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."