Fishermen helpers, good swimmers, and brothers in arms – all those epithets belong to Landseers.

    This breed is comparatively young, though talks about fishermen helpers are really old. Newfoundlands and Landseers belonged to the same dog family for long centuries. It is known from historical facts, that some Indian tribe „beotuk“ has been living on Labrador peninsula in the North of America's continent. Living of Indians was very hard because of cold, rough winds, poor soil, fauna and flora on this iron bound land. Fishing was the only source of living because surrounding waters teemed with fish. Indians used to dry their catch and store for the winter time or exchange for some other stuff. Beotuk tribe was very unsociable. They used to exchange their catch for dogs. So, there is how large and strong dogs came to Labrador peninsula. They had very keen scent. Dogs could scent even earth from far and the smell brought with the wind helped them orient towards waters. Their ability to scent the land used to help fishermen to lead their ships. The dogs used to pull fishnets and timber from water for huts, drifted boats. They also used to catch oars slipped from hands. And also rescue drowning man, if needed. Sometimes they used to spend all the day long in the ice water. They even helped to protect people from beasts of prey, hunted for dogs. Indian pups laid in with the food themselves – hunted for gnawers and willingly ate fish. Only the strongest has survived - both people and dogs of this island.

Dogs of the New land and Labrador

    Indians of Northern countries lived peacefully and quietly for a long time. However, the time of the great geographical discoveries inevitably approached – in 1497 Giovanni Caboto discovered this recess of God –the New Found land. In XVII century Europeans finally colonized the island. Beotuk tribe has disappeared and dogs were left only witnesses. More and more often ships used to come to Labrador peninsula and Newfoundland’s bay and new trade-routes were extended. More often and often crews of the ships used to bring back dogs and called them Newfoundlands (now Newfoundland is an island of Canada). According to cynologists, Newfoundlands inherited a black water-resistant coat, big head and webbed feet (it helps when swimming and stay up on water) from Labradors.

    In order the dogs, brought from islands, would calve bigger progeny, English selectors crossbred them with English mastiffs and seeking to keep a spotted coat – with Springer spaniels (Landseer’s fur on legs and ears is longer). In the middle of XIX century because of continuous export of black and white spotted dogs, they become a rarity. Afterwards the export brown and black dogs have started.

Version of Vikings

    In X-XI century, yet before Columbus discovered the continent of America and Portuguese and Spanish ships dangled around the New Land, flotilla of Scandinavian Vikings under the leadership of Leif Eriksson reached archipelago of present Canada. There were warlike dogs in those ships. Vikings built settlements on the peninsula and their dogs mated with local Laika dogs. As far as all arctic dogs in Canada used to be white, so black dogs, sometimes white spotted lived in Labrador. The breed formed in this place got the name of Labrador. Portuguese and Spanish sailors also met black dogs in the Labrador sea when they used to stay waiting about Atlantic storms. Newfoundlands strained a plain colour coat and a massive “Doggish” head from Labradors, and a chocolate colour coat, webbed feet and passion for water – from Portuguese water dogs.

    Separation of Newfoundlands and Landseers was prolonged yet friendly. These dogs were considered as the same breed for a long time, but now they compete in separate show rings.Though they are relatives, however incest is forbidden.

    The firs pure breed Landseer litter was born in Netherlands, in 1893. The second one – in Switzerland, 1902. If you’d like to know more about Newfoundlands and Landseers in United States, expedition of Lewis Meriwether in 1893 – 1806 would be worth mentioning. It was under wardship of USA President Thom Jefferson, who encouraged investigating watershed of the Missouri river and also a safe water way to the ocean. Travellers surmounted 6.5 thousands kilometres. The most interesting element of the expedition was a Newfoundland Seaman. L. Meriwether purchased this dog for 20 $ before the trip. Americans consider Newfoundland Seaman a hero. Seaman was not only a trip companion; he has been doing all the work as well as saving the lives of expedition participants. It was because of Seaman Americans fell in love with Newfoundlands and Landseers.

    After the first World War Landseers actually disappeared from England and from Europe as well. This time kynologists of United States saved the situation. Separation abetments of those two breeds have been heard at that time also. Solid arguments needed to be found. In 1927 professor Albert Heim from Zurich submitted some solid written evidences about differences of Landseers and Newfoundlands.

    In 1960 International Federation of Cynologists under pressure of Germany, Switzerland and Netherland cynologists granted a No. 226 and the right to inherit the name of the painter Sir Edwin Henry Landseer.