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Newfoundland Dog Grooming: 11 Expert Tips

Visnja Radosavljevic

By Visnja Radosavljevic

newfoundland dog on the grass

While some dog breeds require minimal maintenance and have low grooming needs, dog breeds such as the Newfoundland can be tricky to groom. These dogs are large and have long double coats, which makes their maintenance needs somewhat high.

Newfoundland canines need regular brushing, trimming, bathing, and cleaning to stay in good shape, which is why it’s your responsibility to learn how to groom your furry friend.

If you’d like to learn how to groom your Newfoundland dog like a professional, check out the rest of our article. We’ll cover 11 important brushing and bathing tips, as well as trimming, ear, and nail care tips that will allow you to easily tackle your Newfoundland’s grooming routine and help your dog to be healthy and look neat and clean.

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The 7 Brushing & Bathing Tips

1. Have the Needed Grooming Tools

One of the most important tips for grooming a Newfoundland dog is to have the needed grooming tools. Although this may sound like something you already knew, you should know that Newfoundlands have tricky medium-length, double coats, which can make their grooming needs extremely high.

To properly groom your Newfoundland, you’ll need the following:
  • Wide-toothed comb
  • Pin brush
  • Dog rake
  • Slicker brush
  • Nail clippers
  • Dog dryer

Even if you plan on having your Newfie professionally groomed, it is always good to have these essentials to help with daily brushing, bathing, and other grooming tasks you may need to perform.

Newfoundland dog being given a bath outside
Image Credit: Loren22, Shutterstock

2. Use a Grooming Table

Newfoundlands are extremely large dogs, with their shoulder height reaching over 28 inches and their weight between 100–150 pounds. Due to their size, the grooming of Newfies becomes much more challenging than grooming other, smaller breeds.

Because of that, it’s a good idea to invest in a groping table that will allow you to brush or trim your Newfie more easily and without having to constantly crunch your back. You should introduce the grooming table as early as possible to get your Newfie used to using it.

The grooming table will allow you to easily reach all the hard-to-reach spots on your Newfoundland dog while sparing your knees and back.


3. Brush Your Newfoundland Dog Every Week

Newfoundland dogs have medium-length, double, heavy coats that are prone to tangling, matting, and getting dirty. Because of that, Newfies require weekly brushing to keep their coat in good shape; however, during shedding season (spring and fall), you may need to brush and comb them every day to remove excess hair.

It’s best to combine using a pin brush and a wide-toothed comb to ensure your Newfoundland’s coat is healthy and tangle-free. During the shedding season, you may need to include other grooming tools, such as a dog rake and a slicker brush.

While combing and brushing your canine, ensure to pay close attention to the areas behind the ears, around the tail, and the thighs, as those places are extremely prone to tangling.

brown newfoundland dog standing in the park
Image Credit: B.Stefanov, Shutterstock

4. Use a Grooming Spray While Brushing to Soften the Coat

Brushing and combing your adult Newfie can often be challenging, especially if their fur develops tangles and mats. You probably won’t experience this problem with young Newfoundland dogs, as their coats are still developing. However, adult Newfies have heavy coats, and their mats and tangles can often be hard to untangle to get the coat to a healthy shape.

Because of that, it’s best to use a grooming spray while brushing to soften your Newfies coat. These sprays help eliminate tangles and knots from your canine’s fur, allowing you to comb and brush it more easily. Grooming sprays also accentuate the coat’s natural shine and color, making your dog look sleek and shiny.


5. Bathe Your Newfoundland Dog at Least Once a Month

The bathing needs of your Newfie will vary based on multiple factors, such as the environment you live in, your Newfie’s activity level, etc. However, regardless of your environment and other factors that may determine your canine’s bathing needs, it’s best to bathe your Newfie at least once a month.

As some people are unfortunately unable to stick to frequent baths, they can bathe their Newfoundlands less regularly; still, the time between the baths should never be longer than 6–8 weeks.

Bathing your pet can be challenging, but the right shampoo will make it a lot easier! We have two favorite shampoos for the job, both are safe, all-natural shampoos designed with your pets in mind. Our soothing shampoos are pH balanced, made in the USA, and free of glutens, dyes, sulfates, and phthalates. Here’s a quick guide to help you choose the right option for your pet’s next bath!

Hepper Oatmeal pet shampoo
Hepper Colloidal Oatmeal Pet Shampoo

Hepper Waterless No Rinse Pet Shampoo
Natural cucumber & aloe scent
Natural cucumber & aloe scent:
Natural cucumber & aloe scent:
Safe for cats & dogs
Safe for cats & dogs:
Safe for cats & dogs:
Rinsing required
Rinsing required:
Rinsing required:
Free of harsh chemicals & nasty ingredients
Free of harsh chemicals & nasty ingredients:
Free of harsh chemicals & nasty ingredients:
Lathers easily
Lathers easily:
Lathers easily:

 


6. Use a Dog Dryer After Bathing Your Newfoundland Dog

As Newfoundland dogs have long, heavy coats, drying them can often be very frustrating, especially if you don’t have the right equipment. While you can use your hairdryer to dry out smaller dog breeds after bathing, that’s not the case with mighty Newfies.

Due to their size and coat type, it is best to use a dog dryer after bathing your Newfoundland to ensure their coats will entirely dry out. Leaving your Newfie’s coat wet could lead to hot spots, which are painful lesions that create inflammation and can be hard to treat.


7. Try to Make a Strict Grooming Schedule & Turn It Into a Positive Experience

Grooming a Newfoundland dog often takes time, dedication, and patience, which is why it can be hard to find the time to do everything in your Newfie’s care routine.

Because of that, it is always good to make a strict grooming schedule you will stick to while turning grooming into a positive experience for both you and your canine. That said, if possible, choose a day and time of the week when you’ll have your grooming/bonding moment with your Newfie while ensuring you are both enjoying the process.

Newfoundland in the river
Image Credit: rzoze19, Shutterstock

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The 4 Trimming, Ear & Nail Care Tips

8. Learn How to Trim Your Newfie

Even if you plan on taking your Newfie to a professional groomer, it’s always beneficial to learn the basics of trimming a Newfie.

These dogs grow a lot of hair quickly!

Because of that, knowing how to trim their fur will allow you to keep their coats in good shape between professional grooming sessions. If you’re a beginner, you can consult a professional groomer on how you can trim your Newfie, or you can ask experienced Newfie owners for advice.

Either way, learning how to trim your Newfie will save you time, energy, and money in the long run while ensuring your furry companion looks beautiful all the time.


9. Trim the Nails Every 3–4 Weeks

Newfoundlands are active dogs, and long nails could prevent them from safely engaging in their daily activities. Because of that, you should trim your Newfoundland’s nails every 3–4 weeks so that they don’t get too long.

Many pet parents are unaware of the proper nail trimming frequency for their canines, which could cause discomfort and unnecessary pain.

When unsure if you trim your Newfie’s nails or not, you can simply check if they are touching the ground while your Newfoundland dog is standing. If the nails are touching the ground, that’s a sign that you should trim them.

dogs getting nails trimmed
Image Credit: Duet PandG, Shutterstock

10. Ensure Your Newfie Gets Proper Dental Care

Newfoundland dogs also require proper dental care to keep their teeth in good shape. This breed generally has good teeth, so they don’t require much care—brushing them twice a week should be enough to keep them clean and neat.

You could also occasionally offer dental treats or dog chews to eliminate possible bad breath so that your Newfie always smells fresh.


11. Clean Your Newfoundland’s Ears Once a Month

Newfoundlands have long, floppy ears, which also require proper care. You should clean your Newfie’s ears at least once a month to keep them debris and dirt-free.

Due to the shape of their ears, Newfoundland dogs are prone to ear infections; discuss this with your vet to get recommendations for pet-specific cleansers you can use to keep their ears in good shape.

newfoundland dog with his owner
Image Credit: Irina Kozorog, Shutterstock

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Conclusion

Grooming your Newfoundland can often be tricky, especially if you’ve never had a similar dog before. However, by sticking to the tips we provided in the article, you can ensure your Newfie will look and feel healthy.

Remember to start grooming your Newfie from a young age, get all the needed grooming tools, and try to make the experience positive for both you and your dog and turn it into a bonding session.

 

Featured Image Credit: Roman-Zaiets, Shutterstock

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