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As canines were
molded to fill whatever job was needed, residents of the banks of Labrador,
St. John's and Newfoundland developed dogs for aiding the fishermen. The
early history of these animals consists mainly of unsubstantiated stories
and fanciful tales.
Newfoundland
folklore tells of an early Tibetan Mastiff-type dog which accompanied
Indians migrating across the polar region to the Maritime Provinces. Four
thousand years later, in 1001 AD, when the Vikings arrived, they supposedly
had "bear dogs" of similar origin. The fusion of these two "long-lost
cousins" supposedly created the base for the Newfoundland breed.
By
the 1600s, records show European fishing vessels were frequent visitors
to the Maritimes and, since nearly all these fleets brought dogs with them,
crosses probably occurred with various European breeds who "jumped
ship" for a night on the town. Portuguese and Basque fishermen were
the earliest, and both Portuguese Water Dogs and Great Pyrenees in turn
probably contributed water-proofing, coat variations and water-working qualities,
along with size and nobility. Soon two distinct
types developed: the so-called Lesser St. John's Dog (which developed
into the Labrador Retriever) and the Greater St. John's Dog (which became
the Newfoundland and Landseer).
Early Newfoundlands
aided crews and became invaluable aboard ship, rescuing sailors and barking
the danger of reefs. Newfies were strong swimmers, and retrieved both
people and boats in distress. With the highest tides in the world (reaching
70 feet) in the Bay of Fundy near Newfoundland, it seems likely they were
called upon frequently. Not all work was so romantic, however; daily duties
found these dogs swimming from ship to ship, carrying lines, or retrieving
objects and drunken sailors who had fallen overboard.
By the 18th
century, examples of these Newfoundland dogs were brought back to England
on British trade ships. Early Newfs were a mixed lot, generally smaller
and lighter boned than today's specimens, with a wide variance in colors
(often spotted). Coat textures were rough, curly or long, and the high
tail often curved in a circle.
Crossing may
have occurred again in Europe, but type was eventually stabilized. The
Newf evolved into a large, sturdily boned, low-tailed dog still in several
colors and usually spotted. About the time a written standard was introduced
in the late 1800s, the solid black variety became the rage in England,
so much so that the black almost became known as the "only Newfoundland
in Britain and North America." Today the spotted Newfoundland is
considered a color variety, called Landseer, recognized by FCI as a
separate breed. They also come in solid chocolate (bronze).
Nobility,
peaceful personality, sleek good looks and superior strength attracted
more than seafarers and Indians to the breed. None can forget Lord Byron's
epitaph to "Boatswain," his Newfoundland:
Newfoundland backpacking in mountains.
When some proud son of man
returns to earth, |
