Are The Newfoundland And The St Bernard Related In Any Way?

Good question. There is a striking resemblance between the two breeds and it is widely believed that the two are related. But quite how the two breeds met up in the first place remains something of a mystery.

Certainly, by the time the Newfoundland was being imported into Europe from Canada, the evidence of the relationship between the Canadians and St Bernards was plain to see.
Both breeds have long been associated with rescue work; the Newfoundland can scarcely be kept out of water while the St Bernard has long been saving the lives of lost wayfarers in the Swiss Alps.

Both breeds are of similar size standing at around 28 or 29 inches tall. However, the St Bernard is substantially heavier, normally being 180 to 200 lbs compared to Newfoundland which averages 150 lbs. With frames this size to support, inevitably the Newfoundland and St Bernard have prodigious appetites.

Newfoundlands are usually always black in colour, distinguishing them starkly from the St Bernard which is normally has a white and red coat.