The Landseer Newfoundland. 269 



CHAPTER XL THE LANDSEER 



NEWFOUNDLAND. 



BY CORSINCON. 



THAT great artist, Sir Edwin Landseer, having immortalised a black and 

 white dog, of Newfoundland type, in his painting, "A Distinguished 

 Member of the Humane Society," made this variety too popular to be 

 ignored by fashion, which is most arbitrary in such cases, and had 

 determined that all black should be the colour of Newfoundland dogs. 



Fashion, therefore, finding itself opposed by genius which was popular, 

 very wisely entered into a compromise by setting up two classes of New- 

 foundlands, and in honour of genius calling the black and white sort the 

 Landseer Newfoundland. 



Although I think it is doubtful whether the black has a claim to the 

 exclusive title given him, I cannot but agree that we are happy in having 

 such an excellent reason for christening the bi-colour dog the Landseer, 

 and there is every reason to increase the number of classes, if by so 

 doing we can increase the number of good dogs kept, and diminish the 

 number of mongrels. Since a class was established for Landseers the 

 numbers exhibited have increased. 



The Landseer differs but little from the black except in colour, and a 

 tendency in the coat to curl. Some specimens are very curly, and I do 

 not know that that is a fault. It should perhaps rather be made a 

 point of difference between them and the black. 



Mr. Lord's Moldau, however, has a straight dense coat, and this German 

 bred dog, so perfect in symmetry, should be most valuable as a sire. He 

 has not so much white on him as is generally desired in a Landseer where 

 the white and black are liked best in about equal proportions, but a dog 

 of his beautiful formation, and with his white points, should with lightish 

 coloured bitches get grand stock. Moldau I gave second prize to at the 

 International Show, Hanover, 1879, in the best class I have ever seen. 



Mr. Evans' Dick has proved the greatest prize winner of this variety, 

 he is a noble specimen and as clever as he is handsome, and from personal 

 knowledge of him I can add perfect as a companion dog. 



