Beautiful story of a great companion and I agree...that and a Labrador, curiously now a part of Newfoundland province wise, are wonderfully protective of home and hearth. My pal's Lab used to swim out jst past where his kids swam as he was aware of their ability and would herd them back to water they could handle, in addiytio to the best 'walking guard' as they waited for the school bus [they lived up in the Riding Mountain area North of here in coyote, wolf and bear country]and there was never an incident. All that being said a dog the size even of a Lab would cost more to feed than I spend on my food per month and most months I go to the Food Bank in the last week...I can't imaginge trying to feed a Newfie...I'd have to mortgage my house...LOL...plus in the core area of a city like this I think it'd be cruel as if whatever dog hangs out in the yard too long as an outdoor dog of thhse breeds would need they'd be taunted into barking insanity in no time and no dog deserves that....but my "Lab Lite', or as my pals called her my 'laptop' doggie couldn't handle the cold longer than it took to pee, and the wind in here ears drove her spare so in house life suited her well. As a guard dog I think I'd get a Malamute, much more available around here just south of sled dog country....Although the sleds are being rapidly replaced by snowmobiles the dogs continue to be bred as they are much like the Newfie and the Lab in their 'child herding' abilities and loving, kind, not big barkers unless in a pack when they talk a lot, heh heh heh, and fiercely territorial...I had a Malamute/Collie cross, Pluto by name, and he was the best very large dog in the world in my opinion anyway.
Great pic of Sam btw...truely bear like...but they do tend to develop hip problems as they are swimmers and their hips are more at home in the water of which within striking distance I only have a very dirty river [very muddy more than pollution, and the dog'd need a hose down after every swim as the mud would cake up and they'd be unable to walk...No...a noisy lap top is what I think I'm gonna look for....if I deciede to have my heart broken again.. ...

 

Once in a while I look around,
I see a sound
and try to write it down
Sometimes they come out very soft
Tinkling light sound
The Sun comes up again