How Long Do Newfoundlands Live?

When considering the age of a Newfoundland dog, it’s important to put it into perspective. For instance, a 6-year-old Newfoundland may appear relatively young, but given that their average lifespan is often cited as being between 8 to 10 years, this age could actually signify that the dog is approaching, or even in, its middle years.

But is this a hard and fast rule? Should a well-cared-for Newfoundland really only expect to live around 8 years?

In this post, we’ll delve deeper into the life expectancy of Newfoundland dogs and discuss why there’s reason to be optimistic that a Newfoundland, with proper care, could enjoy as many years ahead as they have already experienced.

Newfie Life Expectancy

Many sources say that a Newfie’s life expectancy is 8 to 10 years. However, that range is based on outdated statistics and ignores the fact that dogs’ life expectancies are increasing all the time.

In fact, the lifespan of the average dog has doubled in the last 40 years.

Today, a better estimate of the average Newfie’s lifespan is 10 to 12 years.

Of course, some Newfies won’t live that long. Some may only survive to 8 years, or even less if they have a medical problem.

However, it is reasonable to expect a healthy and well-cared-for Newfie to reach their 10th birthday, at least. And some Newfoundlands can live much longer.

What Is The Longest a Newfoundland Has Lived?

The oldest Newfie on record lived to be 15 years old, though there are unconfirmed reports of even older Newfoundlands.

In the context of a Newfoundland’s 10-12 year life expectancy, that’s pretty impressive. 

Living to 15 years old means that the dog survived 50% longer than the typical 10-year Newfie lifespan, and exceeded the upper end of the average range by a full 25%.

That said, when considered alongside other breeds. A record age of 15 years is not very impressive. Though it may be an extreme example, the oldest dog on record is 31 years old and still going strong at the time of writing! 

The reason for this huge difference is the fact that giant dog breeds don’t live as long as smaller breeds.

Why Don’t Giant Dog Breeds Live As Long?

It’s undeniably true that giant breeds, like Newfies, tend to live shorter lives than smaller dogs. 

The figures in the table below are estimates, but the general trend is clear. The average lifespan noticeably decreases as the size of the dog increases.

BreedSizeAverage Lifespan (Years)
ChihuahuaSmall14-17
DachshundSmall12-15
BeagleSmall12-15
Cocker SpanielMedium10-14
Golden RetrieverLarge10-12
Labrador RetrieverLarge10-14
BoxerLarge9-12
German ShepherdLarge9-13
NewfoundlandGiant10-12
MastiffGiant6-10
Great DaneGiant7-10
Saint BernardGiant8-10

The reason for this is thought to be related to how quickly each breed grows as a puppy.

Giant dogs not only grow larger than smaller breeds, but they grow more quickly too.

In their first year, a typical Newfoundland puppy will gain around 10 pounds per month.

This rapid growth uses a lot of energy and produces a lot of molecules called ‘free radicals’. These free radicals damage the cells in the body, which can lead to health problems later in life.

In contrast, smaller dogs grow more slowly, using less energy and producing fewer damaging free radicals. This sets them up for a healthier life and a longer lifespan.

Do Male or Female Newfies Live Longer?

The sex of your dog does have an impact on their lifespan, with female dogs generally living slightly longer. However, the difference is quite small, and other factors – such as genetics and diet – have a bigger impact on how long your Newfie lives.

A study of more than 30,000 dogs that died between 2016 and 2020 found that the average female lived to be 11.41 years old, while the average male lived to 11.07 years old. 

Therefore, across all breeds, the average female lived about four months longer than the average male.

Does Spaying or Neutering Make Newfies Live Longer?

I was quite surprised to learn that spaying or neutering your dog actually makes quite a significant difference to their expected lifespan.

A study conducted by academics from the University of Georgia found that neutered males live 14% longer than males that aren’t neutered, while spayed females live a massive 26% longer than females that are not spayed.

Reasons for this include the dogs having fewer behavior problems and being less prone to infections, while females spayed before their first estrogen cycle are protected from mammary cancer.

So, not wanting Newf puppies isn’t the only reason to get your pet spayed or neutered! It might actually help them live longer too.

How To Help Your Newfie Live Longer

Looking at the average lifespan can give us a helpful idea of how long our dogs might live, but the real question is what can you do to help your Newfie live longer?

Fortunately, there are lots of ways that good care can help your Newfoundland live longer. Here are eight things that I think you should focus on to give your Newfie the best chance of a long, healthy and happy life…

  1. Buy from a reputable breeder: This ensures your dog has strong genetics. Genetics can’t be changed and they have a huge impact on how long your dog will live, so buying from a reputable breeder is a crucial first step to longevity.
  2. Feed healthy foods: Like humans, a Newfie’s health is directly impacted by its diet, and they need a varied selection of vitamins, minerals, fats, proteins and carbohydrates.
  3. Give them lots of exercise: Frequent long walks will give your dog a healthy heart and strong muscles.
  4. Manage their weight: Newfies can be prone to obesity. Allowing your dog to eat too much and become overweight can cause heart problems, diabetes, and other serious health problems that can cut their lives short.
  5. Visit the vet regularly: Routine health checks help you to spot problems at the first sign of trouble, which increases the chances of successful treatment.
  6. Spay or neuter your dog: As explained earlier, spaying or neutering your Newfie will significantly increase their life expectancy.
  7. Keep up-to-date with vaccinations: Vaccinating your dog will protect them from potentially life-threatening diseases.   
  8. Watch out for parasites: Fleas and ticks can carry diseases and it’s easy for them to hide in a Newfie’s thick double coat. This is just one reason why you should groom your Newfie regularly and never shave their fur, as shaving can make them more vulnerable to parasites.

My View On Newfie Lifespan

Indeed, it’s poignant that Newfoundlands typically have shorter lifespans compared to smaller breeds. Many owners wish for the extended lifespan of breeds like Chihuahuas, rather than the 10-12 year expectancy of Newfoundlands.

However, we have to accept that dogs naturally live far shorter lifespans than humans, and some breeds simply don’t live as long as others, no matter how well we care for them.

All we can do as responsible Newfie owners is give our pets the best possible standard of care and do everything we can to help them live as long and happy a life as possible.

Beyond that, the most important thing is to enjoy our time together while it lasts. 

Personally, I think that Newfies are a very special breed, with lovable attributes that more than make up for their shorter lifespans. 

After all, the essence of time spent together is measured in quality, not quantity. Looking forward, there’s anticipation for many more years filled with enriching experiences with a beloved Newfoundland.