Dogs of Orkney: We lost our dog in a freak accident a couple of years ago, and come springtime we hope to get another. He was a gentle giant, an Newfoundland, in fact a Landseer Newfoundland, a black and white fellow named Major Logan (aka Logie), from the Robbie Burns poem. He weighed 175 pounds. In the books relating to this breed there is speculation that it came originally from mainland Europe from the mastiff breed, or from Basque region of Spain, a cross from the pyranees breed. There is evidence that somewhere along the way the breed was mixed up with wolves on Newfoundland, our Island province. But he was a Viking, most say. Fascinating it is to discover that there seems to be proof handed down through history, that the original breed arrived here a thousand years ago with the Vikings, first to arrive from Europe notwithstanding all the noise abut the Italian fellow, Christopher Columbus. (I think he was merely delivering pizza to the Vikings). This breed of dog is ideally suited to a cold island terrain. Over the years they have developed an instinctive urge to pull people from the water. And countless records of their courage are expressed wherever they are discussed. In particular, a dog named Gander, from whence he came, was posthumously decorated by the government for in world war two, Japanese theater, picking up a ticking grenade thrown amongst his friends, only to die a sudden death as he scooted off with the bomb in his mouth to dispose of it, in order to protect his friends engaged in the heat of the battle. In Orkney, is there any evidence of big dogs or a breed like Newfies that have been established over time on those islands? All the dog bones that archaeologists dig up seemed to get a rather royal burial in many cases in Orkney of old. I have read when these ancient imbedded stone caverns are opened, that dog bones were interred there, evidently with more dignity than any other critter. Was there any examination of these old bones to determine what size of dog they were? Any idea of the breed? Was there any similarity in size or skull design and structure? After all the speculation, the Newfie gets the most votes as an original Viking family member, who endured on Newfoundland and Labrador, and thereafter interbred with whatever canines settlers brought over a few hundred years, from Scotland, Ireland England and France to Newfoundland. Most believe truly he is t probably a Viking, being water adapted and devoutly faithful and protective of children. I would be interested in knowing if there is one dog breed that is historically significant in Orkney, before the islands were officially handed over to the Scots. It was said that Iceland would be where the dogs originated from. The ties between Iceland and Orkney being what they were a thousand years ago, it makes me wonder more about dogs in Orkney. Any ideas? Stephen and Elaine ( missing Logie terribly)

>>>>He was a gentle giant, an Newfoundland, in fact a Landseer Newfoundland, a black and white fellow named Major Logan (aka Logie), from the Robbie Burns poem. He weighed 175 pounds. In the books relating to this breed there is speculation that it came originally from mainland Europe from the mastiff breed, or from Basque region of Spain, ... Sorry, but that's "a bit confusing" ... it's just "speculations" to keep the prices high ... a Landseer (or Landsheer) has nothing to do with a mastiff ... the mastiff has nothing to do with the Basque or the (pure white) pyranees (sheepdog) ... A Landseer (Landsheer) is a sheepdog from the northern parts of Sweden and (possibly) an ancestor of the Newfoundland ... ... and with his 175 pounds he seems to be a "light heavy weight champion": My dearest friend "Floh" (flee) showed 97 vital kilogramms yesterday :-)))