58 BRITISH DOGS 



is white. His marks are nearly invariable, namely, a black head 

 or face mark, a black saddle mark, and the tip of the stern also 

 black." " Otterstone " also wrote from personal observation of the 

 dogs accepted as pure Newfoundlands in Canada. 



Others wrote not only about colour, but also about texture 

 of coat, some holding that it should be curly, others wavy, others 

 shaggy ; while as to the height of the original, this is variously stated 

 as 24in. to 26in., up to 3oin. and 32in. 



In the "Sportsman's Cabinet," published in 1802, is an engraving 

 of the Newfoundland from a drawing by Reinagle. The dog repre- 

 sented is like our modern one in most points, but not so big and 

 square in head, altogether lighter in build, and almost entirely white. 

 No specific description follows, the author evidently considering 

 that the artist so well conveys the impression as to the general 

 appearance as to render such unnecessary. 



Whether there was a dog of marked characteristics from other 

 recognised breeds found indigenous to the Island on its discovery 

 or not, we may accept the case as proved that they are now, from 

 various causes, a mixed lot, greatly inferior to our English New- 

 foundlands. At one time the lesser Newfoundland was recognised ; 

 but whatever claims to recognition such a dog may have had in 

 the past, it is certain that none exist in the present, except such 

 as may be found in the Wavy-coated Retriever, which variety 

 was evolved from the smaller Newfoundlands. 



The contention of those who say the original breed using the 

 expression to mean the breed as it was when we began to import 

 these dogs did not stand more than about 25in. at the shoulder 

 is greatly discounted by references to the size and dignified appear- 

 ance of the dog by older writers ; and although climate and good 

 care do much, their effects would hardly be so immediate and 

 so great as to make a 3oin. dog out of a pup which, left at home, 

 would only have grown to 25in., or that that result would follow 

 except after a considerable number of years of careful breeding; but 

 in the " Sportsman's Cabinet," nearly seventy years before " Index " 

 wrote in the Field, and his dictum as to height was accepted by 

 " Stonehenge," the dog was stated to be valued for his great size. 

 Nor is size any less highly esteemed at the present day, so long 

 as it is not obtained at the expense of character. 



By many the Newfoundland is given an unjust character as 

 regards temperament. Taken as a breed, the dogs are good- 

 tempered and generally to be moulded into the best of companions 

 if their education be but taken in hand sufficiently early. That 

 there are bad-tempered Newfoundlands cannot be denied ; but such 

 a fault is individual, and not that of the breed as a whole. 



There is certainly a dignity of demeanour, a noble bearing, 

 and a sense of strength and power, though softened by the serenity 



