History of the Newfoundland Dog
Born as a canine seaman, the Newfoundland was a standard piece of
equipment on every fishing boat in Canada's maritime province that gave
the breed its name. Fishing has always been Newfoundland's chief
industry; the dogs hauled fishing nets out to sea and back to the boat
and retrieved objects or people who fell into the sea. Equally at home
in water or on land, the Newfoundland was large enough to pull in a
drowning man or to break the ice as he dove into the frigid northern
ocean. His lung capacity allowed him to swim great distances and fight
ocean currents.
- At the end of a day's fishing, the day's catch was loaded into a
cart, and the dog was hitched up to haul the load into town. Other
Newfoundlands pulled wagons to deliver milk and mail throughout the
island.
- There are many legends of Newfoundlands saving drowning victims by
carrying lifelines to sinking ships. The dogs were kept in the "dog
walk" on early sailing ships. If the sea was too choppy when land was
sighted, the dog carried a line to land.
- The origin of this working breed is disputed. Vikings and Basque
fishermen visited Newfoundland as early as 1000 AD and wrote accounts of
the natives working side by side with these retrieving dogs. The breed
as we know it today was developed in England, while the island of
Newfoundland nearly legislated the native breed to extinction in 1780.
- The Newfoundland has a stiff, oily outer coat of moderate length and
a fleecy undercoat to adapt to the harsh climate of its home island. The
oil repels water. A Newfoundland can swim for hours, yet remain
completely dry and warm at the skin. The breed has completely webbed
feet and swims with a breast stroke instead of a dog paddle.
Meriwether Lewis's Newfoundland dog -
SEAMAN Newfoundland
Statues
St. Louis, Missouri
St.
Charles, Missouri
Jefferson City, Missouri on the
Missouri State Capitol Grounds
Fort Atkinson State Historical Park, Fort Calhoun, Nebraska
Case Park - Kansas City, Missouri
Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center,
Sioux City, Iowa
Washburn, North Dakota at the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center
(6-foot-high, 1400-pound steel)
Overlook Park, Great Falls, Montana
Fort Clatsop National Memorial
Seaside, Oregon
Source: Dog Owner's Guide - An online magazine
for Pet & Showdog Owners
