CHAPTER X 



THE DOGS 



BY W. T. GRENFELL 



HUMAN life in Labrador has been so largely dependent 

 on dogs that a brief chapter devoted to them is almost 

 essential. 



The real Labrador dog is a very slightly modified wolf. 

 A good specimen stands two feet six inches, or even two 

 feet eight inches high at the shoulder, measures over six 

 feet six inches from the tip of the nose to the tip of the tail, 

 and will scale a hundred pounds. The hair is thick and 

 straight ; on the neck it may be six inches in length. The 

 ears are pointed and stand directly up. The appearance 

 generally is that of a magnified Pomeranian. The legs 

 look short, compared with the massive body. The eyes are 

 Japanese, and give the animal a foxy look about the face. 

 The large, bushy tail curves completely over on to the back, 

 and is always carried erect. The colour is generally tawny, 

 like that of a gray wolf, with no distinctive markings, but 

 a beautiful black and white breed has grown up, and fur- 

 nishes the handsomest dogs. The general resemblance to 

 wolves is so great that at Davis Inlet, where wolves come 

 out frequently in winter, the factor has seen his team mixed 

 with a pack of wolves on the beach in front of the door, and 

 yet could not shoot, being unable to distinguish one from 



272 



