[ Loudon / Domestic Pets: Their Habits and Management ]
This book was first published in London in 1851 by Grant and Griffith, with another edition in 1854. The text below is taken from the first edition.
Loudon (1807–1858) was an English magazine editor and writer, primarily on natural subjects, although she first achieved success with the anonymously published novel The Mummy: A Tale of the Twenty-Second Century (1827), an early work of science fiction. Her works on gardening and botany were also commercially successful — quite an accomplishment given that, when she married (at age 23) a landscape designer she was so embarrassed about her lack of botanical knowledge she secretly attended botany lectures so she could converse with, and become a help to, her husband. Despite her works' financial successes, she struggled with debt her entire life, largely due to debts incurred by the failure of her husband's horticultural books and magazine.
Some kinds of dogs cannot certainly be called domestic pets: as, for example, the blood-hound, the bull-dog, the mastiff, and the Newfoundland dog; but even these large and powerful animals have the genuine characteristics of their race: affectionate and submissive to their master, they come crouching to his feet, watching his eyes, and wagging their tails with joy at the slightest notice. The bull-dog and the mastiff are fierce and sometimes ferocious to strangers: but no dogs are more obedient to their masters. The Newfoundland dog is naturally of a gentle temper; and, indeed, it has been mercifully provided, that generally the most powerful dogs are of the mildest tempers, while little dogs are frequently sharp and snappish in the extreme. Had the Newfoundland dog the vicious temper of the cur, it would be insupportable.
Dogs are generally classed in three divisions: the first have sharply pointed noses, and a very small development of brain. These dogs generally possess great speed, and considerable courage, but they are very deficient in intellect, and cannot be taught anything without the greatest labour. In this first division are included the dogs used in the chase, and the beautiful little Italian greyhounds. The second division contains dogs remarkable for their intelligence; and this division includes the spaniel, the Newfoundland dog, the poodle, the shepherd's dog, and many others.
The distemper is a very singular complaint. . . . French poodles almost always die, if they are attacaked by it, and it is very frequently fatal to Newfoundland dogs.
Loudon's final anecdote regarding Newfoundlands, in this case one that became rabid, is quoted from William Youatt's The Dog (1845), treated at this website.
In another case, a very fine good-tempered Newfoundland dog was bitten; but, as several months elapsed, "the circumstance was almost forgotten, and he came up to the metropolis with his master. He became dull, disinclined to play, and refused all food. He was continually watching imaginary objects, but he did not snap at them. There was no howl, nor any disposition to bite. He offered himself to be caressed, and he was not satisfied except he was shaken by the paw." "On the second day," says Mr. Youatt, "I saw him. He watched every passing object with peculiar anxiety, and followed with deep attention the motions of a horse, his old acquaintance ; but he made no effort to escape, nor evinced any disposition to do mischief. I went to him, and patted and coaxed him, and he told me as plainly as looks and actions, and a somewhat deepened whine could express it, how much he was gratified. I saw him on the third day. He was evidently dying. He could not crawl even to the door of his temporary kennel; but he pushed forward his paw a little way, and, as I shook it, I felt the convulsive muscular action which accompanies the departure of life."