 Several early descriptions of the St. John 's water dog exist . In 1822 , explorer W.E. Cormack crossed the island of Newfoundland by foot . In his journal he wrote " The dogs are admirably trained as retrievers in fowling , and are otherwise useful ..... The smooth or short haired dog is preferred because in frosty weather the long haired kind become encumbered with ice on coming out of the water . " 
