Newfoundland Dogs of the Pacific NW | Raindance Kennels

Explore our beautiful Newfoundland dogs from domestic and international lines.

Meet Our Dogs

Evidence indicates that the origins of the Newfoundland dog breed started with Norsemen, who can be credited with founding the Newfoundland region. History suggests that of the Norse sailors who landed, some brought their mastiff-like, seaworthy dogs with them. Established theories and records show that Fishermen from Biscaly, France, later brought Pyrenees Sheepdogs to Newfoundland, which would cross with the native dogs as well as with some black Retrievers brought by English fishermen. There is some postulation that the extinct North American Black Wolf also contributed to Newfoundland genetics, and this too is plausible.

Our Breeding Program

**Fall 2024 Litter**

Noel was bred to Umber, and they produced 8 healthy puppies. They should be home-ready mid-November. $500 deposits are non-refundable and go toward the price of the puppy. Both parents have been health tested and approved for breeding by their DVM, breeder, and owner.

This pairing has been many years in the making. Any betrothed female would have to be as impressive as Umber, if we were going to breed him. We had a long journey, many expenses and challenges to overcome. Eventually, we found her. Noel is the ideal complement to Umber. When you meet and look into the eyes of Umber and Noel, you are looking in the eyes of fellow souls, full members of our family and community. They grace the household with a civilized air and yet, few wild beasts would dare challenge a pack that includes a Newfoundland.

...is a serene creature and a soothing companion. She was selected for Umber and our family by Umber’s breeder. Noel descends from excellent and very large Russian and Slovakian lines. She is fleet of foot yet brawny, bright and cheerful, warmly affectionate, and establishes strong, permanent bonds with everyone she meets. Noel has her own style and manner - a born matriarch and caretaker. Both Umber and Noel are emotionally intelligent, sensitive souls.

Newfoundland History and Origins

...is a proven sire, an extraordinary animal, and everything most of us could want in a Newfoundland dog. Umber has acute sensory perception and he’s strong as an ox. Despite his raw power and mass, he’s a classy gentleman. I’ve described Umber as being like Andre the Giant in a three piece suit. Landing Umber was simply good fortune and we have built our mission around his splendor. He shocks you with his size and grabs you with his eyes.

I guess the breeding story originally started with our Saint Bernard. She was evaluated as a future dam and would have been a great mama, but Jasmine drew the short straw, genetically, and had the worst of giant breed health complications. First, it was severe elbow dysplasia that required surgery and long rehabilitation. We spayed her then. Later she developed severe epilepsy. Every day with Jasmine was wonderful, but she only lived to age 6. We thought our breeding story ended before it began.

About 2 years after Jasmine passed, I had mourned her but the void she left remained. That’s when, as a family, we decided on a Newfoundland puppy. After a lengthy pursuit, we found a breeder we were comfortable with, albeit far from home. And by chance, the pup I hoped for but did not count on getting, landed with us. That pup was Umber. And Umber turned out to be even greater than I anticipated. Some animals are born with an it-factor and that’s kinda who Umber is. If he was half his size he would probably still own any room he entered, but being 140 pounds helps. He has a charisma I have trouble describing. Umber is awesome. He is the only dog I’ve raised that I can call a born alpha.

Before Umber was a year old, it was obvious to me that he was a specimen to be evaluated for reproduction. After we became certain about Umber’s prospects and tried for a long time to find the right female, Noel finally came to us. Noel has been approved by her DVM, breeder and owner, and Raindance has whelped its first litter of pups.

Broken Metal

Umber is well known in the neighborhood and unforgettable to those who meet him. He has many friends and admirers. One neighbor and friend of Umber, often gave Umber beef jerky from his garage stash if he was out when we passed by on a walk. One afternoon as Umber and I approached, said neighbor greeted Umber at distance then started towards his garage. Umber, anticipating beef jerky, launched with enthusiasm, which generated too much torque for the metal leash clasp. I was left standing, dumfounded, with the leash and half of the leash clasp hanging at the end of it, alloy center exposed. Umber was so eager to get some beef jerky, the leash clasp was doomed.

The Pork Belly Incident

Whenever it’s time for me to smoke or have smoked something sizable, like a brisket, pork belly, etc., Umber’s eyes turn into golden saucers, and you can see him sensing through his ample olfactories. I had about 1/5th of the finished, smoked pork belly from the day before, sitting on the cutting board, knife in hand, ready to slice for lunch. Something distracted me at the back door momentarily, and even though Umber knew not to, even though he knew I would be irritated, he simply made the quick calculation that it was worth it to wolf down that slab of pork belly, and he did just that before I could react. “What do you think you’re do–what did you do? Go outsi–” and before I could even tell Umber to go outside, he was halfway out, grinning, as if to say, “I know, I’m going, that belly was good.”

The Double Cheeseburger

We feed our dogs top quality kibble. They love it and stay healthy. But when Noel was in heat and Umber became crazed to mate, he stopped eating and after missing the third meal and refusing it thrice, I finally took him out on some errands, took his kibble and in a peaceful, far away place I offered it to him there. Still crazed, Umber refused. So at about 4:30 in the afternoon, determined, I went through a local burger restaurant and got Umber a plain double cheeseburger. I removed the top bun and began to extend my arm to the back of the car, and it disappeared clean from my hand. It seemed to vacuum directly into Umber’s stomach. There was no chewing whatsoever. And it’s the most memorable double cheeseburger not only because he consumed it in such a cartoon-like fashion, but also because less than three hours later, the pair tied (mated successfully).

Umber Stories

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Note: Stud services are available. Health and heredity of the dam will be considered.

Noel...

Noel Stories

Tender Kisses

In Noel’s first couple months with us, on occasion I would lay on the couch with Noel on my chest, for a few minutes of bonding. On the second or third occasion, Noel was proceeding with bonding and loving normally, but the two male dogs caught her attention. She never strayed from her affection for me as she watched the boys mill about the room. What made this bonding session most memorable, was that with her eyes on the boys, she would give me tender kisses every 10 seconds or so, exuding the warm, dedicated, unparalleled love she exudes to this day.

Noel’s Toy Duck

Noel is a very sentimental creature, and anything related to our child she seems to adore, including his jackets and stuffed animals. Because of her knack for taking things of his to snuggle with, we bought her a squeaky dog toy stuffie and kept it in our son’s bed overnight before giving it to her. When our son presented Noel with her own duck, with Erik’s scent on it, it was like a trophy to her. Noel carried that squeaky duck around with her head held high and proud, showing everyone that Erik gave her a stuffie of her very own to keep.

The Godzilla Bark

For a while, Noel had a knack for doing a certain kind of bark. At first I didn’t see it coming and it would make my hair stand on end. It got to the point where I could anticipate it and observe it, then correct it. It’s the “Godzilla bark” because Noel charges up, fills up her lungs and booms out a thunderous, “woof!” “Don’t DO that!”, I would say to her. Eventually, I could see her breathing a certain way and one time it just came out - “Noel, don’t do it, don’t do the Godzilla bark….don’t.” …..”Woof!” “Awe, Noel! Don’t DO that! No Godzilla bark.” She seems to have grown out of it, so it’s an endearing memory now.

Umber...