[ Dogdom ]
A monthly American magazine (Battle Creek, Michigan), edited by F. E. Bechmann, devoted "Exclusively to Dogs, Dog Fanciers, Bench Shows, and Field Trials." Early 20th Century.
The March, 1920, issue carried a note remarking on the shortage of Newfoundlands:
Who would ever think that Newfoundlands would be scarce in England? Yet such is the case, and a correspondent being referred to an agent on the other side has received a reply that the order could not be filled. This shortness in the supply of large dogs is, of course, all due to the stoppage of breeding during the war. Naturally, when food ran short, the big puppies were not welcomed, apart from the regulations of the Kennel Club. With the exception of three or four specimens, we haven't seen any real Newfoundlands in this country for several years. It is true that there have been some near-Newfoundlands, but the fewer of that lot allowed to remain, the better. The Newfoundland is a noble dog, and as a more or less North American breed, he should be more general throughout this continent. (36)
An article in the "Kennel News and Notes" section of Dogdom's September, 1920, issue seems to be referring to the above attempt to locate a proper Newfoundland:
Some time ago an enquiry was made for a first class Newfoundland dog or bitch puppy or a young one of this highly intelligent, beautiful black variety. The correspondent was given certain addresses; but, it was found, that the U. S. A. was practically Newfoundlandless and the breed almost forgotten. When the United Kingdom was tried, the answer was almost the same, because of the non-breeding during the war. With the exception of the Great Dane, nearly all our large breeds have seriously fallen away. . . ." (338)
The idea that the Newfoundland was a vanishing breed was touched on in a surprising number of magazine articles and books in the early years of the 20th Century. For discussion of the idea, see this article here at The Cultured Newf.