| When Joe--at the age of seventeen--neared his | | | | average adult dog is 28 inches high and weighs |
| last days, I ran away from home. I knew I | | | | somewhere between 120 to 150 pounds.Some |
| wouldn't be able to take it. Yes, literally I escaped | | | | Newfoundlands have white and black or bronze |
| witnessing my favorite pet's death. Probably that's | | | | fur as opposed to the general black with white |
| why he still feels alive to me.Joe, a Newfoundland | | | | tuft on chest. The coat of an average |
| mix, was plucked from the town's pound when he | | | | Newfoundland is bright black and water resistant. |
| was a six week-old puppy. Although a mix, he had | | | | Its outer layer is long and smooth in contrast to |
| all the traits of the breed, starting with loyalty, | | | | the short and dense inner layer. The lesser |
| gentleness, and watching over our children. He | | | | Newfoundland or St. John's Newfoundland is the |
| loved life and he loved food. Twelve years after | | | | smaller version of the original breed.The |
| his passing, our sons still consider him as their | | | | temperament of this breed is inimitable. Incredible |
| younger brother. As a breed, a Newfoundland is | | | | feats of Newfoundlands abound in the news |
| considered a working dog, but Joe was the most | | | | media, because intelligent and unusually adaptable |
| wonderful pet one could ever wish for.The | | | | dogs that they are, they quickly figure out what |
| Newfoundland is thought to be a cousin to the | | | | their owners want to do and they start working |
| now extinct American Black Wolf, which also had | | | | with their owners toward the same goals.A |
| the classical white spot on its chest. During the | | | | Newfoundland is very loyal, dignified, fun-loving and |
| first attempts of the conquistadors to settle the | | | | soft-natured. His gentleness and serenity has |
| new continent, Newfoundlands roamed the plains | | | | made him the star of children's stories, like the |
| in huge, wild packs since they were indigenous to | | | | Newfoundland in Peter Pan.The feats of this breed |
| North America.What Thoreau said in Walden about | | | | have been etched in history as well. It is said, |
| Newfoundlands does not even begin to do this | | | | when Leif Ericson visited Newfoundland in 1001, he |
| breed justice. "A man is not a good man to me | | | | carried his dogs with him that mated with the |
| because he will feed me if I should be starving, or | | | | original Newfoundlands, thus producing the |
| warm me if I should be freezing, or pull me out | | | | forefathers of the present day Newfoundland |
| of a ditch if I should ever fall into one. I can find | | | | dogs.A brave Newfoundland saved a French |
| you a Newfoundland dog that will do as much." | | | | emperor from drowning. That emperor was |
| Newfoundlands are much more than that. They | | | | Napoleon Bonaparte.During the Civil War, a |
| are not only working dogs but also the most loyal | | | | Newfoundland named Major fought the |
| companions one can ever hope for.For centuries, | | | | confederates by biting them until he was killed |
| these dogs were tamed and trained by the | | | | with a musket shot to his head in the Battle of |
| Indians, Algonquins and later the Sioux, as load | | | | Mansfield, Lousiana.During World War II, |
| carriers before the Spaniards introduced the horse | | | | Newfoundlands were used as carriers of water, |
| to the Americas.Newfoundlands were also the | | | | supplies, and ammunition. Canadians claim that |
| breed who traveled on explorers' ships. As a good | | | | they have documented proof that this dog was in |
| watchdog, a Newfoundland was the dog of choice | | | | existence even during 3000 BC together with the |
| on board. The dog also had swimming, life-saving, | | | | Canadian Indians of Newfoundland who buried their |
| and sniffing abilities. A Newfoundland smelled land | | | | dead together with their dogs.The Newfoundland |
| before it could be seen from the ship and alerted | | | | has been made the official animal emblem on |
| everyone with his excited behavior.The | | | | October 5, 1972, by the government of |
| Newfoundland of today is a big heavy dog with | | | | Newfoundland, Canada. Not only the Newfoundland |
| muscular shoulders, strong neck, strong-boned | | | | as breed has his picture on the Canadian stamps |
| forelegs, long black fur with a white spot on the | | | | now, but also a Newfoundland as pet has carved |
| chest, and a powerful body. The original | | | | his love in this owner's heart.This article has been |
| Newfoundland had a short neck, but in today's | | | | submitted by Joy Cagil in affiliation with which is a |
| dog shows, the breed is expected to have a | | | | site for Pet Forums. |
| longer neck to help carry itself with dignity. The | | | | |