The Newfoundland shares many unmistakable characteristics with the St. Bernard and English mastiff, including a short, stout legs, massive heads with very broad snouts, a thick bull neck, and a very sturdy bone structure. These features are likely the result of a shared ancestry from the Alpine mastiff. The breed originated in Newfoundland and is descended from a breed indigenous to the island that later became known as the St. John’s Dog. The speculation they may be partly descended from the big black bear dogs introduced by the Vikings in 1001 A.D. is based more in romance than in fact. The modern day Newfoundland is not the descendant of St. Bernards but the other way around: Newfoundlands were brought and introduced to St. Bernards was because of an epidemic of distemper in St. Bernards. By the time colonization was permitted in 1610, the distinct physical characteristics and mental attributes had been established in the breed. In the early 1880s fishermen and explorers from Ireland and England traveled to the Grand Banks of Newfoundland, where they described two main types of working dog. 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 Dog – the founding breed of the modern Labrador Retriever. Both breeds were used as working dogs to pull fish nets, with the Greater Newfoundland also being used to haul carts, and other equipment.

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 a dog named Seaman, who accompanied American explorers Lewis and Clark on their expedition.

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 most households.

Rescues

During the Discovery Channel’s second day of coverage of the AKC Eukanuba 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 once 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.

An unnamed Newfoundland is credited for saving Napoleon Bonaparte 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 1832, Ann Harvey of Isle aux Morts, her father, and a Newfoundland Dog named Hairyman saved over 180 Irish immigrants from the wreck of the brig Dispatch.

In the early 1900s, a dog that is thought to have been a Newfoundland saved 92 people who were on a sinking ship in 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 was attached to the rope, and all those aboard the ship were able to get across to the shore.

In 1995, a 10-month old Newfoundland named Boo saved a deaf-mute 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 knew to dive into the river, take the drowning man by the arm, and bring him to safety. According to Janice Anderson, the Newfoundland’s breeder, Boo had received no formal training in water rescue.

Famous Newfoundlands

• Adam – Seaward’s Blackbeard – 1984 Best in Show winner at the Westminster Dog Show
• Boatswain – pet of English poet Lord Byron and the subject of his poem Epitaph to a Dog
• Bilbo – lifeguard at sennon cove beach in Cornwall
• Brumus – Robert F. Kennedy’s dog
• Brutus – first dog to complete the Appalachian Mountain Club’s “Winter 48″, climbing all 48 peaks in one calendar winter
• Carlo – Emily Dickinson’s dog
• Faithful – First dog of President Ulysses S. Grant^[13]
• Frank – Unofficial mascot of the Orphan Brigade during the American Civil War^[14]
• Gander the Mascot of the Royal Rifles of Canada who was killed in action at the Battle of Hong Kong when he carried a grenade away from wounded soldiers. For this he was awarded the PDSA Dickin Medal retroactively in 2000.^[15]
• Hairy Man – The dog who helped Ann Harvey and her father and brother rescue 163 people from a shipwreck.
• Hector – First dog of President Rutherford B. Hayes^[13]
• Josh – Darbydale’s All Rise Pouchcove – 2004 Best in Show winner at the Westminster Dog Show
• Lara – First dog of President James Buchanan^[13]
• Pluto – pet of the Croatian operatic soprano Ilma de Murska, which used to dine at table with her and was trained to eat a cooked fowl from a place setting without dripping gravy on the tablecloth.^[16] Pluto lived in the 1860s.
• Porthos – pet of J. M. Barrie Inspiration for “Nana”, pet of the Darling family in Peter Pan.
• Robber – dog of Richard Wagner who accompanied him on his flight from his creditors from Riga on a fishing boat, which inspired the opera The Flying Dutchman.^[17]
• Russ – last dog of Richard Wagner, buried at the feet of his master in the composer’s tomb in the park of Villa Wahnfried in Bayreuth, under his own plaque: “Here rests and watches Wagner’s Russ.”
• Sable Chief – mascot of Royal Newfoundland Regiment
• Swansea Jack – Famous Welsh rescue dog
• Seaman – companion of explorer Meriwether Lewis
• Jack – national champion and gold medalist, resident of Cary, North Carolina