64 BRITISH DOGS 



to find a sort of rustiness of hue in many Black Newfoundlands, 

 and these too of the best, yet this must not be confused with the 

 all-brown specimens sometimes occurring in litters. The Newfound- 

 land, like all the giants of the canine - race, takes some two years 

 and more to build up its massive frame, and this must be duly 

 borne in mind. Meat should oftener enter into the dietary than 

 is the case with the smaller varieties, though when using this for 

 young puppies, it should be of such a kind that it is readily 

 assimilated. For that reason such meat as well-cooked tripe or 

 paunch will be found the best for the puppies until such times as 

 the permanent teeth commence to be erupted. Exercise for heavy 

 breeds should be of the walking kind, and as soon as the feet are 

 hard enough upon the roads. No puppy should be chained to a 

 kennel. If this takes place while the bones are at all soft, the heavy 

 frame tugging at a chain will soon pull out of shape the most 

 promising of puppies. In selecting a young puppy say one at six 

 months old, a most useful age to commence with the head 

 properties should be the chief criterion. If there is not abundant 

 promise of a massive head at the age named, it may be taken for 

 granted that such a puppy is not likely to finish well. A Newfound- 

 land should also show early in life promise of plenty of bone ; dark 

 eyes, straight forelegs, and a dense flat coat must also be found on 

 a puppy of promise. Tail-carriage in any puppy must not be too 

 seriously regarded until after the period of dentition is complete. 

 Many puppies carry both tails and ears irregularly while teething. 



The Newfoundland Club has been established many years and 

 has worked well in the interest of the breed. It has drawn up a 

 description of the breed on the lines given below : 



Symmetry and General Appearance. The dog should impress the eye with 

 strength and great activity. He should move freely on his legs, with the body 

 swung loosely between them, so that a slight roll in gait should not be objection- 

 able ; but at the same time a weak or hollow back, slackness of the loins, or 

 cowhocks should be a decided fault. 



Head. Should be broad and massive, flat on the skull, the occipital bone 

 well developed ; there should be no decided stop, and the muzzle should be short, 

 clean cut, rather square in shape, and covered with short fine hair. 



Coat. Should be flat and dense, of a coarsish texture and oily nature, and 

 capable of resisting the water. If brushed the wrong way, it should fall back into 

 its place naturally. 



Body. Should be well ribbed up, with a broad back. A neck strong, well 

 set on to the shoulders and back, and strong muscular loins. 



Fore Legs. Should be perfectly straight, well covered with muscle, elbows 

 in but well let down, and feathered all down. 



Hindquarters and Legs. Should be very strong ; the legs should have great 

 freedom of action, and a little feather. Slackness of loins and cowhock are a 

 great defect ; dew-claws are objectionable, and should be removed. 



Chest. Should be deep and fairly broad and well covered with hair, but not 

 to such an extent as to form a frill. 



Bone. Massive throughout, but not to give a heavy, inactive appearance. 



