The Newfoundland is a large
working dog. They can be black, brown, or black and white. However, in the
Dominion of Newfoundland
Newfoundland was a British dominion in eastern North America, today the modern Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. It was established on 26 September 1907, and confirmed by the Balfour Declaration of 1926 and the Statute of Westmi ...
, before it became part of the confederation of Canada, only black and Landseer (white-and-black) coloured dogs were considered to be proper members of the breed. They were originally bred and used as working dogs for fishermen in
Newfoundland
Newfoundland and Labrador (; french: Terre-Neuve-et-Labrador; frequently abbreviated as NL) is the easternmost province of Canada, in the country's Atlantic region. The province comprises the island of Newfoundland and the continental region ...
.
Newfoundlands are known for their giant size, intelligence, tremendous strength, calm disposition, love of children and loyalty. They excel at water rescue/
lifesaving because of their muscular build, thick double
coat
A coat typically is an outer garment for the upper body as worn by either gender for warmth or fashion. Coats typically have long sleeves and are open down the front and closing by means of buttons, zippers, hook-and-loop fasteners, toggles, ...
, webbed paws, and swimming abilities.
Description
Appearance
Newfoundlands ('Newfs' or 'Newfies') have webbed paws and a water-resistant
coat
A coat typically is an outer garment for the upper body as worn by either gender for warmth or fashion. Coats typically have long sleeves and are open down the front and closing by means of buttons, zippers, hook-and-loop fasteners, toggles, ...
.
[Newfoundland Breed Standard](_blank)
The Kennel Club
The Kennel Club ("KC") is the official kennel club of the United Kingdom. It is the oldest recognised kennel club in the world. Its role is to oversee various canine activities including dog shows, dog agility and working trials. It also oper ...
, 'Exceptionally gentle, docile nature' .. 'webbed' ... 'oily nature, water-resistant' Males normally weigh , and females , placing them in the "Giant" weight range; but some Newfoundlands have been known to weigh over – and the largest on record weighed and measured over from nose to tail, ranking it among the largest of dog breeds. They may grow up to tall at the shoulder.
The
American Kennel Club
The American Kennel Club (AKC) is a registry of purebred dog pedigrees in the United States. In addition to maintaining its pedigree registry, this kennel club also promotes and sanctions events for purebred dogs, including the Westminster Ke ...
(AKC) standard colours of the Newfoundland are black, brown, grey, and white-and-black (sometimes referred to as a Landseer). Other colours are possible but are not considered rare or more valuable.
The Kennel Club
The Kennel Club ("KC") is the official kennel club of the United Kingdom. It is the oldest recognised kennel club in the world. Its role is to oversee various canine activities including dog shows, dog agility and working trials. It also oper ...
(KC) permits only black, brown, and white/black; the
Canadian Kennel Club
The Canadian Kennel Club (or CKC), founded in 1888 and chartered under the Animal Purebred Act, is one of the national kennel clubs of Canada. It maintains breed registry, breed registries services for those purebred dogs approved for its control b ...
(CKC) permits only black and white/black. The "Landseer" pattern is named after the artist, Sir
Edwin Henry Landseer, who featured them in many of his paintings.
Fédération Cynologique Internationale
The Fédération cynologique internationale (FCI) (English: International Canine Federation) is the largest international federation of national kennel clubs. It is based in Thuin, Belgium.
History
The FCI was founded in 1911 under the auspices ...
(FCI) consider the
ECT Landseer
The Landseer is a dog that originated in Canada. It is a black and white variety of the Newfoundland that is recognised as an independent breed in continental Europe.
History
The Newfoundland (and Landseer) are descended from dogs used by fi ...
("European Continental Type") to be a separate breed. It is a taller, more narrow white dog with black markings not bred with a Newfoundland.
The Newfoundland's extremely large bones give it mass, while its large musculature gives it the power it needs to take on rough ocean waves and powerful tides. These dogs have huge lung capacity for swimming extremely long distances and a thick, oily, and waterproof double coat which protects them from the chill of icy waters. The double coat makes the dog hard to groom, and also causes a lot of shedding to occur. The droopy lips and jowls make the dog drool, especially in high heat.
In the water, the Newfoundland's massive webbed paws give it maximum propulsion. The swimming stroke is not an ordinary
dog paddle
The dog paddle or doggy paddle is a simple swimming style. It is characterized by the swimmer lying on their chest and moving their hands and legs alternately in a manner reminiscent of how dogs and other quadrupedal mammals swim. It is effectiv ...
: Unlike other dogs, the Newfoundland moves its limbs in a down-and-out motion giving more power to every stroke.
Temperament
The Newfoundland is known for its calm and docile nature and its strength. They are very loyal, have a mild nature, and make great working dogs. It is for this reason that this breed is known as "the gentle giant". International
kennel clubs generally describe the breed as having a sweet temper.
[Newfoundland Breed Standard](_blank)
American Kennel Club
The American Kennel Club (AKC) is a registry of purebred dog pedigrees in the United States. In addition to maintaining its pedigree registry, this kennel club also promotes and sanctions events for purebred dogs, including the Westminster Ke ...
, 'a sweet-dispositioned dog that acts neither dull nor ill-tempered' ... 'Sweetness of temperament'[CKC Breed Standards](_blank)
Canadian Kennel Club
The Canadian Kennel Club (or CKC), founded in 1888 and chartered under the Animal Purebred Act, is one of the national kennel clubs of Canada. It maintains breed registry, breed registries services for those purebred dogs approved for its control b ...
, 'The Newfoundland's expression is soft and reflects the character of the breed—benevolent, intelligent, dignified but capable of fun. He is known for his sterling gentleness and serenity.' The breed typically has a deep bark and is easy to train if started young. They are wonderfully good with children, but small children can get accidentally leaned on and knocked down. Newfoundlands are ideal companions in the world of therapy and are often referred to as "nanny dogs". The breed was memorialised in "Nana", the beloved guardian dog in
J. M. Barrie's ''Peter Pan''.
[Used as a nanny by the Darling family, Nana does not speak or do anything beyond the physical capabilities of a large dog, but acts with apparent understanding of her responsibilities. The character is played in stage productions by an actor in a dog costume. Barrie based the character of Nana on his do]
Luath
, a Newfoundland. However, in the animated Disney film ''Peter Pan
Peter Pan is a fictional character created by Scottish novelist and playwright J. M. Barrie. A free-spirited and mischievous young boy who can fly and never grows up, Peter Pan spends his never-ending childhood having adventures on the mythi ...
'', Nana was depicted as a St. Bernard. The Newfoundland, in general, is good with other animals, but its size can cause problems if it is not properly trained.
A Newfoundland's good, sweet nature is so important, it is listed in the
breed standard
In animal husbandry or animal fancy, a breed standard is a description of the characteristics of a hypothetical or ideal example of a breed. The description may include physical or morphological detail, genetic criteria, or criteria of athletic ...
s of many countries; dogs exhibiting poor temperament or aggression are disqualified from showing and should never be used to breed. The breed standard in the United States reads that "Sweetness of temperament is the hallmark of the Newfoundland; this is the most important single characteristic of the breed."
Health
There are several health problems associated with Newfoundlands. Newfoundlands are prone to
hip dysplasia (a malformed ball and socket in the hip joint). They also get
elbow dysplasia
Elbow dysplasia is a condition involving multiple developmental abnormalities of the elbow-joint in the dog, specifically the growth of cartilage or the structures surrounding it. These abnormalities, known as 'primary lesions', give rise to os ...
, and
cystinuria (a hereditary defect that forms
calculi stones in the bladder). Another genetic problem is
subvalvular aortic stenosis (SAS). This is a common heart defect in Newfoundlands involving defective heart valves. SAS can cause sudden death at an early age. It is similar to having a heart attack. The breed may live to be 8 to 10 years of age; 10 years is a commonly cited life expectancy.
However, Newfoundlands can live up to 15 years old.
History
Origin
Genome
In the fields of molecular biology and genetics, a genome is all the genetic information of an organism. It consists of nucleotide sequences of DNA (or RNA in RNA viruses). The nuclear genome includes protein-coding genes and non-coding ...
analysis indicates that Newfoundlands are related to the
Irish water spaniel
The Irish Water Spaniel ( Irish: ''An Spáinnéar Uisce'') is a breed of dog that is the tallest of the spaniels.
Description Appearance
The Irish Water Spaniel is a sturdy, cobby dog native to Ireland. The coat, consisting of dense cur ...
,
Labrador Retriever, and
Curly-Coated Retriever.
The Newfoundland was originally bred and used as working dogs for fishermen in
Newfoundland
Newfoundland and Labrador (; french: Terre-Neuve-et-Labrador; frequently abbreviated as NL) is the easternmost province of Canada, in the country's Atlantic region. The province comprises the island of Newfoundland and the continental region ...
.
In the early 1880s, fishermen and explorers from
Ireland
Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean, in north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel, the Irish Sea, and St George's Channel. Ireland is the s ...
and
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe ...
travelled to the Grand Banks of Newfoundland, where they described two main types of working dogs. One was heavily built, large with a longish coat, and the other medium-sized in build – an active, smooth-coated water dog. The heavier breed was known as the Greater Newfoundland, or Newfoundland. The smaller breed was known as the Lesser Newfoundland, or
St. John's water dog. The St. John's water dog became the founding breed of modern retrievers. Both breeds were used as working dogs to pull fishnets, with the Greater Newfoundland also being used to haul carts and other equipment.
It has also been proposed that the original Newfoundland that lived on the island was smaller; in theory, the smaller landrace was bred with mastiffs when sold to the English, and the English version was popularized to become what we think of as a Newfoundland today.
Reputation
The breed's working role was varied. Many tales have been told of the courage displayed by Newfoundlands in adventuring and lifesaving exploits. Over the last two centuries, this has inspired a number of artists, who have portrayed the dogs in paint, stone, bronze, and porcelain. One famous Newfoundland was named
Seaman
Seaman may refer to:
* Sailor, a member of a marine watercraft's crew
* Seaman (rank), a military rank in some navies
* Seaman (name) (including a list of people with the name)
* ''Seaman'' (video game), a 1999 simulation video game for the Seg ...
, one of the most traveled dogs in human history, who accompanied American explorers
Lewis and Clark
Lewis may refer to:
Names
* Lewis (given name), including a list of people with the given name
* Lewis (surname), including a list of people with the surname
Music
* Lewis (musician), Canadian singer
* "Lewis (Mistreated)", a song by Radiohead ...
on their expedition from the Mississippi to the Pacific and back, a journey that took 3 years. A statue of him is included in many Lewis and Clark monuments. Many children's books have been written about him (see
Seaman (dog)#Children's books about Seaman).
The breed prospered in the United Kingdom, until 1914 and again in 1939, when its numbers were almost fatally depleted by wartime restrictions. Since the 1950s there has been a steady increase in numbers and popularity, despite the fact that the Newfoundland's great size and fondness for mud and water makes it unsuitable as a pet for many households.
Water rescue
During the
Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel (known as The Discovery Channel from 1985 to 1995, and often referred to as simply Discovery) is an American cable channel owned by Warner Bros. Discovery, a publicly traded company run by CEO David Zaslav. , Discovery Chan ...
's second day of coverage of the
American Kennel Club
The American Kennel Club (AKC) is a registry of purebred dog pedigrees in the United States. In addition to maintaining its pedigree registry, this kennel club also promotes and sanctions events for purebred dogs, including the Westminster Ke ...
Eukanuba
Eukanuba ( ) is the brand name of dog food and cat food, owned and manufactured by Mars, Incorporated worldwide and by Spectrum Brands in European markets; previously handled by Procter & Gamble from 1999 through 2014. The company produces 1 ...
National Championship on December 3, 2006, anchor
Bob Goen reported that Newfoundlands exhibit a very strong propensity to rescue people from water. Goen stated that one Newfoundland alone aided the rescue of 63 shipwrecked sailors. Today, kennel clubs across the United States host Newfoundland Rescue Demonstrations, as well as offering classes in the field. Many harbour boat tours in
St John's have a dog on board for local charm as well as for passenger safety.
* An unnamed Newfoundland is credited for saving
Napoleon Bonaparte
Napoleon Bonaparte ; it, Napoleone Bonaparte, ; co, Napulione Buonaparte. (born Napoleone Buonaparte; 15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821), later known by his regnal name Napoleon I, was a French military commander and political leader wh ...
in 1815. During his famous escape from exile on the island of Elba, rough seas knocked Napoleon overboard. A fisherman's dog jumped into the sea, and kept Napoleon afloat until he could reach safety.
* In 1828,
Ann Harvey
Ann Harvey (1811–1860) was a fisher and rescuer born near the small fishing community of Isle aux Morts, Newfoundland. Harvey, called the "Grace Darling of Newfoundland", is known for her bravery at the age of seventeen for rescuing, along with ...
of
Isle aux Morts
Isle aux Morts (, ) is a small town on the Southwest Coast of the Island of Newfoundland, with a population of 559 (2021). The town is located approximately east from the Marine Atlantic Ferry Terminal in Port aux Basques along Route 470.
...
, her father, her brother, and a Newfoundland named Hairyman saved over 160 Irish immigrants from the wreck of the brig ''
Despatch''.
* In 1881 in
Melbourne
Melbourne ( ; Boonwurrung/ Woiwurrung: ''Narrm'' or ''Naarm'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Its name generally refers to a metro ...
, Australia, a Newfoundland named Nelson helped rescue Thomas Brown, a cab driver who was swept away by flood waters in
Swanston Street on the night of November 15. While little is known about what became of Nelson, a copper dog collar engraved with his name has survived and 130 years after the rescue it was acquired by the
National Museum of Australia
The National Museum of Australia, in the national capital Canberra, preserves and interprets Australia's social history, exploring the key issues, people and events that have shaped the nation. It was formally established by the ''National Muse ...
and is now part of the National Historical Collection.
* In the early 20th century, a dog that is thought to have been a Newfoundland saved 92 people who were on the SS ''Ethie'' which was wrecked off of the Northern Peninsula of Newfoundland during a blizzard. The dog retrieved a rope thrown out into the turbulent waters by those on deck, and brought the rope to shore to people waiting on the beach. A
breeches buoy
A breeches buoy is a rope-based rescue device used to extract people from wrecked vessels, or to transfer people from one place to another in situations of danger. The device resembles a round emergency personal flotation device with a leg har ...
was attached to the rope, and all those aboard the ship were able to get across to the shore including an infant in a mailbag. Wreckage of the ship can still be seen in
Gros Morne National Park
Gros Morne National Park is a National Parks of Canada, Canadian national park and World Heritage Site located on the west coast of Newfoundland and Labrador, Newfoundland. At , it is the second largest national park in Atlantic Canada after To ...
.
E. J. Pratt
Edwin John Dove Pratt (February 4, 1882 – April 26, 1964), who published as E. J. Pratt, was "the leading Canadian poet of his time." 's poem "Carlo", in the November 1920 issue of the ''
Canadian Forum
The ''Canadian Forum'' was a literary, cultural and political publication and Canada's longest running continually published political magazine (1920–2000).
History and profile
''Canadian Forum'' was founded on 14 May 1920 at the University of T ...
'', commemorates this dog.
* In 1995, a 10-month-old Newfoundland named Boo saved a hearing-impaired man from drowning in the
Yuba River in Northern California. The man fell into the river while dredging for gold. Boo noticed the struggling man as he and his owner were walking along the river. The Newfoundland instinctively dove into the river, took the drowning man by the arm, and brought him to safety. According to Janice Anderson, the Newfoundland’s breeder, Boo had received no formal training in water rescue.
Further evidence of Newfoundlands' ability to rescue or support life-saving activities was cited in a 2007 article by the
BBC.
Relationship to other breeds
The Newfoundland shares many physical traits with
mastiffs and Molosser-type dogs, such as the
St. Bernard and
English Mastiff
The English Mastiff, or simply the Mastiff, is a British dog breed of very large size. Likely descended from the ancient Alaunt and Pugnaces Britanniae, with a significant input from the Alpine Mastiff in the 19th century. Distinguished by i ...
, including stout legs, massive heads with very broad snouts, a thick bull-like neck, and a very sturdy bone structure.
Many St. Bernards have Newfoundlands in their ancestry. Newfoundlands were brought and introduced to the St. Bernard breed in the 18th century when the population was threatened by an epidemic of
canine distemper. They share many characteristics of many
livestock guardian dog breeds, such as the
Great Pyrenees
The Pyrenean Mountain Dog
(french: Chien de Montagne des Pyrénées) is a breed of livestock guardian dog from France, where it is commonly called the Patou. The breed comes from the French side of the Pyrenees Mountains that separate France ...
.
Because of their strength, Newfoundlands were part of the foundation stock of the
Leonberger (which excelled at water rescue and was imported by the
Canadian government
The government of Canada (french: gouvernement du Canada) is the body responsible for the federal administration of Canada. A constitutional monarchy, the Crown is the corporation sole, assuming distinct roles: the executive, as the ''Crown-in ...
for that purpose); and the now-extinct
Moscow Water Dog
The Moscow Water Dog, also known as the Moscow Diver, Moscow Retriever or Moskovsky Vodolaz, was a little-known dog breed derived from the Newfoundland, Caucasian Shepherd Dog and East European Shepherd. It is now extinct, but was used in the d ...
, a failed attempt at creating a lifesaving dog by the Russian state kennel—the unfortunate outcross with the
Caucasian Shepherd Dog begat a dog more adept at biting than rescuing.
Image:Adamcoat.jpg, A Newfoundland lying next to its combed-out seasonal undercoat
File:Acerratownik.JPG, Many tales have been told of the courage displayed by Newfoundlands in adventuring and lifesaving exploits
File:2185-12651526048EsR.jpg, A Newfoundland river rescue unit's dog in action
File:Female Newfs.jpg, Many Newfoundlands are known to drool in excess, especially in warmer climates or on hot days
Image:dog3.jpg, An eight-week-old Newfoundland puppy
File:NapoleonWonderDog-GVanHare-CircusAd-Illustration1862.jpg, Napoleon the Wonder Dog with his Master, G. Van Hare, performing in Van Hare's Magic Circus, London, 1862
Image:Newfoundlanddogstamp.jpg, A Newfoundland stamp
File:Landseer, Edwin Henry (Sir, RA) - Lion- A Newfoundland Dog - Google Art Project.jpg, The classic "Landseer" markings of the breed relate to paintings like this by Sir Edwin Henry Landseer: ''Lion: A Newfoundland Dog'', 1824. Some people believe that markings such as this are indicative of a separate breed known as the Landseer, named in his honour.
Famous Newfoundlands
Napoleon the Wonder Dog
A famous all-black Newfoundland performed as the star attraction in Van Hare's Magic Circus from 1862 and for many years thereafter in one of England's founding circus acts, traveling throughout Europe. The circus dog was known as the "Thousand Guinea Dog Napoleon" or "Napoleon the Wonder Dog." The circus owner, G. Van Hare, trained other Newfoundland dogs to perform a steeplechase routine with baboons dressed up as jockeys to ride them. Nonetheless, his "wizard dog" Napoleon was his favourite and held a special position in the Magic Circus. Napoleon would compete at jumping against human rivals, leaping over horses from a springboard, and dancing to music.
Napoleon the Wonder Dog became a wildly popular act in London from his debut at the Pavilion Theatre on April 4, 1862, and onward until his untimely death many years later when he slipped and fell during a circus practice session. At the peak of his fame, his performance was described in London's Illustrated Sporting News and Theatrical and Musical Review as follows: "Synopsis of his entertainment:— He spells his own name with letters, also that of the Prince of Wales; and when he is asked what he would say of her Most Gracious Majesty, he puts down letters to form 'God save the Queen.' He plays any gentleman a game of cards and performs the celebrated three-card trick upon which his master backs him at 100 to 1. Also 'The Disappearance,' a la Robin. He performs in a circus the same as a trick horse, ''en liberté'', giving the Spanish trot to music, also leaping over bars, through balloons, with numerous other tricks of a most interesting character."
When Napoleon the Wonder Dog died at the age of 12 years old, his passing was announced in a number of British newspapers, including the Sheffield Daily Telegraph, which mentioned the loss on May 5, 1868, as follows: "DEATH OF A CELEBRATED FOUR-FOOTED ARTISTE. — Mr. Van Hare's renowned dog, Napoleon, designated 'The Wizard Dog,' died on 24th ult., aged twelve years. He was a noble specimen of the Newfoundland breed (weighing near 200 lbs.) for which he took the prize at the first Agricultural Hall Dog Show. Besides his magnificent appearance and symmetry, he was the most extraordinary sagacious and highly-trained animal ever known. He is now being preserved and beautifully mounted by the celebrated naturalist, Mr. Edwin Ward. — Era."
Other famous Newfoundlands
*
Bashaw (Matthew Cotes Wyatt)
Bashaw, a Newfoundland dog, sat some fifty times for his portrait. His owner, Lord Dudley and Ward, commissioned the marble sculpture from Matthew Cotes Wyatt in 1831. The work was to have been displayed in Lord Dudley's house in Park Lane, but h ...
: the Earl of Dudley's favourite dog, and the inspiration for a sculpture by
Matthew Cotes Wyatt
Matthew Cotes Wyatt (1777 – 3 January 1862) was a painter and sculptor and a member of the Wyatt family, who were well known in the Victorian era as architects and sculptors.
Early life
Wyatt was born in London, the son of the architect James ...
at the
Victoria and Albert Museum
The Victoria and Albert Museum (often abbreviated as the V&A) in London is the world's largest museum of applied arts, decorative arts and design, housing a permanent collection of over 2.27 million objects. It was founded in 1852 and nam ...
in London
* Bilbo: a lifeguard Newfoundland on Sennen beach in Cornwall—credited with saving three lives
* Boatswain: pet of English poet
Lord Byron
George Gordon Byron, 6th Baron Byron (22 January 1788 – 19 April 1824), known simply as Lord Byron, was an English romantic poet and peer. He was one of the leading figures of the Romantic movement, and has been regarded as among the ...
and the subject of his poem "
Epitaph to a Dog
"Epitaph to a Dog" (also sometimes referred to as "Inscription on the Monument to a Newfoundland Dog") is a poem by the British poet Lord Byron. It was written in 1808 in honour of his Newfoundland dog, Boatswain, who had just died of rabies
...
". Byron attempted to nurse Boatswain back to health when the dog contracted rabies, but was unsuccessful. When Boatswain died, Byron constructed a monument for him at
Newstead Abbey.
* Bouncer: presented by the children of Newfoundland, with a dog-cart, as a gift to the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York (later
George V
George V (George Frederick Ernest Albert; 3 June 1865 – 20 January 1936) was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 until his death in 1936.
Born during the reign of his grandmother ...
and Queen Mary), during their visit to the colony in 1901
* Frank: unofficial mascot of the
Orphan Brigade during the American Civil War
*
Gander: the World War II mascot of the
Royal Rifles of Canada, also known as "Sergeant Gander", which was killed in action at the
Battle of Hong Kong
The Battle of Hong Kong (8–25 December 1941), also known as the Defence of Hong Kong and the Fall of Hong Kong, was one of the first battles of the Pacific War in World War II. On the same morning as the attack on Pearl Harbor, forces of the ...
when he carried a grenade away from wounded soldiers. For this, he was awarded the PDSA
Dickin Medal
The PDSA Dickin Medal was instituted in 1943 in the United Kingdom by Maria Dickin to honour the work of animals in World War II. It is a bronze medallion, bearing the words "For Gallantry" and "We Also Serve" within a laurel wreath, carried on ...
retroactively in 2000. A memorial statue can be viewed at th
Gander Heritage Memorial Park(Gander, NL).
*
Gipsy
The Romani (also spelled Romany or Rromani , ), colloquially known as the Roma, are an Indo-Aryan ethnic group, traditionally nomadic itinerants. They live in Europe and Anatolia, and have diaspora populations located worldwide, with sign ...
:
Lemuel and Emma Wilmarth's dog which saved the latter from drowning, lived to be 23 years old, and inspired a poem by ASPCA founder
Henry Bergh
Henry Bergh (August 29, 1813 – March 12, 1888) founded the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) in April, 1866, three days after the first effective legislation against animal cruelty in the United States was passe ...
.
* Luath:
J. M. Barrie's Landseer Newfoundland and the inspiration for "Nana," the Darling children's nurse in
Peter Pan
Peter Pan is a fictional character created by Scottish novelist and playwright J. M. Barrie. A free-spirited and mischievous young boy who can fly and never grows up, Peter Pan spends his never-ending childhood having adventures on the mythi ...
.
*
Rigel
Rigel is a blue supergiant star in the constellation of Orion. It has the Bayer designation β Orionis, which is Latinized to Beta Orionis and abbreviated Beta Ori or β Ori. Rigel is the brightest and most massive componentand ...
: suspected pet of first officer William Murdoch aboard the
RMS ''Titanic''. Murdoch went down with the ship, but Rigel swam for three hours next to a lifeboat until it was rescued by the
RMS ''Carpathia''. Rigel is renowned as a hero alerting the ''Carpathia''s captain of the weakened survivors before the ship hit them. Rigel was adopted by crewman Jonas Briggs.
*
Sable Chief: World War I mascot of the
Royal Newfoundland Regiment
The Royal Newfoundland Regiment (R NFLD R) is a Primary Reserve infantry regiment of the Canadian Army. It is part of the 5th Canadian Division's 37 Canadian Brigade Group.
Predecessor units trace their origins to 1795, and since 1949 Royal N ...
*
Seaman
Seaman may refer to:
* Sailor, a member of a marine watercraft's crew
* Seaman (rank), a military rank in some navies
* Seaman (name) (including a list of people with the name)
* ''Seaman'' (video game), a 1999 simulation video game for the Seg ...
: his name once misread as ''Scannon'', this dog travelled with the
Lewis and Clark Expedition
The Lewis and Clark Expedition, also known as the Corps of Discovery Expedition, was the United States expedition to cross the newly acquired western portion of the country after the Louisiana Purchase. The Corps of Discovery was a select gr ...
from the Mississippi to the Pacific Ocean and back, a three-year trip (1804 to 1806). His collar tag, now lost but once in a museum, read:
*
Swansea Jack: famous Welsh rescue dog identified as a Newfoundland, but which had an appearance more like a modern-day
Flat-Coated Retriever
The Flat-coated Retriever is a gundog breed originating from England. It was developed as a retriever both on land and in the water.
Description
Appearance
The Flat-Coated Retriever breed standard calls for males to be tall at the withers, ...
Gallery
File:Ohle01.jpg, A brown Newfoundland
File:Junger_Rüde.jpg, A Landseer
Bearb_josh04_07.JPG, A black Newfoundland
File:Wilma vuxen.jpg, A Newfoundland portrait
See also
*
*
*
List of dog breeds
This list of dog breeds includes both extant and extinct dog breeds, varieties, landraces, and dog types. A research article on dog genomics published in Science/AAAS defines modern dog breeds as "a recent invention defined by conformation ...
References
Explanatory notes
Citations
Further reading
*
*
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Newfoundland (Dog)
FCI breeds
Dog breeds originating in Canada
Lifesaving
Provincial symbols of Newfoundland and Labrador