MERITS AND DEFECTS OF THE NEWFOUNDLAND DOG. 141 



foundland having longer hair, and pendulous ears, which is generally, in animals, 

 an indication of large size. 



On discrimination between the two races, a Medical Gentleman, long resident 

 on one of our Settlements in Hudson s Bay, offers the following remarks. " The 

 Dog from Newfoundland, may have reached the Arctic Regions, and vice versa 

 but the Arctic Dog is made truss and deep : the original one of Newfoundland 

 loose and lengthy ; the former has pricked ears, a bushy tail, and deep russet 

 coat, and without any extra cause of animation, looks always ready for a start. 

 The latter has a fine lopped ear, and a very full tail, which, when erect and 

 doubling over his back, boasts the richness of the most luxuriant Ostrich feathers. 

 His colour is dingy black, or black and white, seldom russet, never liver-coloured ; 

 moreover, when not in action, the Newfoundland Dog is the most sleepy and most 

 lazy of the canine species." 



The two breeds agree generally, in regard to qualities, with some exceptions. 

 Like the Bull Dog, they seldom or never bark, their vociferation being rather 

 snarling and howling-. On this point, the Rev. Mr. Asnach, in his History of New- 

 foundland, has the following observations. The Newfoundland Dog seldom barks, 

 and only when strongly provoked ; it then appears like an unnatural and painful 

 exertion, which produces a noise between barking and howling, longer and louder 

 than a snarl, and more hollow and less sharp than barking, still strictly correspond- 

 ing to the sounds expressed by the familiar words bow wow ; and here he stops, un- 

 less it ends in a howl, in which he will instantaneously be joined by all the clogs 

 within hearing. This happens frequently, and, in a calm, still night, produces a 

 noise particularly hideous. 



The same Author describes the Newfoundland Dog, in one most important 

 respect, very different to what we find him in this Country, an implacable enemy to 

 sheep ; which ought to suggest a strong caution to those, who keep or breed these 

 dogs. As a proof, Mr. Asnach gives the following incident. He had three young 

 sheep, for which, in the day-time, his dog affected the utmost indifference : the 

 servant, however, having one evening neglected to secure them in their shed, and 

 to confine the dog, the sheep were found in the morning, stretched out lifeless, 

 without any other mark of violence than a small wound in the throat, from 

 which the dog had sucked their blood. It is remarkable that, the Newfoundland 

 Dog, when pursuing a flock of sheep, will single out one, and, if not prevented, 

 which is a matter of considerable difficulty, will never leave off the pursuit, until 

 he has mastered his intended victim, always aiming at the throat, and after having 

 sucked the blood, has never been known to touch the carcase. 



Farther very interesting particulars are given of this dog, both of his natural 

 merits and demerits ; his sagacity, courage, and gentleness, his ferocity, and 

 treachery. The docility of this superior race being one of their most eminent qua- 

 lities, good training, and familiarity with human customs only, are needed to 



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