Important cute science: finding the biggest Newfoundland dog in Newfoundland

If you’re not familiar with the Newfoundland dog, they’re the perfect dog if you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to be friends with a small and extremely friendly bear. They’re somewhere between two and three feet tall and built like a giant muscular mop. They’ve been working dogs for ages, displaying such feats of strength as pulling fishermen from freezing waters — a Newfoundland named Seaman accompanied the Lewis and Clark Expedition all the way to the Pacific coast. They’re intelligent, friendly, messy, and even a little clingy: Newfies love people and attention. However, this Monday, we’re not just here to celebrate these dogs, we’re here to answer a truly important question, courtesy of The Independent: who’s the biggest Newfoundland dog in Newfoundland, Canada?

Photo by Jessie Evans, The Independent

The dogs in The Independent’s article range from dogs who are basically still puppies (noted for being high energy despite their size) to friendly old companions who are basically retired and took a little time out of their nap to say hi to the photographer. Some of these Newfoundlands are even minor celebrities: Chief, a 6-year-old dog shown above (who also notably doesn’t like cheese), is featured in Johnson Insurance commercials, and is reportedly the most-photographed dog in the province.

However, as with all things, there must be a biggest, and in this case, the honor goes to Tiempo. At nearly three feet tall when seated and weighing nearly 200 lbs, three-year-old Tiempo is a gentle giant among giants, and is the biggest Newfoundland in Newfoundland!

Photo by Jessie Evans, The Independent

If you’d like to see more Newfoundlands — and let’s face it, you know you want to — be sure and check out the Independent’s look at the largest Newfoundlands in Newfoundland. And if you yourself own a Newfoundland? Please pet your dog for me.

Header photo, and all other photos, by Jessie Evans.