|
As an associate of Allposters.com, I would like to offer you a chance to acquire some wonderful newfoundland themed posters and prints.
You can view the entire collection of posters and prints that they offer by clicking on any of the pictures below.
Newfoundland DogsBorn as a canine seaman, the Newf was a standard piece of equipment on every fishing boat in Canada's maritime province that gave the breed its name. Fishing has always been Newfoundland's chief industry; the dogs hauled fishing nets out to sea and back to the boat and retrieved objects or people who fell into the sea. Equally at home in water or on land, the Newfoundland was large enough to pull in a drowning man or to break the ice as he dove into the frigid northern ocean. His lung capacity allowed him to swim great distances and fight ocean currents. At the end of a day's fishing, the day's catch was loaded into a cart, and the dog was hitched up to haul the load into town. Other Newfoundlands pulled wagons to deliver milk and mail throughout the island. The origin of this working breed is disputed. Vikings and Basque fishermen visited Newfoundland as early as 1000 AD and wrote accounts of the natives working side by side with these retrieving dogs. The breed as we know it today was developed in England, while the island of Newfoundland nearly legislated the native breed to extinction in 1780. Then, shortly after World War I, a magnificent dog named Siki became not only the most famous show Newf in history, but the most famous stud dog of the breed. Most Newfoundlands in the conformation ring today can trace their pedigrees to Siki. There are many legends of Newfoundlands saving drowning victims by carrying lifelines to sinking ships. The dogs were kept in the "dog walk" on early sailing ships. If the sea was too choppy when land was sighted, the dog carried a line to land. A Newfoundland named Seaman accompanied the Lewis and Clark expedition, and Nana, the children's "nurse" in the original Peter Pan, was a Newfoundland. Newfs and St. Bernards A bumper sticker sold by the Newfoundland Club of America reads, "No, I'm not a black St. Bernard!" Actually, it is the St. Bernard that looks like a Newfoundland. Around 1860, the St. Bernards at the hospice in Switzerland were almost wiped out by an epidemic of distemper. Since the breeds look similar, the Monks imported some Newfoundlands to regenerate their famous rescue dogs. These crosses led to the birth of the first long haired St. Bernards, a variety that proved unsuited to snow rescue when ice balls formed and clung to the hair, weighing the dog down. To this day, at the hospice, when a long haired St. Bernard is born, it is rejected as a throwback to the Newfoundland. Saints and Newfs are similar since they were bred for similar jobs. Both breeds are large enough to pull a man to safety. Male Newfoundlands average 28 inches at the shoulder and weigh around 150 pounds. Females average 25-26 inches tall, and weigh around 115 pounds. Individuals vary in size, and symmetry takes precedence over size. The Newfoundland differs from the St. Bernard by many features adapted to the water. A Newf's eyes should be tight to keep out water and infection with no haw, the third eyelid seen in the St. Bernard. A Newf's drop ears also keep out water, and very loose flews (droopy upper lips) allow him to breath while carrying something as he swims. While most Newfs are black, recessive colors brown or bronze (the color of an Irish Setter) are acceptable. Black and brown combine with a recessive dilution gene to produce gray and cream-colored dogs. Solid colors may have splashes of white on the chest, toes, and tail. Another color combination is the Landseer, named for artist Sir Edwin Landseer, who featured this striking white and black dog in many of his paintings. The Landseer Newf is a white dog, with a black head, black on the rump extending onto the tail, and an evenly marked black saddle over the back. Solid-color dogs with markings other than white are disqualified in the conformation ring. The Newfoundland has a stiff, oily outer coat of moderate length and afleecy undercoat to adapt to the harsh climate of its home island. The oil repels water. A Newfoundland can swim for hours, yet remain completely dry and warm at the skin. The breed has completely webbed feet and swims with a breast stroke instead of a dog paddle. Newfoundland fishing outport "Newfoundland" (originally, Terra Nova ) was named by the Portuguese Joćo Vaz Corte-Real in 1472 , making it the oldest European name in North America. The only authenticated Viking settlement in North America was discovered on this island by Norwegian explorer Dr. Helge Ingstad and his archaeologist wife, Anne Stine Ingstad , at L'Anse aux Meadows in 1960 . The site of a multi-year archaeological dig, the settlement dating to more than 500 years before Christopher Columbus contains the earliest European structures in North America. Named a World Heritage site by UNESCO , it is believed to be the legendary Vinland settlement of explorer Leif Ericson . After the Vikings, the first permanent European settlers in Newfoundland were Irish fishermen , who named the island Talamh an Éisc , meaning "island of fish" in Irish Gaelic . This was to foreshadow the centuries of importance of Newfoundland's offshore fishing waters. Newfoundland was explored by Didrik Pining in 1472 (together with Joćo Vaz Corte-Real ) and later by Giovanni Caboto ( John Cabot ), Giovanni da Verrazano in 1524 , whose expedition was financed by the citizens of Lyon , under the auspices of King Franēois I of France . On July 5 , 1610 , John Guy set sail from Bristol , England with 39 other colonists for Newfoundland. French and Basque colonists also arrived to settle on the west coast of Newfoundland. The French called it Terre Neuve . The name Newfoundland is one of the oldest European place names in Canada in continuous geographical and cartographical use, dating from a 1502 letter. Points of Interest and Major Settlements Cod, the traditional mainstay of Newfoundland fisheries Being one of the first places discovered in the New World , Newfoundland has a rich history. St. John's is considered to be the oldest city in North America. Besides the places mentioned above, there are several other key spots with deep cultural history. Stephenville , a town of about 8000, once served as an airport base for the US army in the early 1940s . It is about 20 miles north of its former train station, which is surrounded by the town of Stephenville Crossing . Also on the West Coast, Corner Brook is situated in the Bay of Islands region. The major industry in Corner Brook is logging, and is serviced by the Corner Brook Pulp and Paper Mill. Sandy Point , which is located in Bay Saint George and north of the town of St. George's , was the first and largest settlement of the west coast. However, the last settler, Alphonsus Swyers, was forced to abandon in 1973 . Barachois Brook Park is the major park in Newfoundland. It is also considered to be a model forest . Marble Mountain is a major attraction in the winter for skiers. It is said to be the best skiing east of the Rocky Mountains or "Rockies" Newfoundland is also host to a well-recognized university, Memorial University of Newfoundland , based in St. John's . |