported to America, reaching Canada and North America, where they caused a furore. This fame was well justified, as there is great evidence in favor of the vitality of these dogs in flood zones, where they have acted as rescue dogs.
Despite the fact that it was previously considered a variety of the Newfoundland, its official standard currently establishes it as a completely differentiated breed, although with many common characteristics. The International Cinological Federation (FCI) registered its first official standard in 1997 [1], while in the USA and Canada the breed is not officially recognized.
Landseer Features
The landseer is a large-sized dog, whose weight is between 45 and 55 kilograms in females, whose height at the withers it ranges between 67 and 72 centimeters, and between 50 and 60 kilograms in males, in this case the height at the withers is between 72 and 80 centimeters. These dogs have a life expectancy of about 9-12 years.
The body of these dogs is solid and robust, with a broad chest, powerful and firm muscles, strong and fast legs and large webbed feet. Their tail is strong, long and covered with a dense layer of hair, it is usually somewhat curved, although it is common to see that they tense it, keeping it straighter when they are in movement or on alert.
Continuing with the characteristics of the landseer, its head is wide and has a pronounced profile, just like the stop. The nose is black, the eyes, of medium size and light or dark brown, have a pleasant look. Their ears are medium and triangular in shape, presenting rounded edges. The entire head is covered with fine short hair.
The coat is made up of long, smooth fur, which is silky to the touch, with a woolly undercoat that makes it better insulated cold.
The cub landseer
The Landseer is a calm and docile dog, which can be trained from a very young age, since it very easily learns the necessary guidelines for a correct coexistence with its family. It is advisable to carry out a basic education when they are still puppies, the early socialization part being important.
In general, puppies often need many hours of rest, which in the landseer, which is very calm, can be even more marked. But it shouldn't surprise us that they spend a large part of the day dozing, as it is something that benefits their proper development.
About their appearance, they are large puppies, with wide legs that reveal that they will be even larger when they grow up. They have a funny serious expression on their face, although later their character is completely opposite: happy and smiling.
Landseer Colors
The color established in the landseer breed standard is pure white with black plates on the trunk and rump, head black and a white mark on the snout.
Landseer Character
The Landseer is a friendly dog, but very cautious, especially with strangers, with whom he is alert and distrustful. It is calm, but much more active than the Newfoundland dog. His character is strong, being an independent dog, although that does not mean that he is very affectionate with his family, greatly appreciating his company. Despite this, he tolerates loneliness very well.
Especially males, are dominant with other dogs, which can cause conflicts when interacting with other dogs. However, with good training this can be guided.
The landseer dog loves to be outdoors, so it is not the best breed to live in small flats or without open spaces in which to be and escape when it sees fit. Likewise, he likes water very much, so it is very common to see him enjoying himself during baths or swimming in pools, beaches and lakes.
Landseercare
The landseer firstly needs his own space, preferably with availability to go outdoors when he needs it. Therefore, if we do not have a garden or land, we must be very careful to provide sufficient time outside On the other hand, we must bear in mind that it needs a rather cold weather, because the heat is dangerous for these dogs that have so much hair to isolate themselves.
The Landseer is a dog that requires attention and constant work in terms of stimulating him, both intellectually and physically, because he needs to exercise his mind and bodyalike. As for physical exercise, it is best to ensure games, walks and sports. On the intellectual part, it is usually carried out through training and logic or intelligence games, which we can do at home.
Continuing with the landseer's care, this dog has a certain tendency to be overweight, so you have to take great care of its diet, both in terms of quality and quantity. This is vital, since excess weight causes serious joint problems in these large dog breeds.
In addition, you have to take care of its coat which, being so dense and long, tends to get tangled very easily. To do this, it is best to comb and brush it at least once a day, removing tangles, dead hair and dirt.
Landseer Education
The Landseer stands out for its great docility, being an easy dog to train. It is recommended to start with basic education exercises when they are puppies, since the sooner you start the better. Likewise, socialization with other dogs is especially relevant, so it is recommended that they have contact with other dogs and animals from an early age. This helps them get used to interacting with other dogs, avoiding problems such as dominance or aggressiveness towards them.
As happens with all dogs, whether or not they are breeds, positive reinforcement is essential when educating a landseer. In this way, it is advisable to reward good behavior and guide the dog towards a harmonious coexistence. Negative reinforcement will only generate stress, fear, frustration, anxiety and, in the worst cases, aggression in the dog.
Landseer's he alth
One of the most frequent dangers in the landseer is the risk of suffering a heat stroke This can happen both because they are in regions where the climate is hot or tropical, such as inside a house with the heating on. High temperatures cause their own body temperature to rise, causing them to gasp and become unconscious if their body temperature is not lowered in time. They suffer thermal shock, which in severe cases can lead to death. To avoid this, it is best to ensure that they are not exposed to these high temperatures, keeping them in a cool place.
Other than this, the landseer is generally in good he alth. Precautions must be taken, especially when they are developing, because, for example, supplementing them with vitamins without veterinary supervision or playing on terrain that is too hard can seriously affect the bone he alth of the animal. In this sense, the landseer, due to its large size, can present problems such as hip dysplasia or stomach torsion
Like any other dog, it is necessary to keep the Landseer properly vaccinated and dewormed, visit the veterinarian regularly and have frequent check-ups to know its general he alth status.
Where to adopt a landseer?
If we want to adopt a landseer this may be somewhat complicated, because at least in Spain or South America it is not a common breed. However, you can always contact animal shelters and associations in the area to find out more about the possibilities of obtaining one of these specimens.
First of all, regardless of the breed, before adopting an animal you have to be 100% sure that all its needs can be met, as well as any setback, avoiding animal abandonment at all costs.
