62 BRITISH DOGS 



In the early days of the Newfoundland the dog was met with 

 in colours other than black and white-and-black, and not only that, 

 but prizes were awarded to livers and bronzes. To-day the two 

 varieties most sought are the Black and the White-and-black (Figs. 

 27 and 28). The latter has been immortalised by Landseer in his 

 world-famous picture of " A Distinguished Member of the Humane 

 Society," though it must be confessed that the dog taken as a model 

 would certainly not pass muster in the present day, the coat, to 

 go no further, being of the curly order, instead of flat, as the Club's 

 description requires. The White-and-black has not progressed so 

 rapidly as the Black, except perhaps in the south, where it has made 

 great strides, though neither may be said to be popular in the 

 strictest sense of that term. This, however, is due rather to Fashion's 

 vagaries than to any shortcomings on the part of the variety. The 

 first year of the twentieth century certainly shows an improve- 

 ment as compared with the declining years of the nineteenth. 

 Coats generally are alike better as to texture and arrangement, and 

 what in the case of the show dog of old had largely to be done by 

 resorting to little tricks has been remedied to a very great extent 

 by the breeder. Eyes, again, are darker in colour, much better 

 placed,' and smaller in size than once they were, and as it is the 

 eyes that are largely responsible for the expression so noticeable 

 in the Newfoundland, the improvement in the directions stated are 

 not without their value upon the breed. 



Allusion has already been made to size, and the value set upon 

 it so long as it is obtained without the loss of quality. And here, 

 also, the present-day dog scores over those of a decade ago. The 

 improvement shown in the White-and-black dogs continues, as 

 breeders have recognised that if these are to equal in type the 

 best of the Blacks, the finest specimens of both will have to be 

 " worked." The old-time breeder, in his anxiety to obtain a big 

 dog, often only succeeded in producing a long-legged, weak-faced, 

 slab-sided, straight-behind monstrosity, and not a typical Newfound- 

 land. The defects just mentioned must be carefully guarded against 

 when breeding, as also must light eyes and badly carried and 

 twisted tails. Faults of any kind are always easier of perpetuation 

 than they are of eradication. 



No really practical purpose is to be served by enumerating the 

 many good dogs that have been produced since the publication of 

 pedigrees. These may be learned by a careful study of the Kennel 

 Club Stud Book. It may, however, be remarked that of the older 

 dogs some of the more renowned, and that have become pillars of 

 the Stud Book, are : Nelson I., Courtier, Thora I. and Thora II., 

 Mrs. Cunliffe Lee's Nep, Leo, Lion, Lady Mayoress, Lord Nelson, 

 Lady-in-Waiting, Merry Maiden, Triumph, Hanlon, etc. And for 

 a strain of Blacks those associated with either Courtier or Nelson 



