Newfoundland dogs are widely considered the most famous and iconic breed for water rescues.
There are ten famous Newfoundland dogs, but the one that helped to rescue the most people, 163 people, was “hairy man” – his family pet name has been lost, but this name lives on.
In 1828, an Irish immigrant ship with people seeking a better life in North America and Canada struck rocks in a fierce storm near Newfoundland Island.
Surviving passengers were clinging to rocks offshore.
A rescue boat with a Newfoundland dog on board could not get close enough in the rough seas, so they sent their dog with a rope attached to a wooden board to the stranded passengers.
Back and forth in icy, rough seas this dog saved 163 people.
He was later officially recognised with an award and money for the family.
There is a children’s book about him called “A Star in the Storm.”
Blackie, another Newfoundland, swam through rough seas with a lifeline and helped to save 92 passengers and crew, including a baby in 1919.
The third most famous dog was Bob of the Thames, a London Newfoundland, who in the 1830s patrolled the Thames, was credited with rescuing over 20 people from drowning.
By the 18th century nearly every fishing vessel in the Northern Atlantic kept a Newfoundland dog on board.
They were trained to help pull heavy fishing nets on deck, retrieve lost fishing gear and instinctively jump into the ocean to save sailors who were capsized or those swept away by large waves.
These dogs are large working dogs for fisherman and they can weigh from between 50 -80 kgs.
They are the most prone dogs to hip dysplasia and cruciate ligament weakness of the knees, yet in the water they are strong and powerful, having webbed paws and a massive lung capacity.
This breed is still used for water rescues today.
The double dense coat of soft fur and water-resistant outer coat keep them warm.
They only live eight to 11 years, a short life for such a willing and heroic dog.
Temperament wise the Newfoundland dog is affectionate, gentle and great with children.
The negatives are that they constantly shed fur and are prone to heavy drooling.
