Gallery
Life at the Dog Farm
Above is Magnus (NZ CH Newfashion Mind Your Manners) just out for a swim the summer before last.
It seems I have a query of my own if you are interested in art maybe you can help. The above image I grabbed off of the internet I'll admit, but I know I have come across it before. Besides the clip-art silouhettes, I assure you all other shown artworks and photographs of dogs on this page are my own, as that is why you are on my page. Out of interest though, I just had a look to see where the above work originated from (that remains to be rediscovered). I know I have come across it previously as it is memorable. It most likely is a wood-cut or etching done as a study to be used as a benchmark for the breed standard, recognized around the world by various kennel clubs and judges. My best guess would be that it may have been by Sir Thomas Bewick circa the 1790's as many of his plates were used as standards when they were adopted in 1886. Both Edwin Megargee and Edwin Herbert Miner made artwork used in many Newfoundland clubs' insignia worldwide to this day, Lougheed, Doughty, Shaw, and of course Landseer are all well-known artists of repute though the latter two in my opinion didn't quite fit the style shown above. My next best guess I'm now leaning more towards is that it is possibly an early to mid 20th century design for money or stamps, so could have been a plate produced by St. Pierre and Miquelon or perhaps Perkins Bacon and Company, in which case it would have been modelled after a Macpherson family dog. (FYI that's old school newf-lineage in case you didn't know) I really think it's the former! If anyone knows what it certainly is, I'd love to give credit where it is due, but I spent too much time looking into this already, and to no avail as yet, though it was hardly a chore pouring through artwork from across the globe and through the ages; of this gentle giant breed of dog. If this didn't interest you, I appologize and am myself grateful for collapsible text. I know I needn't have delved at all and could have put simply: (unknown).
Pictured above are ONLY SOME of Magnus' awarded accolaides accumulated in earning him his Champion title. This dog without question was born and bred for this. (Thanks Ian!) I only trained him for 1/2 of an hour before his very first show. That day (which was incidentally also my first show) he turned up, so won a BIS, (which apparently can take a person an entire lifetime and many dogs to achieve) I couldn't believe it! The judges however, knew he was a fine specimen and a winning dog from day one. He outdid himself in his dog-showing career, doing many shows in different cities with different esteemed judges from all around the world, eventually making his way to becoming a Quarter-Finalist in The Supreme!!!!!!!! Since I figured he and I surely couldn't ever do better than that, I retired him from showing that day so he went out on the absolute top, as a star. I couldn't believe it, he just kept on winning and winning! It was a whirlwind and safe to say one of the most surreal experiences in either of our lives. It's easy to see why he won so much... I know this is one of the finest examples of the breed I have personally ever seen in my entire life, I am just so lucky to have found the man who knew the lineage necessary to create the perfect dog, he turned out to have been more wonderful than i ever could have imagined or hoped for. He is smart, gentle and kind, humble and loving also oh so very stunningly handsome and let's not forget stoic... as he should be... this dog is not just for show...not only is he NZ Champion, he was the first dog in history ever to appear in NZ high court, and he even helped save a man from drowning once. I will endeavor to have a full typed version of his awards up on the site at some stage in the future, I'm sure it's available from the NZKC or under his pedigree number if you know how to look all of it up, let me know -as I'll have to look through actual file folders that aren't digital in order to compile it all. (Sadly I'm not so tech-savvy as I once was.) If you don't know how to look all of that up, you needn't worry about any of his impressive resume having being faked... the CH in his name means he did win all of the best of breed wins required at so many dog shows spanning years- to achieve a Champion title; each one having been checked against his pedigree number and microchip, so there is no mistaking he is the only one who earned them. Once achieved and collected, the show winning certificates are then all verified by the New Zealand Kennel Club, (aka DogsNZ) before a Champion title is awarded/issued and only then is it allowed to be placed before the name... so NZ CH being his earned title, which means my dog is New Zealand Champion.
What it takes... pictured above is my dog in a purpose-built groom-room at home, and the ridiculous amount of fur shown to have been brushed off of him is totally normal, and should show you that you or your groomer are going to have to get to doing this extreme amount of effort at least once monthly for the overall health of the dog. It is essential for them to be groomed regularly as when they are not, skin conditions can develop very easily. This breed has something called a double-coat, which should never be shaved off, therefore it must be maintained and not left to grow into matted dreadlocks , it's bad... and no, it won't look amazing like dreadlocks on a poolie. There is a lot to it besides brushing. Salt water needs to be rinsed clean immediately, and something called felting should definitely be avoided. There are a lot of great references available online from great authorities on the subject, personally I would recommend grooming videos by Penny Schubert available on youtube. FYI, the grooming of these dogs can be so arduous and time-consuming that professional dog-groomers may turn you away as it is not generally profitable for them to groom a Newfoundland, it can take up the entire day, where otherwise they mightve had 10 customers, breaks, and more profit margin. The cost of grooming may also be a prohibitive factor for you, demanding that you do this yourself.