Hi,

I see a dog being walked by its owner nearly every day and always wonder what it is.
It's very large (nearly waist height on a tall man), quite shaggy (the sort of fur you could plunge your hand into if you know what I mean), has a fairly short face (squat face?), and is quite a light colour with darker patches.
Possibly a newfoundland, but are they other similar breeds anyone thinks this might be? I thought it looked like a Japanese breed but I've had a look for those and it doesn't seem like any of them.
of course, I could just ask him but I'm a bit embarrassed at being so nosey

Is it brown and white? If so, it's almost certainly a St Bernard.

Or is it black and white? If so, it's most likely to be a Landseer (a variant of the Newfie).

People sometimes stop and ask me about one of my dogs and whether it is a Newfoundland as it is the same size and shape. Mine is a pyrenean mountain dog. She is white with pale beige patches but you can get pure white ones too. I think Newfoundlands are always black. St Bernards are similar but a little larger and can have brown and black patches..I think!

Don't be daft - just ask! Dog owners love being asked about their dogs, especially the less well-known breeds.

Disnae - I was actually thinking that it might have been a Pyrenean Mountain Dog. In fact, it could *well* be that breed (there is one round here who has the most plunge-your-hand-into-it fur of any dog I've ever seen).

Aw, they've got fabulous fur, just so huggable!

http://www.dkimages.com/discover/pre...4/85006225.JPG Pyrenean Mountain Dog

http://puppydogweb.com/caninebreeds/...ndland_pdw.jpg Newfoundland (can also be brown)

http://puppydogweb.com/gallery/leonb...starzyska2.jpg Leonberger

http://www.petsplace.co.za/Saint_Bernard_Skye.jpg Saint Bernard

http://www.gotpetsonline.com/picture...riard-0006.jpg Briard

Thanks guys - I know it's not a Saint Bernard (after seeing those daft Beethoven films ) , it could be the Pyrenean but I think it's got longer hair and is generally rounder.
It's lovely though!
I think I'll ask the chap next time I see him - or if he's over the other side of the park I'll take a pic and post it and see if that helps!
I nearly fell over it once when we were both rounding a corner and it sort of sighed and bumbled out of the way as I couldn't get round it! Lovely dog!

sounds like a Leonberger i have 2 newfies (newfoundlands) they come in black, brown, or landseer , (black and white) flavour, defo just ask, sure he will not mind

Oh, live and learn! I thought newfies were always black!

That wasn't a very good example of a Pyrenean, it was just the best pic of a patched one I could find. This is a better example; http://www.dogcafe.net/uploaded_imag...dog-776544.jpg


They're always doing that with dogs Disnae . Every time you think you know all there is to know they go and breed some new variant and prove you wrong. Even I wouldn't have recognised this as a Newfoundland; http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3088/...68f916.jpg?v=0. They weren't supposed to look like that the last time I checked

It's always fun trying to pin down a breed with someone who isn't familiar with dog breeds ie "It was one of those spotty dogs" = it was an English Setter. "It was like a sausage dog but with long legs and a red collar" = it was a Vizsla. Or "Look at that fox!" "It's not a fox it's an Alstation" = Mained Wolf in London zoo