Posted by Willy-N on Monday, December 22, 2003 at 5:19PM :
In Reply to: Re: PYR posted by George (AB) on Monday, December 22, 2003 at 4:19PM :
Newfoundland
Breed History...
There are three theories that exist in effort to explain the existence and origination of the large, black dogs on their native island of Newfoundland (a province in eastern Canada). The three theories are:
They evolved from the American Black Wolf (now extinct) or from the Tibetan Mastiff believed to have entered into North America from Asia.
They developed from dogs transported to the New World and left by Vikings in 1000 A.D. with speculation that these dogs may have interbred and crossbred with the native wolves.
They were a mixture between fifteenth and sixteenth century European explorer's dogs. Perhaps the crossbreeding between Mastiffs, Pyrenean Sheep Dogs and Portuguese Water Dogs resulted in the Newfoundland.
Because theories are only speculative, the true origin of the breed will always remain a mystery. No matter what the true origin, these big black dogs have always impressed man with their great strength, size, natural swimming abilities, instincts and gentle dispositions. Mark H.