Search results
- The St. John's water dog, also known as the St. John's dog or the lesser Newfoundland, is an extinct landrace of domestic dog from Newfoundland.
People also ask
Is a St John's Water Dog a real dog?
Was St John's Water Dog a gun dog?
Are St John's water dogs still alive?
Where did the St John's water dog come from?
Can a St John's water dog survive in Newfoundland?
Why are St John's water dogs so popular?
Aug 2, 2020 · The Newfoundland dog and the Labrador retriever are two of the world's most beloved breeds, and both owe their existence to a common ancestor: the St. John's water dog.
Dec 24, 2023 · Key Takeaways: St. John’s Water Dogs are exceptional swimmers with a gentle temperament, making them perfect family pets and water rescue heroes. Despite their rarity, St. John’s Water Dogs are cherished for their unique history, protective instincts, and adaptability to various environments.
The St. John's water dog, also known as the St. John's dog or the lesser Newfoundland, is an extinct landrace of domestic dog from Newfoundland. Little is known of the types that went into its genetic makeup, although it was probably a random-bred mix of old English, Irish and Portuguese working dogs. [2]
Year (ad)Event<1790Although people had been living on ...1790Bewick's "Newfoundland" was based on a ...1803William Taplin’s The Sportsman’s Cabinet ...1809An English ship carrying two St. John's ...- 21-23 inches (54-59 cm) [1]
- Males
- Males
- Their Heritage Is A Mystery
- They Hailed from Newfoundland
- They Were Bred as A Fisherman’s Assistant
- They Were Exported to England in The 19th Century
- They Had Water-Resistant Coats
- They Had Long Life Spans
- They’Re mentioned in 17Th-Century Literature
- People Could only Own One Dog Per Household
- They Went Extinct in The 1980s
- A Canadian Author Tried to Save Them
We know that the St. John’s Water Dog was a favorite with fishermen because of its excellent temperament and superb working abilities, but very little is known about the genetic makeup that helped it develop its appealing qualities. Most people believe that it was a mix of old English, Irish and Portuguese working dogs, but whether it was a random ...
While we don’t know which breeds went into developing the St. John’s Water Dog, we do at least know where it was developed – namely, Newfoundland in Canada. It’s thought the breed was developed sometime between 1494 and 1790 as the area was colonized by Portuguese, Dutch, Spanish, French, and English migratory fishermen and whalers.
As wagwalking.com notes, the St. John’s Water Dog wasn’t bred as a gun dog or specifically as a retriever of birds, even though they could manage both tasks easily enough. Their primary purpose was to assist the fisherman who worked the Newfoundland coast. As well as guarding the boats and providing companionship, they earned their keep by swimming...
By the 19th century, the St. John’s Water Dog had developed a healthy population in Newfoundland. News of their legendary swimming prowess and exceptional work ethic had spread, and soon enough, they began to be exported to England. As Wikipedia notes, they also began to be crossbred with other dogs to create retrievers, including the Flat-Coated R...
Like its descendants, the St. John’s Water Dog loved the water, and spent almost as much time in the sea as on dry land Physically, they were well geared for life in the waves, with webbed feet and a water-resistant coat. Appearance-wise, they bore a strong resemblance to EnglishLabradors, with medium-sized, stocky bodies and barrel chests. Like ma...
Not a lot’s known about the general health of the St. John’s Water Dog. If they suffered from any genetic conditions and ailments, they took the knowledge to their grave. What we do know from records is that they lived to a good old age, with a median life span of 10 -12 years.
Like a lot of ancient breeds (especially the extinct kind), the history of the St. John’s Water Dog is shrouded in mystery. Although most historians have dated their development to between 1494 and 1790, it’s almost impossible to know exactly when the breed standard was formalized. We do have a few hints though. Some of the earliest references to t...
As Dogbreedinfo.com notes, the St John’s Water Dog was very popular from the 1600s up until the late 1700s. Then, in 1780, the Newfoundland Commodore-Governor passed a law limiting ownership to one dog per household. Ostensibly, the new law, which was called the Newfoundland Sheep Act, was created to save the sheep population of the island, whose n...
The Newfoundland Sheep Act signaled the start of the end for the St. John’s Water Dog. Over the following decades, more and more restrictions and taxes were put in place to limit their breeding. In 1885, the British Quarantine Act was introduced. The act meant that any dog arriving into England (which at the time, was the main export destination fo...
In the 1970s, a Canadian author named Farley Moway made a last-ditch effort to save the breed by crossing Albert, his St. John’s Water Dog, with a Labrador Retriever. The breeding produced four puppies: two died, one was given to the Canadian prime minister Pierre Trudeau and the other to Soviet Premier Alexei Kosygin. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enou...
Jan 27, 2024 · If you’re considering getting a new furry friend, have you ever thought about adding a St. John’s Water Dog to your family? This unique and captivating breed has a fascinating history and a lot to offer as a beloved pet.
Oct 25, 2024 · The St. John's Water Dog has a gentle and patient temperament, making them an excellent family pet. They are friendly, loyal, and great companions for both children and adults. Why did the St. John's water dog go extinct? The St. John's water dog went extinct due to a combination of factors, including a heavy tax on dogs imposed by the colonial ...
As you can probably guess, the St John’s Water Dog is said to have been bred in Newfoundland with help of the dogs that the fisherman brought to the island. These dogs may have included the French St. Hubert's Hound , Portuguese Water Dogs , and pointer breeds from Europe.
