Return to Newfoundland Directory
Newstead Abbey, in Great Britain, is the ancestral home belonging to Lord Byron's family. In 1808, his beloved Newfoundland, Boatswain, died. Lord Byron was heartbroken, and had the dog buried there and raised a memorial to him. Lord Byron wrote the following epitaph in memory of Boatswain.
"When some proud Son of Man returns to Earth,
Unknown to Glory, but upheld by Birth,
The sculptor's art exhausts the pomp of woe,
And storied urns record who rests below:
When all is done, upon the Tomb is seen
Not what he was, but what he should have been.
But the poor Dog, in life the firmest friend,
The first to welcome, foremost to defend,
Whose honest heart is still his Masters own,
Who labours, fights, lives, breathes for him
alone,
Unhonour'd falls, unnotic'd all his worth,
Deny'd in heaven the Soul he held on earth:
While man, vain insect! hopes to be forgiven;
And claims himself a sole exclusive heaven,
Oh man! thou feeble tenant of an hour,
Debas'd by slavery, or corrupt by power,
Who knows thee well, must quit thee with disgust,
Degraded mass of animated dust!
They love is lust, thy friendship all a cheat,
Thy tongue hypocrisy, thy heart deceit,
By nature vile, ennobled but by name,
Each kindred brute might bid thee blush for
shame,
Ye! who behold perchance this simple
urn,
Pass on, it honours none you wish to mourn,
To mark a friend's remains these stones arise
I never knew but one - and here he lies."
The Newfoundland
combines strength and intelligence with a gentle and sweet disposition.
This breed possesses a water resistant, double coat, and webbed feet.
The Newfie's strong muscled tail serves as a rudder for the dog as it swims
in the water. The swimming style of the Newfoundland resembles that
of the breaststroke. The male Newfoundland averages 28 inches to the withers,
and weighs 130 to 150 pounds. The female is slightly smaller, averaging
26 inches to the withers and weighing 100 to 120 pounds.
The Newfoundland is
a member of the AKC's Working Group. Acceptable show coat colors
are black, brown, and gray. The black and white combination is known
as Landseer, and is also accepted for conformation.
Even though the Newfie
is known as an outstanding working dog, it is not a good watch dog.
The Newfie is too affectionate and has a rather benevolent nature.
They will quietly let their presence be known if there is a disagreement
between their owner and someone else, especially if it is a loud disagreement
and the dog is uncomfortable with the tones of voice being use. Newfies
can be manipulative with their owners and their families. Training
is very important at a young age before these dogs become giant dictators.
Positive reinforcement methods of training, with food rewards, are the
recommended methods. Harsh treatment, or loud correction will cause
the Newfoundland to simply shut down.
Energy levels vary from
individual to individual. Some are very laid back, almost lazy, while
others are ready to go at a moments notice.
Some traits that new
owners of Newfoundlands should be aware of before purchasing this type
of dog is that if you are an immaculate housekeeper, just forget it after
the puppy/dog arrives. Their webbed feet will bring in mud, debris,
and wetness. These dogs have drool that never ends. When they
shake their head, it goes everywhere, TV screens, clothes, cabinets, furniture.
They combine it with their drinking water, and food, this is for a finer
degree of color and stickiness. And the only time you will not have
shed hair on your clothes is if you beat the dog out the door, before he
gets to you.
This breed of dog fits
in best with a busy family, one that includes the dog in all of its activities.
Better yet, if the dog is needed for work or competition the dog will have
a job to do and a purpose.
Return to Newfoundland Directory
Return
to Bark Bytes Home