… with Kieran Knudsen from St. Lunaire-Griquet
Sebastian, a Newfoundland dog from St. Lunaire-Griquet (Photo Kieran Knudsen)
Kieran Knudsen, co-owner of the Dark Tickle store in St. Lunaire-Griquet
(www.darktickle.com) and his wife Stacey are the proud owners of two Newfoundland dogs. These impressive dogs, it seems, promote his business almost better than Kieran does!
Kieran, why are Japanese tourists crazy about your Newfoundland dogs?
For them, my dogs are like rock stars. Sometimes there is a circle of people around my dogs and the tourists are taking pictures.
One tourist cried because he said good-bye to Sebastian and the dog put his paw in the man`s hand.
So your Newfoundland dogs have become a major tourist attraction?
Yes. People say they come to Newfoundland for two things: Icebergs and a Newfoundland dog!
Why is the Newfoundland dog such a legendary dog?
I think because of all the stories of rescue. But some of the stories never happened, like the tale of the Newfoundland dog that swam out to a shipwrecked boat and rescued people and got medals. But the story about Ann Harvey who rescued a bunch of people with the help of a Newfoundland dog and her father is true.
(Link: Read the story about Ann Harvey and her Newfoundland dog. Click here.)
Nieves and Sebastian (Photo Kieran Knudsen)
Newfoundland dogs are huge animals. But you and your wife Stacey have not only one, but two dogs. How do you manage?
The difference between one or two dogs to look after is not significant. Once you break the threshold, it does not make such a difference between one or two.
You had Sebastian first. Why did you take his sister Nieves, too?
Every year, we go to a trade show in St. John`s and drop off Sebastian at the breeder where he is from. The breeder is a Spanish lady who lived in Germany, and she became so enamoured with Newfoundland dogs that she moved to Newfoundland.
She showed Sebastian`s parents at dog shows. They are both champions.
Last time we were there, Sebastian got really well along with his sister Nieves. So we took her.
How much do these huge dogs eat every day?
They eat you out of house and home if you let them. But they are very prone to obesity and a lot of them are obese because people give them too much food.
We feed them each about four cups of food a day, a mixture between raw food and kibble.
Is there an even greater “aficionado” of Newfoundland dogs than you?
Yes, the famous English poet Lord Byron had a Newfoundland dog and he wrote an tribute for his dog Boatswain!
(Link to Lord Byron`s tribute to his Newfoundland dog Boatswain.)
Kier Knudsen from St.Lunaire Griquet (Photo Kier Knudsen)
