[ Butler / Breeding, Training, Management, Diseases etc. of Dogs ]
Francis Butler (1810 - 1874) was an English-born writer (and language instructor) who spent the latter half of his life in America. He was known particularly for his writings on dog training, and per his Wiki entry was the first recorded person to own a Great Dane in the U. S. He died, rather ironically, from rabies.
Breeding, Training, Management, Diseases etc. of Dogs: together with an easy and agreeable method of instructing all breeds of dogs in a great variety of amusing and useful performances was self-published by Butler in 1857 with a 2nd edition in 1860 and another printing in 1877.
Newfoundlands are mentioned in passing in a number of instances: in a brief discussion on brain size and intelligence, with Butler dismissing the idea that brain size correlates to intellectual capacity (10); in a discussion of cross-breeding where Butler writes that a Newf/Saint cross "is the happiest mixture for an imposing and trustworthy family watch dog" (24); and in a discussion of encouraging dogs to swim (85). Butler also mentions one of his own dogs, whose image is included in this book, a Newf/Saint mix (205).
The Newfoundland is perhaps better known than the majority of breeds, being a general favorite. There are various stamps of Newfoundlands, varying both in shape, growth and hair, according to the latitude of their nativity. The pure should be entirely black. They may be greatly improved by a judicious cross, after which the colors of course are inclined to vary. On the Sea-coast, he will subsist entirely on raw fish, and spends the greater part of his time in the water.
St. Bernard Newfoundland, is a cross between the St. Bernard and Newfoundland. He is a fine large, handsome, majestic and respectable looking dog, remarkable in beauty, sagacity and intelligence. His height is from 30 to 34 inches, and I have had them weigh over 200 lbs. He appears to inherit the virtues of both Sire and Dam, without any of their failings. Their colors vary from jet-black down to light fawn-color.
The image of Bruno — the Latin motto means "I never sleep" — served as the frontispiece of this book:
