These dogs are a large and splendid breed, full of affection and fidelity, and at the same time extremely sagacious; all they want to make them really human is the power of speech. A writer in the "Field" declares there are three breeds — the Large, the Newfoundland proper, the Larger Labrador, and the St. John or Lesser Labrador — and that the dog with long shaggy hair is the pure and simple Newfoundland, the dog with the com- pletely curly hair the Labrador, and that with a close and smooth coat the St. John.
The head of this breed is very large and massive, and it is very wide across the eyes, which are golden yellow in colour. The muscles beneath the eyes are strongly developed, giving the dog great power of jaw; the muzzle is deep and almost square at the end; the upper lips slightly overhang; large mouth, with strong level teeth. The neck is wonderfully thick but rather short; ears small and set low, hanging close to the face; backbone long and strong; legs strong, straight, and muscular; the thighs well-muscled; feet very large, flat, with good, well-padded soles under them. Tail long and bushy, slightly turned on one side, and carried well down. The coat generally parts down the back, and this parting continues to the end of the tail. The best colouring is pure black with a white star on the chest.
There are black and white Newfoundlands, but they are not such favourites as the all black. Occasionally may be seen black dogs with red dun-colour legs, but they are never appreciated.
These dogs are wonderfully sagacious and seem to reason. Youatt relates a very amusing anecdote of one who lived in Cork. This dog was often assailed by several little noisy curs in the street. He usually passed them with apparent unconcern, as if they were beneath his notice, but one little creature was particularly troublesome and at length went so far as to bite the Newfoundland dog in the back of his leg. This was an insult that could not be patiently endured, and he instantly turned round, ran after the offender, seized him by the poll, and carried him in this manner to the quay, and holding him for some time over the water at length dropped him into it, then waited a little while till the offender was well ducked and nearly ae and then plunged in and brought him out safe to land.
A gentleman in Newcastle has a Newfoundland boasting constitutional principles, who, it is said, goes out every morning to look at the newspaper contents bills. When he sees the "Journal" placard he wags his tail and shows great delight. When he glances at that of the "Chronicle" he is not delighted, yet he looks knowing and partially approving; but when he comes to that of the Gladstonian paper the dog looks, gives a low growl, and walks away.
Jesse relates a very amusing anecdote of a Newfoundland who had learned the use of a pump. Whenever he felt thirsty he would go into the kitchen, take up a pail and carry it to the pump, and would wait there till one of the servants passed, when he made gestures to show he wanted the pail filled, and having had his drink would carry the pail back to the kitchen and put it in its place.
Chambers, in his "Anecdotes of Dogs," relates that a Newfoundland and a mastiff were enemies and fought whenever they met. One day they had a fierce battle on the pier, from the point of which they both fell into the sea, from which they had no means of escape except by swimming a considerable distance. Of course this had the effect of separating the combatants, and each began to make for the land as best he could. The Newfoundland very speedily gained the pier, on which he stood shaking himself and watching the motions of his enemy, who, being no swimmer, was struggling — exhausted — in the water and just about to sink. The Newfoundland dashed in, took the other gently by his collar, kept his head above water, and brought bim safely to shore. There was a complete reconciliation between the dogs from that time; they were always together, and when the Newfoundland had been accidentally killed by a stone waggon on the railway passing over him the mastiff languished and lamented for a long time. (27 - 29)