When observing the Newfoundland breed with their thick black double coats, it’s evident that these dogs aren’t naturally built for hot weather.
This isn’t typically a significant issue in regions like New England – at least not for the majority of the year. However, during the warmer months, particularly in July and August, it becomes essential to take additional measures to ensure these dogs stay cool.
In this post, we’ll explore why Newfoundlands are not ideally suited to hot climates and provide practical tips on how to keep your Newfoundland comfortable as temperatures rise.
Do Newfies Like Hot Weather?
In short, no, Newfies definitely do not like hot weather.
As the name suggests, Newfoundland dogs originated in Newfoundland, on the northeast coast of Canada, where summer temperatures average 61°F and winter temperatures average 32°F.
They were bred as working dogs and were tasked with helping local fishermen to pull in their nets. This involved swimming in cold water, which is why Newfies have a thick water-resistant double coat.
This double coat is great for keeping Newfies warm in cold weather, and it can help in warm weather too, by trapping cool air close to their skin.
However, when the temperature gets really hot, the Newfie’s thick double coat becomes more of a hindrance than a help and puts them at serious risk of overheating.
Can Newfies Adapt to Live in Hot Weather?
You might be thinking, “Ok, Newfies aren’t perfectly suited to hot weather, but surely they can get used to it?”. Well, to an extent yes, but they will always be limited by their biology.
If a Newfie is raised in hot weather from a young age then, to a degree, they can ‘acclimatize’, meaning that they develop a tolerance to the heat.
However, their thick coat means that hot weather will never be ideal for them and even a Newfie raised in a hot climate can suffer serious health issues in extreme temperatures.
It’s also important to note that acclimatization doesn’t happen quickly, so it’s not something you can rely on to take your Newfie on vacation or to keep them safe during a heatwave. In those situations, Newfie will attempt to tolerate the heat and all you can do is try to help them stay cool.
How Hot Is Too Hot?
When it comes to deciding how hot is too hot for your Newfie, there are several factors to consider. These include:
- Age: Very young puppies and older dogs are less equipped to cope with heat than a fit and healthy young adult.
- Health: If your Newfie has an existing health condition then they may be more vulnerable in hot temperatures.
- Acclimatization: What temperature is your Newfie used to? If they’ve lived in hot temperatures all their lives then they’ll cope better than if the heat is new to them.
- Humidity: Hot weather is even more uncomfortable when it is humid as well as hot.
- Direct Sunlight: Being in direct sunlight will raise your Newfie’s body temperature more quickly and potentially put them at risk of sunburn too.
- Activity levels: It’s easier for a Newfie to tolerate high temperatures if they are relaxing rather than exerting themselves.
- Access to water: Staying hydrated helps your Newfie to regulate their body temperature.
All of these factors make it impossible to define an exact figure that is too hot for Newfies.
However, my general rule is this:
Typically, Newfoundland dogs start to feel uncomfortable at around 70°F, especially in humid conditions. Extra steps are necessary to keep them cool when temperatures reach 80°F or higher. If the temperature exceeds 90°F, these dogs are at serious risk unless active measures are taken to lower their body temperature.
If in doubt, I always suggest playing it safe and taking steps to keep your Newfie cool.
Overheating can be really dangerous for a Newfie and it’s not worth risking their health just because you want to go out in the sun or take them for a walk.
5 Dangers of Hot Weather
Why is it crucial to keep Newfoundland dogs cool in hot weather? High temperatures can pose at least five serious health hazards for this breed.
- Heatstroke: Heatstroke occurs when your dog’s body temperature gets too high. It damages their internal organs and can sometimes be fatal.
- Dehydration: Hot weather means that your Newfie pants more, breathes more heavily and drools more. This means they lose more water than usual, which will lead to dehydration unless they drink enough water to replace the fluids they’ve lost.
- Sunburn: A Newfie’s fur provides protection from sunburn (which is one reason why you should never shave a Newfie!). However, less furry areas of their body can still be vulnerable.
- Burned paws: In hot weather, you should always keep your Newfie away from surfaces like asphalt, concrete, and sand as they can get very hot and badly burn your dog’s paws.
- Exacerbating existing conditions: If your Newfie already has a medical problem, such as heart disease, then hot weather will make them more vulnerable and increase their risk of a medical incident.
As a responsible Newfie owner, you should be aware of these potential problems and be on the lookout for signs of sunburn, dehydration, or heatstroke whenever the temperature rises.
Signs of Heat Exhaustion
Before your Newfie develops the serious medical condition known as heatstroke, they’ll first show signs of heat exhaustion.
By looking for the signs of heat exhaustion, you can act quickly to cool them down before the situation becomes more serious. There are seven key symptoms to look out for.
The 7 Signs of Heat Exhaustion
- Increased panting
- Drooling more than usual
- Rapid heartbeat
- Dark gums or tongue
- Lack of balance
- Tiredness and lethargy
- Collapsing
If your Newfie exhibits any of these symptoms on a hot day then you should act quickly to lower their body temperature.
If that doesn’t help or you’re concerned that they may be suffering from heatstroke then contact a veterinarian immediately.
How To Help Your Newfie Stay Cool
New England may not be the hottest place on Earth, but it does experience heatwaves, and summers can be quite warm and humid. As a result, it’s important to have a range of measures in place to help Newfoundland dogs cool down in hot weather.
Here are 12 actions you can take if you think your Newfoundland needs a little extra help in managing their body temperature during warmer conditions:
- Turn on the air conditioning: Simply cool down the house and stay indoors.
- Set up fans: If you don’t have air-con, a fan or two is a good alternative.
- Wet their fur: Cool water on the fur helps to lower the dog’s body temperature.
- Time their walks: Only go out when the weather is coolest. That means early in the morning or late in the evening.
- Offer ice water: Add ice to your dog’s water so they can enjoy a cooler, more refreshing drink.
- Don’t go in the car: Avoid traveling in a car unless it has air conditioning, and never leave your Newfie in a car, even with the windows lowered.
- Limit their exercise: In hot weather, it’s important for your Newfie to rest rather than exert themselves.
- Go swimming: A cool dip in a lake or pool will quickly lower their body temperature and will wet their fur, which will keep them cool after their swim too.
- Use a cooling device: Cooling vests and cooling mats are available to purchase and are useful if you think you will need to lower your dog’s temperature regularly.
- Give them shade: There is often a big temperature difference between lying in the hot sun and lying on cool grass under the shade of a tree.
- Groom their fur: This helps to remove old fur that may be trapping heat. However, you should only comb your Newfie’s fur, never shave them!
- Protect their paws: Think about where they’re walking and don’t let them walk on hot surfaces.
My Verdict: Can Newfies Live in Hot Weather?
Ultimately, while Newfies can technically tolerate short periods of hot weather, they are fundamentally not cut out for high temperatures.
Newfoundlands were originally bred to thrive in northeastern Canada, which is why they have a dense double coat of fur. When the weather gets really hot, that thick coat is always going to put your Newfie outside their comfort zone.
There are steps we can take to help our Newfies stay cool when the temperature rises, but there’s only so much we can do. For this reason, I believe it is cruel and unfair to keep a dog in a permanently hot climate or a place that is above 70°F for much of the year.
If you’re thinking of getting a dog and you live in a hot location then, unfortunately, I think you should accept that the Newfoundland isn’t a suitable breed for your environment.
Instead, I recommend looking at breeds with short coats – such as whippets, dalmatians, greyhounds, and chihuahuas – as all of these dogs will tolerate hot weather much more comfortably than Newfies.