While the Newfoundland dog may not be the biggest breed around, there’s no denying that these gentle giants are just that: giant! And this Newfoundland dog size comparison will show you just how true that is by pitting them against Great Danes, golden retrievers, German shepherds, and even you!

Known for their affection, intelligence, and size, Newfoundland dogs got their start as working dogs and have been around as an official breed since 1886! They’ve also been ranked Top 50 of the most popular dog breeds for the past 13 years. But do you know just how big these lovable giants are?

How Big is a Newfoundland Dog?

Just a quick glance shows that it’s not surprising that the Newfoundland dog is one of the largest dog breeds around. After all, as if their size alone wasn’t large enough, they look like a lion with their thick mane and fur!

Both male and female Newfoundland dogs, also called a Newf or Newfie, can reach a shoulder height of 28 inches. Not sure how tall that is? It’s around 2 and a half feet and just a few inches off the standard height of most kitchen counters! This means that with their head included, your Newfie may just be able to watch you cook. Newfies are known for being longer than they are tall, however.

Male Newfoundland dogs can weigh up to 170 pounds, while females are more likely to weigh anywhere from 120 to 140 pounds. However, it’s not uncommon to also find a Newfie as light as 100 pounds or as heavy as 180 pounds depending on their age and genetics. 

At 260 pounds, the largest Newfoundland dog ever recorded nearly doubled the weight of the average human. And, with a snout to tail length of 6 feet, they’re also around half a foot longer than the average human height – a difference almost the same as an iPhone screen!

Despite their large size, though, the American Kennel Club has these giant giants down as some of the most affectionate dogs around. The breed overall is known for being great with families and other pets, even earning the nickname of “nanny dog”. Of course, any dog as large as the Newfie will come with unique challenges as a pet, if only because of their size compared to humans!

Human Vs. Newfoundland Dog Size Comparison

Wondering just how you would size up to these giant giants?

At 28 inches at the shoulders, Newfoundland dogs are around the same height as a one-year-old baby. However, since they can grow to be nearly 6 feet long, they’re much taller on their hind legs. In fact, since the global average human height is around 5’4”, there’s a good chance the Newfie could see right over your head!

Weightwise, a male Newfie at their maximum weight is around the same as the average adult American. However, if you were to place that same Newfoundland dog on the scale with the average three-year-old, it would take nearly 6 children to weigh the same as him – an entire pre-kindergarten class!

As for their paws, it can take big feet to support such a big dog. In fact, you may just find that Newfoundland’s paws are the size of your hand! If you’re younger, they may even be larger. They have strong, powerful paws with webbing between their toes that helps them swim. 

Great Dane Vs. Newfoundland Size Comparison

Both the Newfoundland and the Great Dane are regarded as some of the largest dog breeds, but it’s for different reasons. After all, side by side, a Newfie looks much smaller than a Great Dane!

Really, though, there’s only a difference of around 4 inches – the same as a credit card. Where the Newfoundland dog stands at a shoulder height of around 28 inches, the Great Dane stands at 32”. However, when you take into account the Great Dane’s head and ears, the difference seems much greater. 

However, the Great Dane only beats the Newfoundland in terms of height and weight. Newfies are often longer and bulkier than Great Danes. With lengths up to 6 feet and a dual-layer coat of fur, a Newfoundland dog’s claim to size fame comes from these parts of their size. The Great Dane still has the vertical advantage, though.

Golden Retriever Vs. Newfoundland Dog Size

The golden retriever and the Newfoundland have many things in common. Both of these breeds can make amazing family pets thanks to their naturally happy and docile disposition, and both even have webbed paws. However, when it comes to size, a side-by-side comparison will show that the Newfoundland is a clear winner. 

At 24 inches tall, the tallest golden retriever is still an inch shorter than the smallest Newfoundland dog, and five inches shorter than the tallest – an ink pen of a difference. There’s also a 15-pound difference between the largest goldie and smallest Newfoundland dog.  

However, at the Newfie’s largest, they can be as much as two times the weight of even the largest male golden retriever, who only grows to be around 75 pounds. Can you imagine needing two goldies to balance the scale with these gentle giants?

From snout to tail, goldies average around 42”, which is about three and a half feet. The largest Newfoundland dogs can also nearly double this size, with some records showing them to be 6 feet long. 

German Shepherd Vs. Newfoundland Size Comparison

The largest German shepherds can grow to a height of 26 inches at the shoulder. With a female Newfoundland’s dog height being a minimum of 25 inches, there’s the smallest possibility that a German shepherd could be taller.

However, at their largest, the Newfoundland dog’s shoulder height is three inches taller than the largest male shepherd. While this difference is only around the same size as a crayon, it can make a difference once you consider these dogs’ heads and ears as well.

German shepherds range from 49 to 88 pounds, around the same as a boxing bag. This means that even the largest German shepherd is still around 10 pounds – an average pumpkin – lighter than the smallest Newfoundland dog.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Reba Spike / unsplash – License / Original