CHAPTER VIII. 

 THE NEWFOUNDLAND DOG. 



THE dog of which we have now to treat is one of the oldest favourites with the British public. 

 He was chosen as a companion and guard from among the classes of dogs we may describe as 

 representing the major canines, when the MastifFs popularity was for years in abeyance, 

 and the noble Bloodhound's grand qualities as a detective police above the reach of bribery 

 were for a time eclipsed by the novel glare of Peel's blue-liveried peace preserver. His 

 hunting qualities were ignored by all but a few favoured sportsmen who, knowing his worth, 

 used him, and thereby preserved him ; and long before the St. Bernard, with all his excellences, 

 was known in England except to the learned and the travelled, the Newfoundland, with his grand 

 appearance, noble mien, and majestic bearing, had taken possession of popular fancy. As 

 a proof that he still holds it, we are quite certain that there are more Newfoundlands, or dogs so 

 called, kept as guards and big pet dogs in this country by the general public, outside of those 

 who are au fait in canine matters, than of any other breed of corresponding size. 



If we are right in this, it may be asked why then are Newfoundland classes so sparsely 

 filled in comparison with the classes set apart for those other breeds to which we have alluded ? 

 To this we can only reply that in dogs, as in other things, dame Fashion exercises the same 

 extensive sway. We have no doubt, as the proverb assures us, that "every dog has his day." 

 The Newfoundland's day, as the great feature of our leading shows, is yet to come, and we 

 must recognise the fact that the at-present dethroned monarch has a powerful rival in the 

 picturesquely-marked St. Bernard, who has for the present displaced him. It has also to be 

 remembered that, Newfoundland owners being comparatively unskilled in caniological points, 

 it has generally happened that there have been pne or more super-excellent dogs going the 

 rounds of the shows, against whom mediocre ones stand no chance of getting a prize, and they 

 have consequently been frightened away. 



As a companion dog the Newfoundland answers every purpose. As a rule he is docile, and 

 always sagacious and faithful to his master, but a terror to tramps and evil-doers, and therefore 

 one of the best watch-dogs that can be kept about a country house. His colossal size strikes 

 awe to the hearts of the vagabond and prowler, and his fine discriminating intelligence soon dis- 

 tinguishes the friendly visitor, and bids him welcome. As a retriever he is unexcelled, although 

 too heavy for field work ; but he has done great service in producing for us our modern un- 

 equalled and justly-admired breed of flat and wavy-coated field Retrievers. 



It is, however, in the water that this semi-aquatic dog is to be seen in all his glory. 

 No sea is too rough for him to venture in. It is a fine sight to witness one of these 

 intrepid swimmers buffeting the waves, carrying life and safety to the perishing, a work 

 to which the Newfoundland seems to take instinctively, and in the performance of which 

 he at once shows his high courage and benevolence of disposition, appearing to take pride 

 in the display. We consider the qualities of the Newfoundland as a means of saving life 



