1915 Friday, July 15
Standing proud in a small hillside park above St. John's Harbour are two larger than life size statues. One of a Labrador Retriever and the other of a Newfoundland. Both of these breeds are popular in the United States. The heritage of both is, of course, linked to this Canadian province where Tazzarin and I are waiting to resume our cruising.
Labrador Retrievers date back to the 1830s when a British Duke and an Earl imported sporting dogs from Newfoundland back home to England aboard a ship. Those dogs are the original bloodline of all the labs we know today. They took their name from the region to the north of Newfoundland, still called Labrador today. They were bred as sporting dogs for hunting; but, are also playful and loyal and among the most popular dogs in the western world.
Newfoundlands (Newfies) are big, powerful working dogs. They were originally bred and used by fishermen of Newfoundland in the late 1800s. They have webbed paws allowing them to be excellent swimmers, combined with water-resistant coats. They were also used as water rescue dogs, a useful trait on the Grand Banks. They have easy dispositions with a mild nature.
The city of St. John's and the province of Newfoundland and Labrador are rightfully proud of these wonderful dogs.
