The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-05-04
DO late the Newfoundlanders began |

too late the Newfoundlanders began to realize their error, and now they are com peled to import dogs from Europe tn perform the work of the native orseo' that has disappeared or degenerated into an animal little better than q wolf
 In the minds of experienced dog breed CTS dt is doubtful whether any of the va rieties of dogs that appear from ume to time as the result of cross-breedfng val ever combine the intelligence, the kindly the Newfoundland. It ie claimed tha, the Leonberg dog is quite the equal oi the Newfoundland In possessing all o' the above qualities, but this ts douot1uL breed in the United states and in Eng land was due to lack of interest in the animal and failure to maintain the purity of hls blood. Thus the Newfoundland mongrels and dogs of other breeds. The Newfoundland dog craze, like every other popular fad. ran It's course. giving way to something more novel and fashionable.
 The Leonberg Dog.
 Before concluding this review of the causes of the disappearance of the New foundland, a short review of the Leon- berg dog may prove of interest: In 1879 famous German dog-breeder. of the name of Essig. of Leonberg. Wurtem. berg produced Q new breed of doEs that are now. the rage all over Europe: Dv : toundland, the St. Bernard tlonG-haired yarietyl, and the wolf-doG of the Py- renees By judicious end careful breed ing Essig succeeded in obtaining breed of the largest and m1st powersul,y r1 Suiis .. no longer the largest member of the ca nine family, some of the prize Leon berg males standing nearly nve rect m height.
 nobility and millionaires of Europe, # vii be many generations before they become generally popular. for the simple reason that they are by no means numerous, Essig being the sole breeder of this va- breed purchased for the Newfoundland iife-saving stations cost the British Gov ernment from $250 to $400. while the fin- est specimens have sold in Europe as high as $500 per head.
 In color the Leonberg dog is black and white and wolf brown, the latter shade being the color of the Pyrenees wolf-dog, the qualities of which seem to be very persistent. and stand out wttn greater prominence in the Leonberg dog than those of the two other varieties the Newfoundland and the St. Bernard that have contributed to the formation Of this breed. Nearly every one is familiar with the last two varieties. but the wolf dog of the Pyrenees Mountains. North ern Spain, is unknown outside the noun tainous sections of Europes where 1t Is common and where the breed has been maintained in all its purity for centuries.
 Fierce Dogs of Pyrenees.
 The Pyrenees Mountains. which form the dividing line between France and Spain. is the widest and most primitive quarter of Europe. Wolves. bears. deer and other wild animals have fingered m this fastness from prehistoric times. In view of these facts one will not be sur prised to learn that the fyrenoeafi wolf. dog is all that his name tmplics-a large. ferocious animal little more than a do- mesticated wolf, which animal they re- sernble in color, tail, ears and character more than they do a dog. They are en- dowed with degree of courage bordering on ferocity, and are more than Q match for the wolves that infesf these noun. tains preying on the peasants sheep folds
 Thus, while it is claimed that the Leon- berg dog inherits all of the noble quail. ties of the Newfoundland and St. Der nard, coupled with the stamina and cour. age of the Pyreneean woif-dog. there are many who claim that the last intermix- ture weakened the traits inherited from the Newfoundland breed, and that the Leonberg dog does not possess that fond ness for children and patience to stand their pulling and teasing. and riding that formed such a conspicuous feature of the former breed. They are, 1t is saad in- clined to be snappish and surly and to ehxibit traits altogether foreign to the and St. Bernard, but which are common enough in the wolf-dog Of the Spanish mountains.