Henry's Last Swim Of 2023

In fine fashion at Maverick's!

Seaman's Day

(Lydia Ely/The Astorian - December 28, 2023)

"Happy, a Newfoundland dog, winks for the camera during Seaman's Day at Lewis and Clark National Historical Park in July."

Merry Christmas

To and from foreever Baby Henry.

Families Meet Newfoundlands At Jingle On The Avenue

(Corinne Westemen - coloradocommunitymedia.com - December 21, 2023)

"Oh, what fun it is to ride in a Newfoundland dog cart sleigh! Olde Golden Holidays hosted its final December weekend event with the annual Jingle on the Avenue Dec. 16. Washington Avenue closed for two hours midday, so Goldenites and other area families could meet their favorite holiday characters. The street was filled with families taking photos with Frosty the Snowman, Buddy the Elf, the Gingerbread Man, the Grinch, and of course — everyone’s favorite Christmas couple — Santa and Mrs. Claus. There were other games and activities for attendees, including live music and rides in a “sleigh” pulled by a Newfoundland dog. Although the winter holiday season’s winding down, Goldenites will probably pack downtown next year for all their favorite December traditions."

Newfoundland Water Rescue Dogs Will Be On Blackpool Comedy Carpet For Christmas Meet And Greet Event

(Blackpoolegazette.com.uk - December 15, 2023)

"The Blackpool Working Newfoundlands are heading out to the Comedy Carpet, where they will dress in Christmas outfits and pose for photos - all for a good cause. A spokesperson said: 'Why not come down, have a cuddle and a photo. The dogs are excited to see you and are making a huge effort, they will be in fancy dress, pulling carts with prezzies for the kids (all free but donations gratefully received). Photos and video to follow."

Where Can You Find Newfoundland Dogs Hauling Christmas Trees? At This Pennsylvania Farm

(Jeremy Eaton - CBC News - December 10, 2023)

"In the tiny township of Plowville, about an hour west of Philadelphia, sits a long-standing family-run Christmas tree farm that has become the unofficial Newfoundland dog capital of the United States. The farm had been using the working dogs around the farm with little to no fanfare until Lindsay Eshelman posted a video of what happens on her family's farm — which has since grown into an annual event during the holiday season. 'It's a great way to expose people to the joy of Christmas but also teach people about Newfoundland dogs. Eshelman said. They're big and sometimes people are scared of big dogs and we want to show that they're gentle giants."

Between her brother, Preston, and her parents, Brenda and Greg, the Eshelmans have four Newfoundland dogs. That pup population grows a lot on Newfoundland Day with more than 80 of the massive dogs set to take in the festivities. "We are a destination for these dogs," Eshelman said. We actually have had people drive all the way from Vermont, Maine, Ohio - those are 10 plus hour-long drives.' This extinct N.L. dog is the ancestor of all modern retrievers Plow Farms shows no signs of slowing down on the Christmas experience they offer, or their love of the Newfoundland dogs, which has become a big part of who they are. 'We're the Newfoundland farm,' said Eshelman. This year my mother just adopted 2 new Newfoundland dogs, so the farm keeps growing and acquiring dogs."

"God Is The Creator Of Man And Beast Alike, And Can Inspire Both To Acts Of Compassion"

(PR NewsWire - December 6, 2023)

Xulon Press presents a fictional story inspired by a truly heroic dog - Cedric, Footprints In The Sand B.F. Stebbing was inspired after seeing Sir Edwin Landseer's painting depicting a Newfoundland dog performing a water rescue and researched the canine, who reportedly rescued 23 people from shipwrecks on the Thames in the Victorian Era. Mixing facts with imagination, Stebbing has created an enchanting story about the life-saving work of this magnificent dog. "…may we not believe God can use a dog much in the same way as an angel?" said Stebbing. The book is available for $20.49, paperback, 9781662889165; $9.99, e-book, 9781662889172.

Meet the Aberdeenshire Dogs Trained To Save Lives At Sea

(By Kelly Wilson, The P&J - December 4, 2023)

"Newfoundlands Yogi and Cindy are both trained in water rescue. They can jump from helicopters hovering above the waves and be winched down to casualties in the water. Or swim hundreds of metres out to sea and drag someone to safety. They have been trained by former army veteran Norman McConnachie who has based it on the Italian School of Water Rescue dogs. The school’s dogs work as active rescue units on police, coastguard and military boats. Newfoundlands ‘Excel’ At Water Rescue: The former surf lifeguard said: 'The Italians use water rescue dogs all the time and use them as lifeguards. I was absolutely flabbergasted by this beautiful black Newfoundland. 'He was huge and overwhelmingly cuddly. Just the emotional support in the water by a dog pulling you about it, going snorkelling with the children and various other things it was amazing experience.'

'But training a Newfoundland to actually save your life when you are at sea or in a riverbank there’s so many other things you can do. It’s like an emergency service’s additional tool on their own.' The breed is known for its size, intelligence, strength, calm disposition and loyalty. The dogs excel at water rescue and life-saving because of their muscular build, thick, water-resistant coat, webbed paws and tremendous swimming skills. Norman, who is also a qualified dog groomer, got 85kg Yogi from Poland, and Cindy, who weighs 60kg, from Belarus. Cindy’s eyes are protected by reflective shades which look like ski goggles, and they act in a similar way, preventing glare and debris from getting into her eyes. Ambitions To Open A Puppy Training School Norman said: 'If you were at Aberdeen Beach and maybe 600 metres offshore and you are struggling because you fell off your paddleboard and drowning I can launch the dog off the beach. It would be faster. He can pull you back to the beach on his own and I don’t need to assist him if you are conscious. But if you are unconscious the dog can hold on to your hand or a piece of clothing and pull you back."

Yogi & Cindy both take part in some community callouts, including patrols of Loch Morlich but are not part of any emergency response team. Norman, who is married to Rachel, said: 'Emergency services don’t recognise us as there’s only myself but they do know what we do and who we are. But the problem is the red tape and insurance policies. I’d like to open up a school in Aberdeen with canines as a life support but sadly the funding is very hard to get.' Help Ease Anxiety Norman also uses both Cindy and Yogi as 'service,' or 'assistance dogs, visiting hospitals, care homes, schools and a range of other venues, helping people with behavioural issues, depression, autism, stress and anxiety as a form of pet-therapy. Both are Animal Assist Activity (AAA) therapy dogs.

Norman, who also runs Military Fitness Training, said: 'There is a lot of people out there with general health problems and there’s maybe not enough support in certain fields because there’s maybe not funding or knowledge. I’m out there to educate people more on what assisted dogs are.'”

A Newfoundland For A Shilling

(By Edward Jessie, Esq. from "Anecdotes of Dogs")

"A gentleman of Suffolk, on an excursion with his friend, was attended by a Newfoundland dog, which soon became the subject of conversation. The master, after a warm eulogium upon the perfections of his canine favourite, assured his companion that he would, upon receiving the order, return and fetch any article he should leave behind, from any distance. To confirm this assertion, a marked shilling was put under a large square stone by the side of the road, being first shown to the dog. The gentlemen then rode for three miles, when the dog received his signal from the master to return for the shilling he had seen put under the stone. The dog turned back; the gentlemen rode on, and reached home; but to their surprise and disappointment the hitherto faithful messenger did not return during the day. It afterwards appeared that he had gone to the place where the shilling was deposited, but the stone being too large for his strength to remove, he had stayed howling at the place till two horsemen riding by, and attracted by his seeming distress, stopped to look at him, when one of them alighting, removed the stone, and seeing the shilling, put it into his pocket, not at the time conceiving it to be the object of the dog's search. The dog followed their horses for twenty miles, remained undisturbed in the room where they supped, followed the chambermaid into the bedchamber, and secreted himself under one of the beds. The possessor of the shilling hung his trousers upon a nail by the bed-side; but when the travellers were both asleep, the dog took them in his mouth, and leaping out of the window, which was left open on account of the sultry heat, reached the house of his master at four o'clock in the morning with the prize he had made free with, in the pocket of which were found a watch and money, that were returned upon being advertised, when the whole mystery was mutually unravelled, to the admiration of all the parties."

Giving Thanks For Henry

Through thick and thin, you have always been there, my beloved best friend. Bless you.

The Nobilty and Docility of the Newfoundland Dog

(By Edward Jessie, Esq. from "Anecdotes of Dogs")

"When we reflect on the docility of the Newfoundland dog, his affectionate disposition, his aptitude in receiving instruction, and his instantaneous sense of impending danger, we shall no longer wonder at his being called the friend of his master, whom he is at all times ready to defend at the risk of his own life. How noble is his appearance, and at the same time how serene is his countenance! 'Sa fierté, sa beauté, sa jeunesse agréable Le fit cherir de vous, et il est redoutable A vos fiers ennemis par sa courage.' No animal, perhaps, can show more real courage than this dog. His perseverance in what he undertakes is so great, that he never relinquishes an attempt which has been enjoined him as long as there is a chance of success. I allude more particularly to storms at sea and consequent shipwreck, when his services, his courage, and indefatigable exertions, have been truly wonderful. Numerous persons have been saved from a watery grave by these dogs, and ropes have been conveyed by them from a sinking ship to the shore amidst foaming billows, by which means whole crews have been saved from destruction. Their feet are particularly well adapted to enable them to swim, being webbed very much like those of a duck, and they are at all times ready to plunge into the water to save a human being from drowning. Some dogs delight in following a fox, others in hunting the hare, or killing vermin. The delight of the Newfoundland dog appears to be in the preservation of the lives of the human race. A story is related on good authority of one of these dogs being in the habit, when he saw persons swimming in the Seine at Paris, of seizing them and bringing them to the shore. In the immediate neighbourhood of Windsor a servant was saved from drowning by a Newfoundland dog, who seized him by the collar of his coat when he was almost exhausted, and brought him to the banks, where some of the family were assembled watching with great anxiety the exertions of the noble animal."

For Veteran's Day - An Officer, A Gentleman and a Newfoundland

(As told by Satchel and Andrew)

We wanted to bring you the story of our Grandpa and his first Newfie. Grandpa served for several years in the U.S. Air Force in Italy and the Persian Gulf during World War II. He was a highly decorated Lieutenant and spent much of his time in dangerous reconnaissance work. One of his last assignments came in leading a supply platoon into Russia during the winter of 1944. After successfully getting the supplies into the hands of Russian troops, Grandpa was approached by a young Russian soldier. The soldier had a Newfie puppy and he was being shipped out and could not take the Newfie with him. He pleaded with Grandpa to take the Newfie so that it would have a good home and not face a very uncertain future. Grandpa agreed and the brief encounter between two soldiers was enough for handshakes, hugs, and best wishes to be exchanged.

Only a few weeks later, Grandpa received his orders to return home after years away from Grandma and his family. He had named the puppy "Franny" and was very concerned about how he would get Franny back home with him. After considerable thought, he decided to see if the pilot of the Air Force plane would take some money and store Franny underneath the pilot's seat. The pilot agreed, and Grandpa put Franny in a cardboard box with holes in it so she could breath. He gave her a sleeping pill so that no one else would know of the precious cargo. Well, all went well, and Franny made her way with Grandpa back to Chicago and then on to San Francisco, where she lived until 1958 with two daughters who loved her dearly. Grandpa had brought back a Persian rug he kept in his office overseas. He put it in his basement office at home when he got back, and he and Franny spent many fond hours there curled up on the rug. Not long after finally getting home, Grandpa wrote a poem to Franny, entitled, "Lines To A Curled Up Franny": "Little Franny, lax and lazy, with a mind extremely hazy, in regard to human cares, far removed from worldly affairs. There you lie your tail around you, with no Charlotte to hound you; with no taxes to be met, with no spending to regret. There you snuggle on the Persian, bothered not by reconversion; vvoid of grief and sacrifice, dreaming dreams of cats and mice." (Lt. Samuel D. Sayad) (March 30 1913 - July 29 1986)

Henry - First Grooming

(November 10, 2020)

When Henry Arrived

And on the 6th day of November 2020, Henry arrived, bringing unbridled love and joy.

The Ever-Faithful Newfoundland Dog

(By Edward Jessie, Esq., from "Anecdotes of Dogs")

"One of the Magistrates of Harbour-Grace, the late Mr. Garland, had an old dog, which was in the habit of carrying a lantern before his master at night, as steadily as the most attentive servant could do; stopping short when his master made a stop, and proceeding when he saw him disposed to follow him. If his master was absent from home, on the lantern being fixed to his mouth, and the command given, “Go, fetch your master,” he would immediately set off and proceed directly to the town, which lay at the distance of more than a mile form the place of his master’s residence. He would then stop at the door of every house which he knew his master was in the habit of frequenting, and, laying down his lantern, would growl and strike the door, making all the noise in his power until it was opened. If his master was not thee, he would proceed further until he had found him. If he accompanied him only once into a house, it was sufficient to induce him to take that house in his round.

The principal use of this animal in Newfoundland, in addition to his qualities as a good watch-dog and a faithful companion, is to assist in fetching from the woods the lumber intended either for repairing the fish stages, or for fuel; and this is done by dragging it on the snow or ice, or else on sledges, the dog being tackled to it. These animals bark only when strongly provoked. They are not quarrelsome, but treat the smaller species with a great degree of patience and forbearance. They will defend their masters on seeing the least appearance of an attack on his person. The well-known partiality of these dogs for water, in which they appears as if in their proper element, diving and keeping their heads under the surface for a considerable time, seems to give them some connexion with the class of amphibious animals. At the same time, the several instances of their superior sagacity, and the essential services which they have been frequently known to render to humanity, give them a distinguished rank in the scale of the brute creation. I will mention another instance of this.

The Durham packet of Sunderland was, in 1815, wrecked near Clay, in Norfolk. A faithful dog was employed to use his efforts to carry the lead-line on shore from the vessel; but there being a very heavy sea, and a deep beach, it appeared that the drawback of the surf was too powerful for the animal to contend with. Mr. Parker, ship-builder, of Wells, and Mr. Jackson, jun., of Clay, who were on the spot, observing this, instantly rushed into the sea, which was running very high, and gallantly succeeded, though at a great risk, in catching hold of the dog, which was much exhausted, but which had all this time kept the line in his mouth. The line being thus obtained, a communication with the vessel was established; and a warp being passed from the ship to the shore, the lives of all on board, nine in number, including two children, were saved."

The Newfoundland - About The Breed

(akc.org)

"The massive Newfoundland is a strikingly large, powerful working dog of heavy bone and dignified bearing. The sweet-tempered Newfie is a famously good companion and has earned a reputation as a patient and watchful 'nanny dog' for kids. A male Newfoundland can weigh up to 150 pounds and stand 28 inches at the shoulder; females typically go 100 to 120 pounds. The Newf head is majestic, the expression soft and soulful. The outer coat is flat and coarse. Colors are gray, brown, black, and a black-and-white coat named for artist Sir Edwin Landseer, who popularized the look in his paintings. The Newfie breed standard says that a sweet temperament is the 'most important single characteristic of the breed.' The Newf's sterling character is expressed in their affinity for kids. Trusting and trainable, Newfs respond well to gentle guidance. These noble giants are among the world's biggest dogs, and acquiring a pet that could outweigh you comes with obvious challenges."

Of Dogs and Men, Part XVXX

"There is a well-authenticated anecdote of two dogs at Donaghadee, in which the instinctive daring of the one by the other caused a friendship, and, as it should seem, a kind of lamentation for the dead, after one of them had paid the debt of nature. This happened while the government harbour or pier for the packets at Donaghadee was in the course of building, and it took place in the sight of several witnesses. The one dog in this case was also a Newfoundland, and the other was a mastiff. They were both powerful dogs; and though each was good-natured when alone, hey were very much in the habit of fighting when they met. One day they had a fierce and prolonged battle on the pier, from the point of which both fell into the sea; and as the pier was long and steep, they had no means of escape but by swimming a considerable distance. Throwing water upon fighting dogs is an approved means of putting an end to their hostilities; and it is natural to suppose that two combatants of the same species tumbling themselves into the sea would have the same effect. It had; and each began to make for the land as best he could. The Newfoundland being an excellent swimmer, very speedily gained the pier, on which he stood shaking himself; but at the same time watching the motions of his late antagonist, which, 152being no swimmer, was struggling exhausted in the water, and just about to sink. In dashed the Newfoundland dog, took the other gently by the collar, kept his head above water, and brought him safely to shore. There was a peculiar kind of recognition between the two animals; they never fought again; they were always together; and when the Newfoundland dog had been accidentally killed by the passage of a stone waggon on the railway over him, the other languished and lamented for a long time." (Edward Jessie, Esq., "Anecdotes of Dogs")

Does Dog Breed Affect Behavior?

(akc.org)

"A recent study published in Science investigated whether a dog’s breed determines their personality, based on community science data sourced from Darwin’s Ark. Outlets like the New York Times framed the expansive study’s results with provocative headlines like, 'They’re All Good Dogs, and It Has Nothing to Do With Their Breed,' but is it really that simple? 'I think it’s dangerous to say to someone that it doesn’t matter what breed of dog you get … I’m really anxious about some of the messaging that’s out there about this paper,' study co-author Dr. Jessica Hekman said on the Cog Dog Radio podcast. She told the American Kennel Club that the study’s original intent was to add to the scientific literature about dogs in regards to behavior, and 'not to provide guidance for people buying pets.' We spoke to dog experts in training, health, and genetics, as well as study co-author Hekman herself, to understand more about why dog breeds and genetics definitely do matter, and how socialization of any dog or breed is key to bringing out the best expression of a dog and their personality.

Do Different Dog Breeds Have Different Personalities? Every individual dog is just that: an individual. While one dog may rush to the door excited to greet visitors while another dog of the same breed may just lounge on the couch unbothered, the type of dog breed will likely predict common traits, including how energetic or stubborn your pet may be. According to Dr. Jerry Klein, Chief Veterinary Officer for the American Kennel Club, as soon as humans began to domesticate dogs, they chose dogs that were easiest to manage and handle, as well as those useful for day-to-day activities like hunting, guarding, and companionship. 'Through selective breeding over many, many, many generations, certain qualities and traits were continuously selected, refined, and became more ingrained in some dogs, eventually becoming a certain group of dogs (Sporting, Sighthounds, Scenthounds), and then further still, becoming breeds,' he explains. Penny Leigh, CPDT-KA and program manager for AKC Canine Partners and the AKC GoodDog! Helpline, agrees. 'Purebred dog breeds have been developed, some for hundreds of years, for a purpose, whether that be cuddling on laps, hunting birds, herding livestock, or pulling sleds,' she says. 'They were selected for traits that would produce the best dogs for their intended jobs—and those traits still define their personalities today even if they are not being used in their intended roles.' There may be specific behavior differences between similar breeds within a breed group, like the Herding Group or Terrier Group, or within a subgroup, like pointing breeds or setting breeds, explains Dr. Jerold Bell, Adjunct Professor of Genetics at the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University. However, the differences between these groups are based on hundreds of years of selection for specific behaviors. 'There is no question that ‘instinct’ is a strong factor in purebred dog behavior when you see a weeks-old puppy frozen on-point, or a herding dog circling the family children, or all other stereotypical breed behaviors,' Dr. Bell says. Adding a new dog to your life is exciting, but it’s also a serious commitment. You need to meet your new pet’s physical and psychological needs for their entire life, not to mention training and socialization to ensure they’re properly equipped to interact with people and other dogs. While all dogs vary in their own unique personality, it still holds that if the breed you choose isn’t the right match for your lifestyle, the key behaviors that have defined that breed over generations can prove to be a struggle that leads to frustration, disappointment, or an unhappy dog.

Does Dog Breed Matter? Yes, for Many Reasons 'While the personalities of individual dogs will vary, just as human siblings will have different personalities, a dog’s behavioral tendencies will reflect their breed,' Dr. Bell says. 'Prospective owners need to understand the expected behaviors and needs of the individual breeds to determine whether these fit in with their family and lifestyle.' A suitable match is key to a happy life for both you and your pet. You don’t want to end up rehoming an energetic Sporting breed because they weren’t a fit for your chilled-out lifestyle of apartment lounging. 'Choosing the wrong breed for your lifestyle can lead to frustration for you and your dog,' Leigh says. 'If you are a couch potato, then you do not want to be partnered with a high-energy dog who wants a job—and if you love to hike and jog, then you do not want a dog that would rather snooze the day away.' So, if different breeds have different temperaments and distinguishing traits, how do you choose the right one for you? As part of the AKC’s mission to promote responsible dog ownership, we’ve always maintained that researching the different dog breeds you’re interested in is critical. This helps a prospective puppy or dog owner narrow the field to pick breeds that are an overall good match for your lifestyle—beyond just breeds that have the physical traits you prefer, or that you find to be the most 'cute.' You need to know what that breed needs in terms of space, exercise, mental stimulation, and grooming to ensure the dog you bring home fits your lifestyle.

However, choosing a particular breed does not mean you’ll get a carbon copy of personality with each dog—rather you can understand their breed’s general tendencies, which can help you decide if that breed has the baseline potential to be a good fit for you, and it will also help guide the kind of training the breed will need. While there are no guarantees about how your dog will behave, Dr. Klein feels if people make educated, informed decisions they can commit to caring for a dog for the dog’s entire life. 'Understanding the breed standard and characteristics will help potential owners determine if a specific dog is likely to mesh well with their home, lifestyle, environment, time commitment, and expectations,' he says.

When speaking specifically about acquiring a dog from a breeder on the Cog Dog Radio podcast, Dr. Hekman explains, 'Your best way to have a dog that fits well into your home—no matter what the breed—is to interact with the breeder who is producing those dogs. You should (buy your puppy) from a breeder who knows their lines well, and you should tell that breeder what your expectations of the dog are: what you want the dog for, what you can provide for the dog, what’s a dealbreaker for you. And you should find the kind of breeder who is willing to say, and who is happy to say, ‘This is not the right dog for you,’ if it’s true, and then you should listen to them. 'That’s the real message. And at that point, it doesn’t matter what breed, because you’ll go to the (Belgian) Malinois breeder and they’ll be like, ‘I don’t think this is the right dog for you if you don’t have time to walk it, and you have a two-year-old crawling on the floor.'

How Do You Bring Out the Best Behavior and Personality in Your Dog? You’ve likely heard of the 'nature versus nurture' concept when it comes to dog behavior. A dog’s breed, hard-wired personality, and behavior traits are essentially the 'nature,' while socialization and training are 'nurture.' Leigh explains that socialization is the most important thing a person can do when they bring a new puppy home. 'Positive experiences as a young puppy stay with the dog for life and will help it mature into a more confident, well-rounded adult dog,' she says. 'Genetics also definitely play a role. Some breeds are naturally more reserved and less trusting of strangers—and some are social butterflies who love everyone from day one. Still, socialization helps all dogs adapt better to people, animals, and situations that they will encounter through life.' Another important way to bring out the best in your dog is to train your dog. For example, some breeds are high drive and easily aroused, but teaching impulse control and focus will help channel those qualities in positive ways. In other words, you can’t change the personality a dog is born with, but you can help bring out its best expression. Like a naturally shy person can use tools to build confidence in public speaking, you can give a timid dog the tools to be more confident and self-assured. 'A dog that is a little skittish and shy might never ever be the life of the party, but through training, socialization, and confidence-building, you can make huge strides to help your dog cope with almost any situation,' Leigh says. Choosing the breed with the best personality to fit your lifestyle, then socializing and training that dog, gives you the best opportunity to build a fulfilling, lifelong relationship and bond with your dog. As Dr. Klein says, 'Dog breeds have very distinct physical and personality traits, and it is important that people understand and familiarize themselves with those traits. That is the best way to ensure success in your relationship with any dog.'

Dr. Hekman echos this point, and told the AKC that she agrees that socialization of the dog itself plays a major role in how they express their personality. Not only should you choose a breeder that does a good job at socializing the newborn puppies, but you should also continue that work once you bring your dog home. 'But it’s not everything, and you’ll definitely improve your chances of getting the right dog for you if you are also thoughtful about what breed you bring home,' she says.

News Takes on the Dog Breed Study vs. The Study Itself It’s important for any dog lover, dog fancier, or especially new puppy seekers to take note that news coverage of the study that was published in Science isn’t the same as the study itself, and that a particular take from a news website isn’t necessarily the point or intent of the study. 'I don’t think this paper should be used to help you decide how to get your next puppy, because that’s not what we tested,' Dr. Hekman said on the podcast. She cautioned, 'Be careful with what you’re reading. You may be reading what a journalist’s take on the paper is rather than the actual paper. If you go to the page that the paper is hosted on, you will find a paragraph at the beginning of that—before what we the authors wrote—which is the take of an editor of the journal. It was not written by the (study) authors. That little paragraph does end with saying that you should not use breed to determine what kind of dog you’re buying as a pet. The (study) authors didn’t write that. I don’t want to speak for anybody else but myself, but I disagree with that statement. And I have no power to have it taken down.'”

Henry - Beaute Noir

Newfoundland Origin and History

(showsightmagazine.com)

The origin of the Newfoundland dog will always remain a matter of speculation. There are several theories to explain the appearance of the large black dogs on their native island of Newfoundland, off the eastern shore of Canada. One theory holds that the Boethuck Indians’ dogs evolved from the American black wolf, now extinct, or from the Tibetan Mastiff, which could have entered North America from Asia. Another theory maintains that the breed developed from dogs brought to the New World and left by the Vikings in 1000 AD. It is agreed only that he is one of the older breeds of dogs in existence today. He may not have originated in Newfoundland, though skeletons of giant dogs have been discovered in Indian gravesites in Newfoundland dating from the 5th century, AD. One of the more appealing speculations rests on the legend that when Leif Erikson discovered North America about 1000 AD, he had aboard his boat a large black dog, resembling a Newfoundland, called “Oolum.” The first record of the Newfoundland dog on the island whose name he bears dates from 1732 when an unknown author wrote, “The Bear Dog of a very large size is very watchful, his business is to guard a court or house, and has a thundering voice.” It is possible, too, that some Great Pyrenees were bred to this Newfoundland dog by the Basque fishermen sailing between Newfoundland and their homeland. The Newfoundland is an ancestor of the present-day Labrador and Chesapeake Bay Retrievers, which follow the Newfoundland in their natural swimming ability. The rough-coated St. Bernard owes its coat to the Newfoundland. In the Canadian province of Newfoundland, the Newfoundland was used as a working dog to pull nets for the fishermen and to haul wood from the forest. Elsewhere, he patiently did heavy labor of all kinds, powering the blacksmith’s bellows and the turner’s lathe. The 17th and 18th century, English settlers on the island of Newfoundland were impressed with the native dogs’ great size and strength, their natural swimming ability, and their gentle dispositions. Traders brought the dogs back to England where they were bred with the large estate dogs. Thus, the North American Newfoundland evolved gradually, first by natural selection, and later by selective breeding in Britain. The breed was first given its name around 1775.

In the journals of Lewis and Clark are stories of the dog, “Seaman,” who accompanied their expedition through the Louisiana Territory in 1804-1809. Seaman was credited with saving the life of the explorers when he headed off a buffalo charging through the camp toward their tent. Newfoundlands were used for draft purposes in their native land, and in England they became popular as ship dogs. In the 18th and 19th centuries, few ships sailed the oceans of the Western Hemisphere without a Newfoundland on board as a lifesaver; such was the reputation for heroic water rescues.

In the mid 19th century, white and black Newfoundlands became very popular as a result of their depictions in paintings by Sir Edwin Landseer. These dogs became known as Landseer Newfoundlands. Newfs became the darlings of Victorian households; they were also valued as children’s guardians and as family companions. The modern American Newfoundland can trace its lineage to a dog named “Siki,” who was shown in England in the early 1920s. He was the most famous show dog of his time, but more importantly, he was a proponent stud dog. Newfoundland type, as defined by the breed standard, begins with Ch. Siki and the three Siki sons imported to North America.

In the mid 1960s, the Canadian-bred dog, Ch. Newton, was successfully campaigned in Canada and the US. In addition to winning the US National Specialties in 1965 and 1966, he was very successful in all-breed competition. His excellent type could rival any of the currently exhibited Newfoundlands. In general, it can be said that in the past thirty years, type has been stabilized and the breed has become more structurally sound. The Newfoundlands of today are as capable of hauling loads and of water rescue as his ancestors were.

The Nobel and Generous Disposition of the Newfoundland Dog

(By Edward Jessie, Esq., "Anecdotes of Dogs")

"Dr. Abell, on one of his lectures on phrenology, revealed a very striking anecdote of a Newfounndland dog in Cork. This dog was of a nobel and generous disposition. and when he left his master's house was often assailed by a number of little noisy dogs in the street. He usually passed them with apparent unconcern, as if they were beneath his notice. One little cur, however, was particularly troublesome, and at length carried his petulance so far as to bite the Newfoundland dog in the back of his foot. This was too much to be patiently endured. He instantly turned round, ran after the offender, and seized him by the skin of his back. In this way he carried him in his mouth to the quay, and holding him some time over the water, at lenght dropped him into it. He did not seem, however, to wish to punish the culprit too much, for he waited a little while while the poor animal, who was unused to that element, was not only well ducked, but near sinking, when he plunged in himself, and brought the other to safe land.

An officer, late in the 15th Hussars, informed me that he had witnessed a similar occurrence at St. Petersburg. These certainly are instances of a nobel and generous disposition, as well as of great forbearance in not resenting an injury."