Newfoundland Grooming, Drool & Daily Care Guide

The short answer

Owning a Newfoundland is a real grooming and housekeeping commitment. The heavy double coat needs thorough brushing several times a week, and daily during the twice-yearly heavy shed, to prevent mats and manage the hair. Newfoundlands are a drooly breed, and there is no fixing that, keep a towel handy and make peace with it. And because that magnificent coat makes them overheat easily, a Calgary summer means exercising in the cool hours, offering shade and water, and never shaving the coat without professional guidance. Embrace the fur and drool and you get one of the sweetest dogs there is; resist it and you will be frustrated daily.

A large black Newfoundland dog being gently brushed on a porch on a sunny Calgary day, thick coat visible

People choose a Newfoundland for the temperament and are surprised by the maintenance. This is the part of ownership that never lets up: the brushing, the tumbleweeds of undercoat, the drool on the window, the summer heat you have to plan around. None of it is hard, exactly, but all of it is constant, and being honest with yourself about whether you will enjoy or resent it is the real test of whether the breed fits your life. This guide lays out the daily reality.

The coat: brushing and the great shed

The Newfoundland's heavy, water-resistant double coat, part of what the American Kennel Club calls a powerful working dog of heavy bone, is glorious and demanding. It needs thorough brushing several times a week to prevent the mats that form behind the ears, under the legs, and around the rear, and that can become painful and require shaving if neglected. Invest in good tools, an undercoat rake and a slicker brush, and make brushing a regular, calm routine rather than an occasional marathon. A groomer experienced with giant double-coated breeds is well worth it for baths and the heavier work.

Twice a year, the Newfoundland blows its undercoat, and the volume of hair is genuinely startling. During these few weeks, daily brushing keeps the worst of it off your home and helps the new coat come in cleanly. Between sheds, expect steady year-round hair; a Newfoundland home simply has fur in it. The owners who thrive with the breed treat the grooming as part of the bond rather than a chore, and the dogs, who love the attention, tend to agree.

The drool: no training it away

Let us be direct, because this surprises people. Newfoundlands drool, and it is not a training problem to be solved; it comes with the loose jowls that are part of the breed. Expect it especially around food and after drinking water, and know that a hearty head shake can fling drool onto walls, ceilings, and unsuspecting guests. This is permanent. If the idea genuinely bothers you, take that seriously now rather than after you adopt.

Living with it is straightforward once you accept it. Keep a “drool towel” or two in easy reach, wipe the jowls after meals and water, and you will manage the day-to-day fine. Many Newfoundland owners come to find the drool oddly endearing, a small tax on an enormous amount of love. But it is a real feature of the breed, and an honest guide has to say so plainly.

Keeping a giant cool in a Calgary summer

The same coat that makes a Newfoundland perfect for a Calgary winter makes summer the season to manage carefully. This is a heavy, heavily coated breed that overheats easily, so on warm days exercise in the cool of the early morning or evening rather than the afternoon, always provide shade and fresh water, and never leave the dog in a warm space, including a parked car. Many Newfoundlands adore water, so a shallow pool or a supervised swim is a wonderful way to help them cool off.

Resist the urge to shave the coat for summer without professional guidance. Counterintuitive as it seems, the double coat helps regulate temperature and protects the skin, and shaving can interfere with both and with healthy regrowth. Diligent brushing to thin the dense undercoat does more for airflow than shaving would. Watch for heavy panting, drooling more than usual, or distress, and get your dog out of the heat at once if you see it. Our Calgary winter dog care guide covers the cold end of the year, where this breed truly shines.

Ready for the fur, the drool, and the love?

If the daily upkeep sounds worth it, adopting an adult Newfoundland through a Calgary rescue means you meet the real dog, coat and all. See who is available now.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much grooming does a Newfoundland need?↓

A lot, and it is not optional. The Newfoundland has a heavy, water-resistant double coat that needs thorough brushing several times a week, and often daily during the twice-yearly heavy shed, to prevent painful mats and manage the volume of hair. Plan on regular baths, nail trims, and ear checks too, and budget either real time for at-home coat care or the cost of a professional groomer who handles giant breeds. Skipping the coat work leads to mats that can hurt the dog and require shaving, so consistency matters more than any single long session.

Do Newfoundlands shed a lot?↓

Yes, heavily. Newfoundlands shed year-round and then blow their undercoat twice a year in dramatic fashion, producing an astonishing amount of hair for a few weeks each time. Regular brushing is the main defence, removing loose undercoat before it ends up on your floors, furniture, and clothing. Even with diligent grooming, a Newfoundland home has dog hair in it; that is simply part of the deal. If a hair-free house is important to you, this is not your breed. If you can make peace with the fur, the brushing routine becomes a pleasant ritual.

Do Newfoundlands drool a lot?↓

Yes. Newfoundlands are a notably drooly breed, and there is no training it away; it comes with the loose jowls. They drool especially around food, water, and after drinking, and a good head shake can send drool impressively far, including onto walls and ceilings. Experienced owners keep a drool towel handy, wipe the jowls after meals and water, and simply accept it as part of loving the breed. If drool genuinely bothers you, be honest about that now, because it is a permanent feature of owning a Newfoundland.

How do I keep a Newfoundland cool in a Calgary summer?↓

Carefully, because this heavily coated giant overheats easily. Exercise in the cool of the early morning or evening rather than the heat of the day, always provide shade and fresh water, and never leave the dog anywhere warm, including a parked vehicle. Many Newfoundlands love water, so a kiddie pool or a swim can help them cool off. Do not shave the double coat without veterinary guidance, since it actually helps regulate temperature and protects the skin. Watch for heavy panting or distress and get out of the heat immediately if you see it.

Should you shave a Newfoundland in summer?↓

Generally no, not without veterinary or professional grooming guidance. It is a common instinct to shave a heavily coated dog in summer, but a Newfoundland’s double coat actually helps regulate body temperature and protects the skin from sun and irritation, and shaving can interfere with that and with proper regrowth. The better approach is diligent brushing to remove the dense undercoat, which improves airflow, plus careful heat management. If you are considering a coat change for a medical reason, talk to your vet or a groomer experienced with double-coated breeds first.