28 DOGS 



Labrador — and that the dog with long shaggy hair is the 

 pure and simple Newfoundland, the dog with the com- 

 pletely curly hair the Labrador, and that with a close 

 and smooth coat the St. John. 



The head of this breed is very large and massive, and 

 it is very wide across the eyes, which are golden yellow 

 in colour. The muscles beneath the eyes are strongly 

 developed, giving the dog great power of jaw; the muzzle 

 is deep and almost square at the end; the upper lips sliijMly 

 overhang ; large mouth, with strong level teeth. The neck 

 is wonderfully thick but rather short ; ears small and set 

 low, hanging close to the face ; backbone long and strong ; 

 legs strong, straight, and muscular; the thighs well- 

 muscled ; feet very large, flat, with good, well-padded 

 soles under them. Tail long and bushy, slightly turned 

 on one side, and carried well down. The coat generally 

 parts down the back, and this parting continues to the 

 end of the tail. The best colouring is pure black with a 

 white star on the chest. 



There are black and white Newfoundlands, but they 

 are not such favourites as the all black. Occasionally may 

 be seen black dogs with red dun-colour legs, but they are 

 never appreciated. 



These dogs are wonderfully sagacious and seem to 

 reason. Touatt relates a very amusing anecdote of one 

 who lived in Cork. This dog was often assailed by several 

 little noisy curs in the street. He usually passed them with 

 apparent unconcern, as if they were beneath his notice, but 

 one little creature was particularly troublesome and at 

 length went so far as to bite the Newfoundland dog in the 

 back of his leg. This was an insult that could'^not be 

 patiently endured, and he instantly turned round, ran after 

 the offender, seized him by the poll, and carried him in 

 this manner to the quay, and holding him for some time 

 over the water at length dropped him into it, then waited 

 a little while till the offender was well ducked and nearly 

 sinking, and then plunged in and brought him out safe 

 to land. 



