It seems as if that every maritime vessel in Canada feels the imperative need to include a Newfoundland in their crew. To those who know the Newfoundland, this fact is indisputable. For those who does not know this wonderful breed that well, be ready to get to know the greatest dog breed of the waters, the Newfoundland.

The Newfoundland is a breed of dog that was developed in Canada’s Newfoundland territory. It is said that this breed is the descendant of another Canadian native, the St. John breed. The Newfoundland is said to have been established as a breed as early as 1400s and this is backed up by records that state the sightings of a superb swimmer and intelligent working dog in the Great Banks of Newfoundland.

Water rescue is the Newfoundlands forte and when it comes to swimming, it remains the champion. There are several records that prove of the Newfoundland’s supremacy in the water and it is further proven by many rescue events of today. One account shares a girl named Anne Harvey from Isle de Morts, her father and her Newfoundland Hairyman who altogether helped rescue 180 Irish immigrants from a ship wreck.

During the early 1900s, a Newfoundland single-handed saved 92 people from a sinking ship during a blizzard. Famous people are also recorded to be helped by the Newfoundland and this includes the famed Napoleon Bonaparte when he nearly drowned in his escape from the island of Elba. A Newfoundland of a fisherman jumped in to the sea and helped Bonaparte safety.

The famous explorers Lewis and Clark also had a Newfoundland pet named Seaman which they kept as a company during their exploration of the Wild West. Sgt. Gander, a Newfoundland breed, was made a mascot of the Royal Rifles of Canada in commemoration of its heroic act during the Battle of Hong Kong. Sgt. Gander allegedly carried away a grenade that was hurled at some wounded Canadian soldiers.

Some see the Newfoundland to look like the St. Bernard but it is actually the other way around. What separates the Newfoundland, however, is the fact that its feet are webbed and this helps him swim accurately and with great speed in the waters. Its lung can also endure severe long distances of swimming and this has helped him be successful in many rescue missions.

Its coat is dense, oily and resistant to water that’s why he is able to stay in the freezing water even for hours on end. Other dogs swim in a “doggy paddle” but the Newfoundland swims in a breast stroke motion and this gives his swim more power and speed. Its lips and flews are droopy and it gives him the tendency to drool overly during hot days but in swimming, it allows him to breathe even if his mouth is full of water.

The Newfoundland is called the “gentle giant” by many and this is attributed to its supreme benevolence, kindness and gentleness to all creatures. This breed is brave, intelligent and protective of its master without being ferocious towards any creature. The words of Henry David Thoreau for the Newfoundland in Walden are “A man is not a good man to me because he will feed me if I should be starving, or warm me if I should be freezing, or pull me out of a ditch if I should ever fall into one. I can find you a Newfoundland dog that will do as much.