To be clear, not talking about the Barbet breed of today, which like many breeds suffered from near extinction during and between the World Wars, to save it they used poodle and the coat is much different today. The Barbet is believed by many cynologists to be the principle ancestor of several breeds, including the Irish Water Spaniel, Poodle, Newfoundland, Briard, Otterhound, Bichon and Griffin breeds.
Please continue!While on the subject of Newfoundland dogs, historical and genetic evidence suggests that Great Pyrenees ancestry is present in the Newfoundland dog. Scientists note that Newfoundland DNA can be traced back to Great Pyrenees DNA. So historical in the foundation, but also recent in the Landseer. Great Pyrenees were crossed with black and white Newfoundlands by breeders in Germany, Switzerland, and the Netherlands to develop the Landseer European Continental Type. My Newfoundland's sire was a Landseer (color designation). However, I did trace that lineage back many many generations and found a bitch that was used (from Switzerland) that was a Landseer ECT, this was before the split into a separate breed in Europe. That line produced many AKC champion dogs and any American or Canadian Newfoundland that has the Landseer coloration or was bred to one likely has recent Great Pyrenees addition from those bred in Europe. Sorry I'm such a dog nerd. I received my first Encyclopedia of Dog Breeds when I was 9. Filled with history and pictures, and half the book was on rare breeds that were unknown outside their region. I'll sign off now
Please DON'T!! Your knowledge base is so interesting! I've always loved to read about different breeds too, and have always really enjoyed the challenge of looking at mutts and trying to see what their breed make up is.Sorry I'm such a dog nerd. I received my first Encyclopedia of Dog Breeds when I was 9. Filled with history and pictures, and half the book was on rare breeds that were unknown outside their region. I'll sign off now
Ya thats my favorite ice breaker at the dog park..."so...what IS that breed mix?"
This IS highly useful. Sometimes when talking with other owners of well behaved dogs, tsk-tsking at the clueless doodle owners who can't understand why their mutt is so out of control at the dog park,
www.cedarvalleyhuntclub.com
Great Pyrenees are one of the oldest dog breeds still in existence in the same form today. They had contributed to the foundation of the Newfoundland, but there is some speculation that the Tibetan Mastiff was also used in the very early formation in England. I would say that Newfoundlands in general have great courage no matter their color and they're historically known for their sagaciousness. Interestingly, historical texts consistently highlight the Barbet's exceptional intelligence, describing it as possessing more sagacity than most other dogs.
Well fwiw, my black Newfoundland, with a black and white daddy, was the sweetest dog ever to grace this planet.Wikipedia is so often edited for political purposes that I hesitate to cite it, but on non-political, far back nerdery its helpful:
Landseer dog - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
So its possible your Killer Neuf was a reject as all black, vs the two-tone that Landseer show breeders were trying to recreate for romantic fashion?
Yet another example for @Ravenbird thesis...
Or more likely, my confusion...
Running away chuckling evilly...
Not that I recall, sorry.
www.barbetclubofamerica.com
I'm sure...ours was too. Only slightly kidding, on "Killer" just because of intimidating size and I'm intrigued on those references to how he "saved your life several times".
Mutt Challenge: has fifth toe on hind legs, fully formed long toe with bone, pad, and nail.
Part Beauceron where one of the extra dews actually formed into a toe?