Newfoundland Dog Gifts

FOR FUN NEWFOUNDLAND DOG SHIRTS, CLOTHING AND GREAT CHRISTMAS GIFTS VISIT MY STORE!

Trouble in Newfieland

It seems that our youngest Newfie, who is almost 3 years old has gone back to some very bad habits that he arrived at our house with.   He was a counter shopper....food his number one priority in life.  After becoming a part of our household at 13 months, he quickly ended his food shopping, which also include hair brushes, toilet paper, paper towels and any gadgets left on counters.  Now, he was not a chewer, and did not distroy items, but he loves his food and was out of control with helping himself to anything edible.   Quickly, I mean within days of arriving he improved vastly, where you could actually leave the room with food out and he would only stare at it.   Now, he has gone back to his earlier ways.   Yesterday after perfectly preparing burgers for the grill, I stepped out the back door to check the coals.   Only moments later, I remember that Yogi was alone in the kitchen!   Through the back door I went, just in time to find him cleaning the crumbs of raw burger from the plate on the counter!   Yes, he consumed 5 raw hamburgers in only seconds!  Today I come home to find that he has eaten the last two rice cakes from the bag which was on the counter!   He is in big trouble in our household!   It doesn't help that his eye level is above counter level, so he sees everything!   He is otherwise the sweetest, most laid back Newfie I have ever met.   Back to page one we are going with the counter shopping, wish us well!   He is now laying in the corner by himself, feelings hurt, trying to keep a low profile.  This has never been a problem with our oldest Newfie, he will not touch a plate of burgers, even on the coffee table.  Now he will as much as almost touch them with his nose, but will not take!  I'll keep you posted on our progress! 

Boatswain, Newfoundland of Lord Byron, 19th Century

The following poem was writtin by the nineteenth-century English romantic poet, George Gordon, Lord Byron after the death of his beloved Newfoundland BOATSWAIN who was his constant companion and had been by his side since he was a young boy.  Upon the death of his Newf, Lord Byron vowed to one day be buried by his side upon his own death, which unfortunately did not happen...

The headstone read,

Epitaph to a Dog

Near this spot 

are deposited the remains

of one who posessed beauty

without vanity,

strength without insolence,

courage without ferocity,

and all the virtues of man

without his vices.

This praise, which would be

unmeaning flattery

if inscribed over human ashes,

is but a just tribute to the 

memory of Boatswain,

a dog who was born

at Newfoundland

May, 1803

and died at Newstead Abbey

Nov 18, 1808

When some proud son of man returns to earth,

Unknown to glory, but upheld by birth,

The sculptor's art exhausts the pomp of woe,

And storied urns record who rests below;

When all is done, upon the tomb is seen,

Not what he was, but what he should have been,

But the poor dog, in life the firmest friend,

The first to welcome, foremost to defend,

whose honest heart is still his master's won,

who labours, fights, lives, breathes for him alone,

Unhonour'd falls,unnoticed all his worth,

Denied in heaven the soul he held on earth:

While man, vain insect! hopes to be forgiven

And claims himself a sole exclusive heaven.

Oh man! thou feeble tenant of an hour,

Debased by slavery, or corrupt by power,

Who knows thee well must quit thee with disgust,

Degraded mass of animated dust!

Thy love is lust, thy friendship all a cheat

Thy smiles hypocrisy, thy words deceit!

By nature vile, ennobled but by name,

Each kindred brute might bid thee blush for shame,

Ye! who perchance behold this simple urn,

Pass on - it honours none you wish to mourn.

To mark a friend's remains these stories arise;

I never knew but one - and there he lies.

                                                                               
                                                                                               - Lord Byron