[ Judy / The Dog Encyclopedia ]
Will Judy (1891 - 1973) was the editor of Dog World, a captain in the American army, and a lawyer who somehow found the time to write a number of books on dogs.
This work was first published in 1925 (Chicago: Judy Publishing) and reprinted in 1936.
The first mention of Newfoundlands comes in the entry for "American-Bred":
Concerning nativity, there are few native American-bred dogs. The Newfoundland, the Boston terrier and the Chesapeake Bay dog are chief of them. . . .
The Chesapeake Bay dog is a native hunting dog, bred out of the Newfoundland, about the year 1807.
The Newfoundlnad has the advantage of the doubt for his origin usually is ascribed to Newfoundland, but it is probable that he was brot [sic] to that country from Europe by settlers in days as early as 1650. He returned the compliment by giving the retriever to England about 1850.
I am at a loss to explain how a dog that, per Judy, was brought to a Canadian province by European settlers can be considered an "American" dog. "NORTH American," perhaps.... Judy will then contradict himself when he writes the entry for the Newfoundland (see below).
The next mention of Newfs is in the entry for "Byron's Tribute to a Dog":
Perhaps, after Senator Vest's Tribute to a Dog, Byron's lines are most quoted. The lines were prompted by the death of his dog, Boatswain. Byron caused to be erected a marble monument with the following inscription....
Judy here quotes the entirety of the epitaph and poem on Boatswain's monument, which you can read here at The Cultured Newf.
The "Senator Vest" to whom Judy refers in the above entry was George Graham Vest (1830 - 1904), a newspaper editor, lawyer, and U. S. senator from Missouri. During one notorious court case involving a dog killed by his owner's neighbor, Vest chose to forgo the usual lawerly closing arguments and instead delivered a eulogy to the dead dog (and indeed to all dogs in general). Vest's moving speech — you can read it here at Wikipedia — won the case and made Vest famous. A statue to the dead dog stands today in front of the courthose in Warrensburg, Missouri, and a bust of the dog is in the Missouri Supreme Court building, where an appeal of Vest's legal victory was heard (Vest won again).
The Newf is mentioned in the entry on "Mane": "the feather...on the shoulder of the collie and Newfoundland," and then comes the entry on the Newf itself:
(this image is not in the original text;
click image for more on Newfoundland stamps)
NEWFOUNDLAND — The large sized dogs can not be classified according to any uniformity. Of course, they all are watch dogs, but what dog is not a watchodg? The mas tiff, the Great Dane, the Newfoundland and the St. Bernard form a group of their own on account of their large size.
In its native land, the Island of Newfoundland, the postage stamp carries the likeness of the breed. It is termed a native American breed, yet it is really not; the present breed was evolved from dogs of large size brot [sic] to Newfoundland from England. The cold climate, and its work with the fishermen in the water made the dog a hardy one and a close-coated retriever.
He likes the water and swims in it for hours. A cry from a person in water will bring a Newfoundland within hearing distance to his rescue.
The dog presents a beautiful appearance, giving the impression of great strength and dignity. Artists delight to paint him. In disposition he is very gentle and is an excellent companion for children.
Few good Newfoundlands are seen. In fact, the breed is not popular. Of course, he is a large dog and like most dogs of massive size, foams at the mouth, breathes in gasps and is slow-moving.
The color commonly seen is the jet black; however, the black and white is coming into popularity. We think that the black and white color brings more attention to the breed, as a dog must have an attractive color to be a popular dog. Self-colors, unless very striking as with the Irish setter, tend to lessen popular attraction to a breed.
STANDARD OF THE NEWFOUNDLAND —
COLOR—The black variety of the Newfoundland is essentially black in color; but this does not mean that there may be no other color, for most black Newfoundlands have some white marks, and these are not considered objectionable, so long as they are limited to white hairs on the chest, toes, or the tip of the tail. In fact, a white marking on the chest is said to be typical of the true breed. Any white on the head or body would place the dog in the other than black variety. The black color should preferably be of a dull jet appearance which approximates to brown. In the other than black class, there may be black and tan, bronze, and white and black. The latter prdominates, and, in this color, beauty of marking is very important. The head should be black with a white muzzle and blaze, and the body and legs should be white with large patches of black on the saddle and quarters, with possibly other small spots on the body and legs. Apart from color, the varieties should conform to the same standard. HEAD — Should be broad and massive, but in no sense heavy in appearance. The muzzle should be short, square and clean cut. EYES — Rather wide apart, deep set, dark and small, not showing any haw. EARS — Small with close side carriage, covered with fine short hair (there should be no fringe to the ears). EXPRESSION — Full of intelligence, dignity and kindness. BODY — Should be long, square, and massive, loins strong and well filled; chest deep and broad. LEGS — Quite straight, somewhat short in proportion to the length of the body, and powerful, with round bone well covered with muscle; feet large, round, and close. TAIL — Should be only long enough to reach just below the hocks, free from kink, and never curled over the back. The COAT — The quality of coat is very important; the coat should be very dense, with plenty of undercoat; the outer coat somewhat harsh and quite straight. A curly coat is very objectionable. A dog with a good coat may be in the water for a considerable time without getting wet on the skin. APPEARANCE — Generally should indicate a dog of great strength, and very active for his build and size, moving freely with the body swung loosely between the legs, which gives a slight roll in gait. This has been compared to a sailor's roll, and is typical of the breed. SIZE — The Newfoundland Club standard gives 120 pounds to 140 pounds weight for a dog, and 110 pounds to 120 pounds for a bitch, with an average height at the shoulder of 27 inches and 25 inches respectively; but it is doubtful whether dogs in proper condition do conform to both requirements. At any rate, the writer is unable to trace any prominent Newfoundlands which do, and it would be safe to assume that for dogs of the weights specified, the height should be quite 29 inches for dogs, and 27 inches for bitches. A dog weighing 150 pounds and measuring 29 inches in height at the shoulder would necessarily be long in body to be in proportion, and would probably much nearer approach the ideal form of a Newfoundland than a taller dog. In that respect Newfoundlands have very much im proved during the past quarter of a century. Forty years ago, the most noted dogs were stated as a rule to be well over 30 inches in height, but their weight for height would indicate legginess, which is an abomination in a Newfoundland. A 29-inch Newfoundland is quite tall enough, and even that height should not be gained at the expense of type and symmetry. The white and black variety are, as a rule, slightly taller, smaller in loin and longer in head, but these differences in the two varieties are being rapidly removed, and at no distant date the white and black variety will probably be as correct in type and symmetry as the black variety now is.
SCALE OF POINTS — Head, 34 points — Shape of skull, 8; ears, 10; eyes, 8; muzzle, 8. Body, 66 points — Neck, 4; chest, 6; shoulders, 4; loin and back, 12; hindquarters and tail, 10; legs and feet, 10; coat, 12; size, height and general appearance, 8. Total-100.
That is the final mention of Newfoundlands in this work.