The Water Dogs of Newfoundland

On the island of Newfoundland, there exists a dog not found anywhere else. They can be found in small outports, maneuvering the Atlantic ocean, retrieving waterfowl for their masters, and occasionally sleeping at the foot of a child's bed.

They are known as Cape Shore water dogs, and they are the descendents of the St John's water dog (or perhaps they are one in the same), a said to be extinct type that was the foundation of the popular Labrador Retriever many decades ago.

These dogs are working dogs through and through, untouched by kennel clubs. They have not been made victim of closed stud books, nor have they been watered down by years of show breeding or bred for fancy colours and traits. They are selected only for raw working ability.

I can not bring myself to label the Cape Shore water dog a breed, because in order to be a true breed, there would have to be an established breed standard. Such a thing doesn't exist, and pedigrees are kept in personal books -- if at all, as new blood is still added to the population when a dog is deemed an adequate worker.

Instead, they are a landrace of some kind. A type of dog developed over time, with minimal human intervention, for a unique purpose. This doesn't quite mean they are the same as your average, run of the mill mutt, but they are also a far cry from established retriever breeds. I quite like them that way.

Little is known about these dogs' genetic make up or what makes them special. Never before has anyone ventured to learn more about the Cape Shore water dog, beyond a vague history and the fact that they are solid workers. This year, that finally changed.

In July of 2018, I teamed up with Embark DNA for a small project in which we tested a handful of Cape Shore water dogs. These DNA results are still pending but can be expected in late September. One step at a time, I am cracking the mystery.

See also:

"Are They Still There?" by Scottie Westfall