Landseer dog

History of origin

If we talk about the origins of the breed, then it is worth considering first of all the history of the Newfoundland, since they have common roots with the Landseer. As for the black giants and Canada, dog handlers are still arguing hypotheses about who their ancestors are, because the fact of deliberate breeding of this breed has not been recorded. However, most experts are inclined to think that Newfoundlands cannot be descendants of Indian native dogs that were crossed with Molossians imported from Europe. They believe that the birthplace of these dogs is still the Old World, and they were brought to America, so to speak, in a “ready-made form”.

Not everyone knows, but initially among the Newfoundlands there were approximately equal numbers of completely black and black and white dogs, and they did not make a difference between them. This continued until, at the beginning of the XNUMXth century, the British, passionate admirers of this breed, began to give preference to solid-colored dogs, while German and Swiss breeders liked the spotted ones more, who began to work on improving and transforming this particular variety. Most likely, the dogs were crossed with St. Bernards and Pyrenean Shepherds (at least, the characteristic spots on the muzzle are very similar to those of the St. Bernard), as a result of which the black and white Newfoundlands began to differ quite a lot from their black counterparts: a lightweight constitution, high paws and a little a different structure of the head (more dry and bony).

And the breed got its name by the name of the famous English artist Edwin Henry Landseer, who loved these dogs so much that he made them permanent heroes of his paintings. In particular, these are such well-known canvases as “A Worthy Member of a Humane Society” and “Saved” (by the way, the plot of the second suggests that Landseers successfully worked as lifeguards on the waters back in the XNUMXth century).

For a long time, Landseers and Newfoundlands were still considered two branches of the same breed, and only in 1960 the International Cynological Association put an end to it, recognizing the Landseer as an independent breed.

Today, dogs are loved both in Europe and in America, but in our country there are still hardly a dozen of these cute giants.

Breed description

Large powerful and very beautiful dog. The head is bony, the muzzle is slightly sharper and longer than that of the Newfoundlands, wide. The eyes are small, without a visible third eyelid, the look is calm and friendly. The ears are small, triangular, hanging. The neck is powerful, the chest is wide. The paws are strong, there are swimming membranes between the fingers, the body is massive, but does not give the impression of heaviness. If the Newfoundland is drawn to be called like a bear, then in relation to the Landseer such a comparison does not come to mind. The back is straight. The tail is saber-shaped, usually carried down, in a good mood the dog raises it to the level of the back.

The coat is thick, soft to the touch, with a warm undercoat, waterproof.

The color is black and white, with white being the main color, and black spots occupy a small area, while the head, on the contrary, is black with a white stripe between the eyes, the coat brightens towards the nose. “Freckles” are often visible on the upper lip, and black spots may be scattered over the body, especially on the paws.

Photos

Character

The Landseer is one of the most beloved dog breeds in the world. Kind, affectionate, friendly, but at the same time calm and unobtrusive – such is this black and white giant. He is one of those dogs that you want to hug, like a big teddy bear, and he will only be happy about it.

The Landseer is full of dignity and at the same time infinitely devoted to the owners, and treats children with condescension characteristic of its size. These beauties are ready to endure all the pranks of the kids and are not averse to babysitting them. Their love extends to other pets, so Landseers get along well with cats and other dogs.

Moreover, any aggressiveness is considered a vice in them, and dogs that treat people unkindly are excluded from breeding. That is why, like the Newfoundlands, Landseers successfully work as lifeguards on the waters – they are excellent swimmers, love to swim and tend to tow anyone who swam far enough from their point of view to the shore.

Despite their impressive size, Landseers remain puppies in the shower for a long time. They are happy when the whole family gathers around them and suffer a lot when left alone, so you should not start this breed for those who disappear all day at work.

Care and maintenance

All the difficulties that may arise for those who have become the happy owner of the Landseer are associated with the dimensions of these dogs. At a minimum, they need a fairly large living space. Thick wool requires daily combing, otherwise it will roll all over the apartment.

Unlike the Newfoundland, the Landseer is a much more mobile and active dog, so you need to walk with him a lot and actively – a sedate walk around the house will obviously not be enough. It’s good if this handsome man is taken out to nature at least once a week, and it’s quite ideal if there is some kind of reservoir there – Landseers simply love to swim. Of course, there are exceptions, but as a rule, this is the case.

It is very important that the black and white giant is constantly in the company and surrounded by love and attention, so the breed is suitable for a large family.

Owners of a thick warm coat that can withstand even the icy water of northern reservoirs and the harsh climate of Canada and Northern Europe, Landseers practically do not freeze in winter and do not suffer from heat in summer – the fur coat creates its own microclimate for the dog. Therefore, these dogs can perfectly live in the courtyard of a private house, but do not expect them to guard your site – the maximum they can scare away thieves is their size and bass barking.

Education and training

A lively mind and a focus on people make the process of raising a Landseer easy and enjoyable. However, you need to be prepared for some of their stubbornness – sometimes dogs do not immediately execute commands, but they do this not because they did not understand what they want from them, but only because of their analytical thinking: first you need to carefully consider what the person said to them, and understand why, in fact, they need to sit down, lie down or give a paw at the moment. And, if they do not find good arguments against, they will still do what is expected of them.

As for their work as rescuers, there is practically no need to teach these dogs something – the desire to pull drowning people ashore is inherent in them at the level of instinct.

Despite the extreme friendliness of the breed, the puppy still needs to be socialized so that he is not afraid of the outside world, and fear in dogs is sometimes expressed even in aggression.

It is also important to teach a puppy to walk beside him while he is still small, since not everyone, even a young and strong man, can hold an adult handsome man weighing under 70 kg.

Health and disease

Landseers are not a sickly breed, and all the ailments that sometimes befall them are usually associated with their size. That is, it can be disorders of the musculoskeletal system: dislocations, sprains, and sometimes arthritis in old age. Joint dysplasia has not bypassed them either, however, dogs with such heredity are usually excluded from breeding, so the likelihood that a puppy will suffer from this disease is not so great.

Of course, it is very important to make annual vaccinations on time so that the dog does not catch any infectious disease, and to treat the dog from parasites.

Unfortunately, like all large massive breeds, Landseers do not belong to long-lived dogs, and their life span is most often limited to 9-11 years, but it is up to the owner to make the life of the dog healthy and happy.

Word to the breeder

Pavel Kynev from the Leningrad region, the happy owner of two wonderful landseers Umka and Itta: “Landseers are very good-natured, friendly and cheerful dogs. They are very easy to train, but they need their own approach – they perceive persuasion and conversations rather than commands better. They get along very well with children, all the neighboring children constantly play with them, ride them both in summer and in winter, play catch-up, like to hug them and swim together in the summer in the lake.

For me, these are very close friends and at the same time my children. We understand each other without words and we just feel good together.”

Popular questions and answers

We asked to answer questions about the content of Landseers zoo engineer, veterinarian Anastasia Kalinina.