Imagine for a moment that you are a sailor who has fallen overboard. Fearing the worst, you look around for help. 
Suddenly, you spot a mammoth black wooly head above the water, quickly making its way towards you. Spare a moment to thank the Newfoundland Dog.
This massive, even-tempered breed of dog is named after the eastern island province of Canada. Here, it became renowned as a lifesaver. The Newfoundland Dog can tow a drowning man to shore, and the skill comes naturally.
Many a fisherman from Canada owes his life, or at least a part of his livelihood, to the Newfoundland Dog. This breed stands tall between 26 and 28 inches, and weighs between 100 and 150 pounds. Newfs or Newfies, as they are affectionately known, continue to be excellent hardworking draft dogs. They help the fishermen pull their nets.
Possibly, the time that the Newfoundland Dog has spent in the water, makes it just the dog you would like to come across if you were swept out to sea. Physically, the Newfie is built for the sea due to a number of reasons:
- Large webbed feet make it an excellent swimmer.
- A full chest for extra lung capacity, ideal for swimming long distances.
- Water resistant double coat.
- Tolerant of a wide temperature range.
It has been suggested that the Newfoundland Dog or its predecessor arrived in Newfoundland by ship. It is said that a Newfie-like black dog was on Leif Erickson's ship when he dropped anchor in the "New World" sometime around 1000 AD, although this is not a universally held belief. 
However, almost everyone agrees that the ancestors of today's Newfie arrived in Canada on the boats of Basque fishermen from Europe. Some say it shares a heritage with the Great Pyrenees. Others claim of the French Boarhound in its lineage.
However, the heritage of the 21st century Newfoundland dog can be traced most directly to England. It is suggested that dogs from Newfoundland were exported to England where they were refined and bred. Then, they came back to North America.
Just about everyone is glad they did. The Newfoundland Dog is known for its sweet and friendly temperament. In fact, the American Kennel Club standard states that this temperament of the Newfie's is the "most important single characteristic of the breed."
The Newfoundland Dog's proud bearing and kindness are most probably the reasons that have made it a favorite among the occupants of the White House. It is said that James Buchanan, Rutherford B. Hayes, and Ulysses S. Grant each shared the White House with a Newfoundland Dog.
