The Newfoundland dog is at home in the water as he is on land. His dense oily outercoat and fine undercoat enable him to withstand extremely cold water. His large powerful body assisted by his webbed feet, enables him to powerfully handle most water conditions. The breed is also born with the instinct to lifesave and numerous documented records exist of actual life savings, some extremely courageous, by the Newfoundland.

Examples of actual rescues are numerous, some of the most significant documented include the following:

"On the beach at Lydd, Kent, England, a boat was driven to the beach in a furiously rolling surf. The crew of eight were calling for help but boats could not be sent out for assistance. Finally a man with a Newfoundland dog arrived. He placed a stick in the dog's mouth and directed the dog towards the boat in trouble. The dog sprang into the sea and swam toward the boat. The crew understood the message and fastened a rope to a piece of wood on board and threw it to the dog. The Newfoundland dropped his stick and seized the thrown piece of wood and set out through the surf towing the line back to shore. The strength and determination was incredible as the dog disappeared under the boiling surf again and again. The Newf persisted and finally delivered the rope to his master, forming a line of communication, and the entire crew were rescued."

On occasions even the mighty strength of the Newf has not been enough to save lives. Such an instance occurred near Yarmouth in 1799 when during a storm a ship was lost. The only survivor was a Newfoundland dog, who realising the futility of rescue, still managed to return to shore carrying the captain's diary which he handed to one of the crowd gathered on the beach. For several days he refused to leave the beach, retrieving every piece of wreckage which came close to shore.

A further early account of a newf rescue:

"About twelve o'clock the mainmast gave way. At that time there were on the maintop and shrouds about thirty persons. By the fall of the mast the whole of these unhappy wretches were plunged into the water and ten only regained the top-mast which rested on the mainyard and the whole remained fast to the foundering ship by some of the rigging. Of the ten who thus reached the top-mast, four only were alive when morning appeared. Nine were at that time alive on the mizzen, but three were so exhausted and so helpless that they were washed away before any relief arrived; two others perished and thus only four were at last left alive on the mizzen.

At the place where the ship went down was barely a hundred fathoms to the east of the entrance to Pigeon Cove. Some fishermen came down into the night to the point opposite to which the shop foundered, kept up large fires on the shore, and were so near that their shouts could be heard by the crew on board the wreck. The first excursion that was made for their relief was by a powerful Newfoundland dog from Pigeon Cove who ventured out to the wreck bearing a line in his teeth.This dog with great labour and great risk to himself boldly approached the wreck and manoeuvred amid the breaking seas so close to the mizzen top as to pass the line to the two men who could not with safety hold on any more".

A further rescue of over 90 passengers and crew of the SS Ethie occurred some 70 or so years ago in Bonne Bay, Newfoundland, during a blizzard. The ship was wrecked and no boat could be launched. A powerful Newfoundland dog was sent out to the ship and carried a lifeline back to shore. A buoy was rigged to the lifeline and all hands saved.

An enormous number of courageous rescues of individuals who have almost drowned are documented, with many lives indebted to the immense intelligent and powerful Newfoundland dog.

Throughout time, owners of the breed have recognised the natural ability and instinct for lifesaving inherent in the breed, and have devised competitions to train and channel the natural behaviour.

In New Zealand water exercise days organised by the Newfoundland Club have now progressed to the stage where Water Tests are held on a regular basis. Two of John Bishops and Vicci Lamb's Newfs have attained the title of Water Champion, namely Ch Bonavista Lucky Lass (Bonnie) and Port Aux Basques Amadou (Amadou), (daughter of Bonnie and whose father was the Davidson's landseer dog, Ch Bonavista Drummer Boy (Wesley)).