The Newfoundland dog breed is a stately, strong, and massive dog with a broad heavy head.  The small triangular ears are pendant. The nose is generally black except on bronze-colored dogs, which have brown noses. The feet are webbed for better swimming. The water-repellent long outer coat is flat, oily and slightly wavy with a thick oily undercoat. Dogs that live indoors, however, tend to loose their undercoats. The coat most common comes in black, black with blue highlights, bronze sometimes also in brown or gray and Landseer i.e. White with black markings, The Landseer is considered the same breed as the Newfoundland in both England and the US, however in some European countries the Landseer is a totally different breed than the Newfoundland. Landseers in Europe have longer legs than newfies; Landseers are not so massive; they are more sporty dogs. In shows, they compete separately.
There are stories about the origin of the Newfoundland. The breed may be a descendant of nomadic Indian dogs, or of Viking "bear dogs." Others believe the Newfoundland is a close relative of the Labrador. Many believe the Newfoundland originated from crosses between Tibetan Massifs brought to Canada By British or European fisherman and local dogs early in the 1700's. In any case, the resulting breed found a niche-aiding fisherman off the coast of Newfoundland, Canada. The breed was also used to haul lumber, pull mail sheds, deliver milk, and carry loads in packs. The Newfoundland was, and still is, an outstanding instinctive water rescue dog.  In 1919 a gold medal was awarded to a Newfoundland that pulled to safety a lifeboat containing twenty shipwrecked people. During World War II, Newfoundland’s hauled supplies and ammunition for the Armed Forces in blizzard conditions in Alaska and the Aleutian Islands. The Newfoundland Club of America sponsors water rescue and drafting tests.