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."

Grooming a Newfoundland

(groomers-online.com)

"Newfoundlands, affectionately known as Newfies, are large, friendly, intelligent dogs that are easily adaptable to home life. This gentle breed usually lives for around eight to ten years and requires a decent amount of space for exercise. One of the main considerations with Newfoundland grooming is the breed's size. Newfoundland dogs can weigh up to 150 lbs (this figure is usually around 120 lbs for bitches), so it's important to ensure that you have a stable and sturdy grooming table to support this weight before grooming them. Newfoundlands have moderate grooming needs but are prone to shedding. Your professional groomer can advise you on an appropriate at-home grooming routine to keep your dog's coat healthy. In this guide, we'll focus on bathing and grooming Newfoundlands and the best ways to reduce their coats to help them stay healthy and comfortable.

Shaving your Newfoundland’s coat isn’t recommended. Newfoundlands are double-coated, which naturally regulates their body temperature, trapping air close to the skin to keep them cool in the summer and insulating them in the winter. Shaving the coat interferes with this process and can cause your dog to overheat. Even though you may think that you’re helping to cool down your dog by shaving its thick coat, it would have the opposite effect.

Newfoundlands are year-round shedders but are known for blowing their coats twice a year in the autumn and spring, so their grooming needs will intensify during these periods. Because of this, they must have a good, solid, at-home grooming routine in place. Invest in the following tools so you can keep on top of your Newfoundland's coat at home: *A grooming table (optional) that can support the weight of the Newfoundland. This is a great way to create a space that the dog can positively associate with grooming. *A large pin brush perfect for everyday grooming. The pins help to undo the tangles whilst the ends collect the dead hair. An undercoat rake penetrates deep into the hair and helps remove mats and loose, dead hair. *A slicker brush to help remove dead hair from the undercoat. *A mat-splitter for removing difficult mats *A comb for line-combing and preventing mats and tangles. You should groom a Newfoundland coat frequently to tackle shedding and remove its loose undercoat. Brushing daily with a large pin brush in short strokes in the direction of hair growth will control any shedding from the undercoat. Invest in a detangle spray to remove any stubborn tangles. Start at the dog's head, work down the shoulders and along the back and sides, finishing with the tail and legs. You may want to finish off the groom by recombing under and behind the ears, then the forequarters and moving onto the head and neck. Next, get your comb ready for some line-combing. To line comb correctly: Lift the dog's hair with your non-grooming hand and part it so you can see a line of skin. Take your comb and comb through this section of the undercoat to remove any loose or dead hair. Repeat in sections, working from the front to the back of the dog. Not only does this help maintain the undercoat, but it also presents an opportunity for you to examine the dog's skin condition and check for parasites. Line-combing should be done weekly, but this may need to be increased when the dog blows its coat. Once this step is complete, go over the hair with your large, slicker brush in slow, short strokes in the direction of hair growth. If there are any mats or tangles, try and free these with your detangle spray and a detangler comb. Use the mat-breaker to break through any mats that you can't clear. The armpits, between the legs, under the ears, and the back end are the places that usually accumulate mats, so always check these areas. Avoid using scissors to break through the mats to prevent catching the dog's skin and causing injury. Instead, use a 10" inch clipper blade and clip away the mat from the area. If mats accumulate in these areas, leave them for a professional groomer to remove or seek advice on correctly removing mats from these sensitive areas.

Although a Newfoundland puppy won't require much grooming, getting them used to the process is useful. Introduce them to each of your tools, including the grooming table (if you have one), to get them used to the environment. Brush their hair with a slicker brush and reward them for their good behaviour with treats if they stay calm whilst being brushed. Remember, when getting your puppy used to new experiences, do so in short bursts, so they don't become restless, and continue to reward them throughout. Even if you plan on taking your puppy to the groomer, you should continue to brush them at home, as this will be a large part of their grooming routine.

A Newfoundland will usually only need a bath every six to eight weeks. When bathing a Newfoundland, one of the most difficult things to manage is its coat, which you should brush thoroughly before bathing to remove any mats and tangles that could worsen once wet. A Newfoundland coat is naturally water-resistant, so you must soak it thoroughly. To bathe a Newfoundland successfully at home, follow these steps: *Fill the bath with about six to eight inches of lukewarm water and lure the dog into the bath with a treat. *Gently wet the coat by pouring water over it and massaging it into the fur. A shower head or pet sprayer could be useful here, helping you to penetrate the coat. *Invest in some breed-specific or gentle shampoo, and then use a bath mitt to lather the shampoo deep into the coat. *Rinse the shampoo thoroughly, rinsing deep into the coat to prevent the skin from drying and becoming irritated. *Dry the dog's coat with a large towel, working through it to remove the excess water. Drying after bathing is essential for Newfoundlands as it prevents hotspots from forming in their coat which can lead to dermatitis if left untreated. This can be painful and irritating for your dog and can cause them to bite and scratch the affected area, leading to more irritation. Prevention is better than cure with dermatitis, as it can be difficult to get under control, and it spreads quickly. *If investing in a dryer for the dog, choose a high-velocity one that has a lot of power but doesn't emit heat, as this will help prevent hot spots from forming. *Once completely dry, brush through the dog's coat thoroughly. *For more intricate work like cleaning your Newfoundland's ears, use a damp cotton ball to clean the skin around the ears, but never insert anything inside your dog's ear.

If you want to trim your dogs at home, your professional groomer will offer practical tips and tricks on managing your dog's coat. Here are our top recommendations: *Ears - trim the edges of the ears with scissors to remove long, loose hairs to prevent matting and improve airflow to the ear canal. Encourage your clients to check their dog's ears regularly to prevent inflammation. *Chest - if the chest hair becomes unruly, thin the fur with a grooming rake. Hold the rake at a 45-degree angle to the dog's body and move it through the coat toward the direction of the hair's growth. Remove any dead hair from the rake whilst grooming. *Feet - take care when trimming the hair around the feet, which are webbed for swimming. Although the hair needs to be trimmed to prevent bacterial infections, be careful when cutting the hair in case the skin between the toes gets nicked with the scissors.

To tidy up a Newfoundland to that perfectly groomed shape in the salon, you should follow the following steps: *Start by trimming the hair on the feet so all paws have hair of equal length. If done correctly, the paws should be rounded, and individual toes or nails shouldn't be easily noticeable. *To thin down the coat, use thinning scissors and cut the hair in the direction of the coat. *Trim the feathers on the forequarters where the edges look untidy. Start at the back of the leg and then move to the outside. Finally, trim the inside areas so all lines are left looking clean and even from every angle. *Use the same method on the hindquarters as the forequarters, paying attention to the hair on the hock and buttocks. You should trim the hair from the hocks downward at a 45-degree angle. *If the chest hairs have grown long, trim them down to create a soft and rounded curve to the chest. *To tidy the dog's underline, work from the back to the front, starting on the left flank. Make sure to hold the shears at a downward angle when grooming from the dog's hindquarters to the armpits. The hair shouldn't sit much lower than a few inches below the elbows. *To smooth out the lines, lift the left foreleg and carefully trim the hair under the armpit, so the line of the chest connects with the underline. Repeat this method under the right foreleg and trim behind both armpits. Step back and examine your Newfoundland from the rear; the underline should be nicely rounded to each flank. *A Newfoundland's tail and topline doesn't always need to be trimmed; the tail only requires trimming if it's bushy or dishevelled.

Your Newfoundland's head and ears require care and attention. Start with the ears, shaping them, so they look rounded, not pointy. The hair length on the ears shouldn't run further than the length of the ear. Remove stray hairs, then trim the hair behind the ears to blend it with the hair on the neck. Finally, if the hair on the head looks overgrown, comb it upwards, then trim it into a rounded shape."

The Newfoundland - The Ultimate Water Rescue Dog

“My kind friend took a Newfoundland dog and a small spaniel into a boat with him on the river Thames, and when he got into the middle of the river, he turned them into the water. They swam different ways, but the spaniel got into the current, and after struggling some time was in danger of being drowned. As soon as the Newfoundland dog perceived the predicament of his companion, he swam to his assistance, and brought him safe to the shore.” (Edward Jesse, Esq., Anecdotes of Dogs (1858))

The Docility of the Newfoundland Dog

(By Edward Jesse, 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!”

The Tragic Dispute Over Pronunciation of "Newfoundland"

(October 2, 2023 - Dean Jobb)

"The argument erupted at the supper table in a Colorado lumber camp near Castle Rock, a spot on the map at the edge of the Rocky Mountains and about thirty miles south of Denver. William Atcheson, who was working at Hocker& Gray’s sawmill in March 1876, had a large dog and the landlady asked what breed it was. The reply incensed John Peter Davis, a teamster who was tired of having Atcheson correct his pronunciation. Atcheson, a twenty-two-year-old who had been born in New York City and 'enjoyed the advantages of a liberal education,' the Denver Tribune later noted, 'was rather enthusiastic in his defense of the King’s English, and this brought him into frequent and lively disputes with some of the other men.' It was, Atcheson told the landlady, a Newfoundland dog. The breed had been developed by fishermen on the island of that name, almost three thousand miles away at the eastern edge of North America, then a British colony and now a province of Canada. The Saint Bernard lookalikes can weigh up to 175 pounds and are strong swimmers. Harper’s Magazine that year quoted an English owner who praised the breed’s strength and loyalty. 'He can fetch and carry; and if you fall in the water, drunk or sober, he’ll pull you out.' Davis, a Texan in his mid-thirties, took exception to Atcheson’s pronunciation of the word as New-found-land. The proper way to say it, he insisted, was New-found-land, with the emphasis on the last syllable. Atcheson, as usual, disagreed. Their exchange grew heated. 'The two men, it appears, were chronic disputants,' Denver’s Rocky Mountain News reported, 'and always manifested much temper in their discussions.'

To find out who was right, they headed to Atcheson’s cabin to consult his copy of Webster’s Dictionary. Language and phrases not likely to be found in that book – 'high words, and some rather hard names' – were shouted once they were inside. Atcheson punched Davis, knocking him to the floor. Davis got back on his feet and 'true to his Texan breeding and education,' by one account, drew a revolver and fired. The bullet struck Atcheson in the stomach but the younger man continued to throw punches, knocking Davis to the floor two more times before he staggered and fell.

The gunshot alerted other men in the camp. They carried the wounded man to a bed and summoned a doctor, but there was nothing he could do; the wound would be fatal. Shortly before he died early the next morning, it was said, Atcheson recounted 'with triumphant satisfaction' how he had 'knocked down his antagonist twice after he had been shot.' By then, Davis had slipped away into the night. The local sheriff formed a posse and gave chase, but 'without much prospect,' one of the Denver papers conceded, 'of making a capture.' 'A Question of Pronunciation Settled by a Pistol Ball,' announced the Rocky Mountain News. The fatal outcome of such a trivial argument seemed to fit the time and place. The West was still wild, and it would be another three months before Lieutenant-Colonel George Custer and his Seventh Cavalry had their last stand at the Battle of the Little Bighorn. The United States was celebrating the centenary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1876. Colorado would not become the thirty-eighth state until that August. Castle Rock, the town nearest to the lumber camp, had been established just two years before and boasted a population of less than one hundred.

Some newspapers saw humor in the deadly war of words. Atcheson had been dispatched 'straight to a new-found-land, we suppose,' quipped Santa Barbara’s weekly paper. 'A punishment so exemplary for the prevalent and atrocious crime of mispronunciation,' the Brooklyn Daily Eagle observed wryly, 'would entail the slaughter of more than two-thirds of the preachers of Brooklyn.' The paper’s indictment of the local clergy included the offenses of saying 'shell' for 'shall,' 'gether' for 'gather,' 'wuz' for 'was,' and 'ketch' instead of 'catch.' Such affronts to the language, the paper added, were 'unpardonable in those who know better.' A paper published in the Montana Territory suggested, tongue-in-cheek, that Davis had acted 'very properly' in shooting Atcheson: 'Correct pronunciation must and shall be preserved.'

Incredibly, there is at least one other recorded instance of a dispute over pronunciation that turned deadly. In 1903 in Donora, Pennsylvania, a borough near Pittsburgh, two young men who boarded together argued over how to say “Hiawatha,” from Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s 1850s poem 'The Song of Hiawatha' and the title of a popular song at the time. The dispute between Charles Erven, twenty-four, and eighteen-year-old William Sweets began at the dining room table and continued in their room. Sweets pulled out a revolver and shot Erven four times, killing him. 'Overcome with remorse,' it was reported, Sweets asked another lodger to send a letter to his mother, then shot himself. Neither man appears to have subscribed to the Washington Times, which only days earlier had offered its readers the proper pronunciation: 'long i, long a, broad a and broad a, accent on the third syllable.'

Who had correctly pronounced Newfoundland back in 1876, Atcheson or Davis? A folklorist at Memorial University, in the Newfoundland capital of St. John’s, has studied how the pronunciation has changed over time. In the nineteenth century, Philip Hiscock told Canada’s National Post newspaper in 2016, the island’s inhabitants were likely to give each syllable equal weight, calling it 'new-found-land.' But the variations Atcheson and Davis favored (New-found-land and New-found-land) were also in use on the island more than a century ago, according to Hiscock, so both men had been right. (The accepted pronunciation today, he told the paper, is 'noo-fn-land.') Davis’ escape after he shot Atcheson, it turned out, was not the last word in a case that revolved around a single word.

The man thought he was dying. John Peter Davis of Peoria, Oregon, seventy and seriously ill, wanted to make a confession before it was too late. Thirty-six years earlier, he told Dr. Graham, the physician called to his bedside, he had shot and killed a man in Colorado during a dispute over how to say a word. William Atcheson’s killer had finally been found. Dr. Graham dispatched a letter to Castle Rock, 1,300 miles to the east, informing the Sheriff Anderson of Douglas County of the confession. The bizarre, forgotten shooting over the pronunciation of Newfoundland was back in the news. 'On Deathbed Man Owns to Murder,' declared a headline in the Arizona Republic in December 1912 as the story was relayed to papers nationwide. In Colorado Springs, District Attorney M.W. Purcell announced he would bring Davis back to the state to stand trial if he recovered. 'Death and Justice Racing,' noted another headline.

In Castle Rock, still a town of only a few hundred, Sheriff Anderson began to make inquiries. A few old-timers remembered the murder, press accounts noted, 'because of the trivial nature of the quarrel.' A man named Simmons had apparently witnessed the shooting, but no one knew where he was or if he was still alive. The doctor who had examined Atcheson before he died was himself dead. Anderson located one of the men who had served on the coroner’s jury that investigated the death back in 1876, but official records of the inquest were missing. 'In the event of the return of Davis to Colorado,' the local authorities realized, 'the absence of corroborative evidence would make conviction hard should Davis decide to refute his alleged confession.'

In a final twist, Davis’ health rebounded and he survived. 'It is understood that Davis is now better,' the Associated Press reported, 'and regrets having made a confession.' If he recanted, as he appeared likely to do, there was no other evidence tying him to the crime. The Sheriff and district attorney appear to have concluded a prosecution would be futile. There is no record of his extradition to Colorado or of a trial. By then, however, news of the confession had generated a new round of comments and jibes across the country. A journalist in Kansas recalled having a strict schoolteacher who 'beat up' a pupil who insisted on saying New-found-land – a capital offence, in Atcheson’s case. This appears to have been the accepted pronunciation in Britain. Some American papers republished an item from the London Chronicle confirming that, in England, 'the accent is generally put on the second syllable.' An Ohio newspaper playfully took on the role of peacemaker, urging restraint to those confronted with mispronunciations and misspellings. 'We have never wasted any time trying to convince folks that address, verb or noun, should not be pronounced with the accent on the first syllable,' noted the Mansfield News-Journal, and have never 'assassinated' anyone for offenses against the language. The paper had 'even spared those who say 'I seen' or ‘I have saw.’

In North Carolina, far from both Newfoundland and Colorado, an editor with the Raleigh News and Observer was worried. The earliest reports of the sinking of the liner Titanic that year had been relayed through a Newfoundland wireless station, and the island’s name had appeared in countless newspaper articles. Resurrecting the long-ago Colorado crime might spark a fresh round of arguments – none, hopefully, culminating in murder – over how to pronounce Newfoundland. 'The public,' the paper noted, 'is still left in the dark as to what is correct.'”

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