Newfoundland coat colours
&
colour genetics
The Newfoundland has a gorgeous thick double coat, it is flat and dense, of coarse texture, oily nature and surprisingly water-resistant.
What colours do Newfoundlands come in?
In the UK we have THREE recognised coat colours:
BLACK
BROWN
WHITE AND BLACK (Landseer)
There are also naturally occurring colours in the breed that are classed as none breed standard colours.
(You can not compete in dog shows with these colours)
Those colours are:
MISMARK or IRISH SPOTTED
GREY (recognised only in the USA show ring)
BEIGE or CREAM (sometimes referred to as Isabella)
BROWN or GREY or BEIGE and white (sometimes referred to as a Brown or grey landseer)
What colours do Newfoundlands come in?
In the UK we have THREE recognised coat colours:
BLACK
BROWN
WHITE AND BLACK (Landseer)
There are also naturally occurring colours in the breed that are classed as none breed standard colours.
(You can not compete in dog shows with these colours)
Those colours are:
MISMARK or IRISH SPOTTED
GREY (recognised only in the USA show ring)
BEIGE or CREAM (sometimes referred to as Isabella)
BROWN or GREY or BEIGE and white (sometimes referred to as a Brown or grey landseer)
Black
Pictured above Newfangled Shenanigans aka Sonny who we bred in our 1st litter.
The most common coat colour and my personal favourite is Black.
You may find white patches or markings on their chest, chin, toes, or tip of the tail. Markings anywhere else on their bodies would disqualify them from competing in dog shows. Dogs with excessive white markings are known as “Missmark”, which we will talk about further down the article.
The most common coat colour and my personal favourite is Black.
You may find white patches or markings on their chest, chin, toes, or tip of the tail. Markings anywhere else on their bodies would disqualify them from competing in dog shows. Dogs with excessive white markings are known as “Missmark”, which we will talk about further down the article.
Brown
Pictured above Newfangled on a Joyride To Shadowrise aka Bean.
Brown Newfies are anecdotally known as the cheeky and often naughty colour within the breed (A little like chocolate labs are known to be the nutters of the lab world).
Pictured above Newfangled know your worth aka Bow
Although, it is only a colour gene and probably bares no real truth we can’t help but agree to some extent!
Most browns we know are bonkers but so much fun and so endearing. Bow pictured above is one of the rare exceptions to the theory! If she was more laid back she would be horizontal!
That being said we feel that every Newfie household needs a Brown, they are truly beautiful and wonderful dogs.
White markings may be found at the same points as the black above.
Although, it is only a colour gene and probably bares no real truth we can’t help but agree to some extent!
Most browns we know are bonkers but so much fun and so endearing. Bow pictured above is one of the rare exceptions to the theory! If she was more laid back she would be horizontal!
That being said we feel that every Newfie household needs a Brown, they are truly beautiful and wonderful dogs.
White markings may be found at the same points as the black above.
White and black
Picture above borrowed from the internet (We don’t have any!!)
White and black Newfoundlands are often confused with the ECT Landseer, pictured below. They are in fact a completely different and separate breed. Despite this, they do share some resembling features.
It is said that back in the day before the landseer was classed as its own breed we were breeding Newfoundlands with landseers and I am told that when breeding black and white Newfoundlands they tend to revert back to the “old landseer type” faster.
I don’t know how much truth there is to that but, it is very rare indeed that I see an exceptional white and black example of the breed. When I do, they take my breath away and I want to take them home immediately!
We haven’t yet owned a white and black here at Newfangled but, given how hard it is to keep a black one clean I’m not sure if we ever will… Never say never.
White and black Newfoundlands are often confused with the ECT Landseer, pictured below. They are in fact a completely different and separate breed. Despite this, they do share some resembling features.
It is said that back in the day before the landseer was classed as its own breed we were breeding Newfoundlands with landseers and I am told that when breeding black and white Newfoundlands they tend to revert back to the “old landseer type” faster.
I don’t know how much truth there is to that but, it is very rare indeed that I see an exceptional white and black example of the breed. When I do, they take my breath away and I want to take them home immediately!
We haven’t yet owned a white and black here at Newfangled but, given how hard it is to keep a black one clean I’m not sure if we ever will… Never say never.
Pictured above is a Landseer - European continental type (THIS IS NOT A NEWFOUNDLAND)
IRISH SPOTTED OR MISSMARK
Pictures above Newfangled Okie Dokie aka Monty
Kicking off the list of Non-Breed Standard colours is the Irish spotted or Missmark Newfoundland. These are just names used to describe a dog that has more white markings than the breed standard allows.
There is not currently a DNA test to check for this “colour” pattern/combination and so “Missmarks” seem to show up in quite a lot of Newfoundland litters. Although certain lines do seem to produce them more often than others.
There is not currently a DNA test to check for this “colour” pattern/combination and so “Missmarks” seem to show up in quite a lot of Newfoundland litters. Although certain lines do seem to produce them more often than others.
Pictured above Newfangled Deja Vecu aka Olga
I think most breeders will agree that they absolutely don't mind because my goodness they make the cutest puppies!
What can be a little frustrating to us and many show breeders is that you can pretty much guarantee when the time comes for evaluating your litter of puppies for show qualities that the striking Missmark puppy - with all the incorrect markings - that you can not show! Will be the best of the bunch when it comes to conformation and structure! Isn’t that ironic!
What can be a little frustrating to us and many show breeders is that you can pretty much guarantee when the time comes for evaluating your litter of puppies for show qualities that the striking Missmark puppy - with all the incorrect markings - that you can not show! Will be the best of the bunch when it comes to conformation and structure! Isn’t that ironic!
Grey
Pictured above an unknown grey puppy borrowed from the internet
The Grey colouring in the grey Newfoundland comes from the dilute gene. They are basically a diluted version of black Newfoundlands.
While grey is an accepted colour in the USA show ring it is not an accepted colour in the UK or any other countries.
There is a common misconception within the Newfoundland community that none breed standard coloured dogs and dilutes in particular are more prone to heath issues.
This is however completely untrue.
It is true however that any dog that is a dilute can suffer with Colour-dilution alopecia. Color-dilution alopecia. It is a relatively uncommon hereditary skin disease seen in "Blue" and other color-diluted dogs.
While grey is an accepted colour in the USA show ring it is not an accepted colour in the UK or any other countries.
There is a common misconception within the Newfoundland community that none breed standard coloured dogs and dilutes in particular are more prone to heath issues.
This is however completely untrue.
It is true however that any dog that is a dilute can suffer with Colour-dilution alopecia. Color-dilution alopecia. It is a relatively uncommon hereditary skin disease seen in "Blue" and other color-diluted dogs.
Beige/Cream
Pictured above Selena S Berega Dona aka Monroe
The beige/cream colouring in the beige Newfoundland comes from the dilute gene. They are basically a diluted version of a brown Newfoundland. (Crazy side intact!)
Beige is not a recognised colour in any country. While we love all Newfies of every colour and we own Monroe (who lives here at Newfangled HQ) we don’t actively produce or encourage the breeding of non-breed standard coloured puppies.
Not because we don’t like them and I personally wouldn’t be upset if we did produce a dilute puppy. It is purely because we breed for heath, temperament and also “type”. Therefore, we feel that any “fault” or deviation from the breed standard is something we want to breed away from, not towards.
There is a DNA test available to check for dilute carriers and it is easy to then not put certain pairs of dogs together for breeding to avoid all of the none breed standard colours except for Missmark/Irish spot.
I will mention again that there is a common misconception within the Newfoundland pet community and, even with some breeders that none breed standard coloured dogs- dilutes in particular are more prone to heath issues.
This is completely untrue.
Perhaps breeders who breed purely to produce non-breed standard colours to sell them as “rare” with no consideration for heath will produce unhealthier puppies.
That is in no way a correlation to the colour but a direct correlation to the breeder’s practices.
The only colour related heath issue known within the breed is Color-dilution alopecia. It is a relatively uncommon hereditary skin disease seen in color-diluted dogs.
Beige is not a recognised colour in any country. While we love all Newfies of every colour and we own Monroe (who lives here at Newfangled HQ) we don’t actively produce or encourage the breeding of non-breed standard coloured puppies.
Not because we don’t like them and I personally wouldn’t be upset if we did produce a dilute puppy. It is purely because we breed for heath, temperament and also “type”. Therefore, we feel that any “fault” or deviation from the breed standard is something we want to breed away from, not towards.
There is a DNA test available to check for dilute carriers and it is easy to then not put certain pairs of dogs together for breeding to avoid all of the none breed standard colours except for Missmark/Irish spot.
I will mention again that there is a common misconception within the Newfoundland pet community and, even with some breeders that none breed standard coloured dogs- dilutes in particular are more prone to heath issues.
This is completely untrue.
Perhaps breeders who breed purely to produce non-breed standard colours to sell them as “rare” with no consideration for heath will produce unhealthier puppies.
That is in no way a correlation to the colour but a direct correlation to the breeder’s practices.
The only colour related heath issue known within the breed is Color-dilution alopecia. It is a relatively uncommon hereditary skin disease seen in color-diluted dogs.
Brown or Grey or Beige and White
Pictured above a none breed standard Brown and white sat beside a Black and White (again borrowed from the internet for illustration)
The UK breed standard describes the landseer colour
“Landseer: white with black markings only. For preference black head with narrow blaze, evenly marked saddle, black rump extending to tail. Beauty in markings to be taken greatly into consideration. Ticking undesirable”
Side note- Ticking are the small spots of colour within the white of the dog.
A brown, grey or beige and white is just that.
We at Newfangled love all colours of Newfoundlands. However, it is extremely important to remember that the breed standard is the perfect blueprint of each breed. Without that blueprint to follow, preservation breeders wouldn’t have guidelines and we wouldn’t have the Newfoundland as we know and love it today.
I also know some reputable breeders that do have none breed standard coloured puppies born. Those breeders do not breed for colour alone.
There should be no price difference between a breed standard and a none breed standard coloured puppy.
Do not be fooled by anyone marketing their puppies as “rare” or unique colours. The real reason they are so “rare” is because most breeders are actively trying not to produce those colours for the aforementioned reasons.
“Landseer: white with black markings only. For preference black head with narrow blaze, evenly marked saddle, black rump extending to tail. Beauty in markings to be taken greatly into consideration. Ticking undesirable”
Side note- Ticking are the small spots of colour within the white of the dog.
A brown, grey or beige and white is just that.
We at Newfangled love all colours of Newfoundlands. However, it is extremely important to remember that the breed standard is the perfect blueprint of each breed. Without that blueprint to follow, preservation breeders wouldn’t have guidelines and we wouldn’t have the Newfoundland as we know and love it today.
I also know some reputable breeders that do have none breed standard coloured puppies born. Those breeders do not breed for colour alone.
There should be no price difference between a breed standard and a none breed standard coloured puppy.
Do not be fooled by anyone marketing their puppies as “rare” or unique colours. The real reason they are so “rare” is because most breeders are actively trying not to produce those colours for the aforementioned reasons.
