New Labralound

The New Labralound, also known as the Newfador, is a hybrid dog breed. They are the result of breeding a Newfoundland (Newfie) with a Labrador Retriever. This creates a large to giant-sized dog with a medium-length, course coat and a long feathered tail. Because of their large size, their owner needs to dedicate time to training.

The New Labralound has an excellent character, as expected when the parent breeds are two such amiable types. They love to be around people, are patient with children and other pets. However, they may be prone to bursts of excitement, which can make them a hazard around small children or the elderly, as they are such a large dog. Also, they do need a significant amount of living space and require a good amount of daily exercise.

About & History

The New Labralound made its first appearance in the 2000s, and as a relative newcomer, their history is really that of the parent breeds.

The Labrador Retriever

It is perhaps confusing in the context of the New Labralound, but the Labrador Retriever actually originated from Newfoundland. The breed was the creation of fishermen who crossed Newfoundland dogs with other smaller retrieving water dogs.

Initially known as St John’s Retrievers and arrived in England in the 1820s. Famously, members of the English aristocracy such as the Earl of Malmesbury (amongst others) who perfected the breed, leading to a change of name toward the end of the 19th century.

The Newfoundland

Traditionally, the Newfoundland originates from Canada, but their roots may go further back, perhaps even to the Vikings. The early dogs were bred by fishermen to assist them in landing their nets, and are subtly different to the modern dog, with the introduction of bloodlines from other large breeds, such as the Portuguese Mastiff.

Appearance

The New Labralound is a large to giant dog with a sturdy, strong build. They have a good length of muzzle sometimes framed by heavy jowls, with a wide forehead and drop ears. They have a long feathered tail that is most usually found wagging. Their coat is medium length, thick and slightly course. The most common colours include brown, black, or fawn, or these colours mixed with white.

Character & Temperament

Both parent breeds have a reputation for being ‘people’ dogs that love to be around their owner and are keen to please. For the Labrador, this is done with enthusiasm and energy, whereas the Newfie is more placid about showing their affection. The resulting mix, the New Labralound stands a great chance of being a loving, faithful, and devoted canine companion. However, within this overall character is a spectrum of possibility, where the pup may be endowed with the playful keenness of the Labrador or borrow more from the steadying influence of the Newfie.

As with all dogs, their temperament as an adult is coloured by their experiences in younger life. It is important that a large dog, such as the New Labralound, is carefully exposed to a range of different sights, sounds, and smells during their socialisation period, so they grow into confident, well-adjusted adults.

Trainability

Both parent breeds are highly trainable, and thrive on the mental stimulation afforded by obedience training. They respond best to methods that use rewards to motivate the canine student, be that small treats or a game of ball when they do good work. Given the large size of an adult New Labralound, training is obligatory or their owner risks having a disobedient companion that is too large to physically restrain.

Health

Hybrids, such as the New Labralound, are too new and too unusual to have acquired data about the diseases to which they are prone. However, it is reasonable to assume they may be at risk of developing some of the conditions recognised in the parent breeds.

Gastric Torsion or Bloat

This serious problem occurs when the stomach flips over with the result that food and air is trapped inside. The stomach becomes swollen with air, which then compresses the blood flow to major organs, with the end result of shock and possible death.

An owner can reduce the risk of bloat happening by feeding a high quality diet, which is low in fermentable ingredients. Also, the dog rest after eating for at least an hour before exercising. Some owners elect for a preventative surgical procedure, called a gastropexy, where the stomach is surgically anchored to the body wall. This doesn’t prevent the stomach from swelling but should stop the more serious twist developing.

Hip Dysplasia

Hip dysplasia refers to an abnormal growth of the hip joint; such that it fails to sit snuggly in place. This results in clunking and grinding when the dog moves, causing inflammation and pain. The most obvious symptom is lameness, which over time can be severe.

Ideally, dogs used for breeding would be screened for hip dysplasia, and only those with healthy joints used to create the next generation. However, owners can help protect their dog’s legs by feeding a food appropriate for growing large breed dogs and not placing too much strain on the joints until the bones are mature.

Dilated Cardiomyopathy

Dilated cardiomyopathy is a disease of the heart muscle, which reduces the heart’s ability to pump blood effectively. This may be a silent disease for several years, and the owner only realizes there is a problem when the dog shows late stage symptoms, such as rapid breathing, lack of energy and weakness.

Allergic Skin Disease

Allergies in dogs often show up as skin problems, typified by itchiness or excessive licking. An allergic dog may be unlucky enough to react to pollens or grass sap, which can make this a challenging condition to manage. Fortunately, there are now many medical treatments that can control the symptoms, however, these can be costly especially for a large dog, such as the New Labralound.

Exercise and Activity Levels

The New Labralound definitely needs to spend a good amount of time each day, engaged in outdoor activities. They need at least one to two hours of vigorous activity per day, although if the Newfie side dominates the pup, this will be at a more sedate pace than that of a lively Labrador.

Given their heritage as hunting and retrieving dogs that love being around water, the New Labralound will enjoy swimming, long hikes, and also dog sports, such as agility. It is important to provide these outlets for energy or it risks the breed gaining weight or creating their own entertainment in unwanted ways, such as barking, chewing, or escaping.

Grooming

The New Labralound is a hairy dog and that lux coat needs regular, preferably daily, attention. This is not a hybrid for the house proud, and should be avoided by people who dislike drifts of shed hair on the carpet or soft furnishings.

Coat care ranges from a daily slick over with a deshedding tool (if the New Labralound inherits the Labradors thick but short coat) or a full comb through and brush down (if they have the longer, double coat of the Newfie). This reduces the numbers of knots and tangles in the coat, and captures some of that shed hair on the brush rather than the cushions.