Christmas trees with a side of drool: Newfoundlands delight community with strength, easy-going nature

Nov. 25—Find a homegrown Christmas tree at these choose-and-cut tree farms Haywood County is currently home to four chose-and-cut Christmas tree farms, three of them clustered in Jonathan Creek. Call ahead for hours and inventory before visiting. —Boyd Mountain Christmas Tree Farm 828-926-8888 445 Boyd Farm Road, Waynesville/J-Creek —Dutch Cove Christmas Tree Farm 828-400-0806 280 Setzer Drive, Canton —Mehaffey Tree Farm 828-476-8505 24 Corner Drive, Waynesville/ J-Creek —Smoky Mountain Christmas Tree Farm 828-400-2933 756 Hemphill Road, Waynesville/J-Creek

Those who trekked up the mountain at Boyd's Christmas Tree Farm last Saturday on their annual quest for the perfect tree were met with an uncommon sight: large, shaggy dogs hauling freshly-cut trees for smiling customers.

Although it's nothing new for the Newfoundland — bred to pull heavy objects — the tree shoppers couldn't help but be charmed by the dogs' easy-going personalities and nonstop work ethic.

"They're hauling the trees, greenery, wreaths, and the kids are loving them," said Laura Rader, president of Queen City Newfoundlands. "They're getting pictures and taking rides on the cart. The kids love this."

Visiting Boyd's Christmas Tree Farm in Jonathan Creek is an iconic tradition for thousands of families every Christmas, who make the pilgrimage from far and wide. The tree farm even got a shout-out on the ABC "World News Tonight" two years ago.

But the presence of Newfoundlands at Boyd's was entirely new this year.

"One of our members lives in the area, and this is one of the popular things Newfoundlands do. They go to Christmas tree farms and tree pulls," Radar said. "We will be back next year for sure. We're going to make this a yearly event."

Connie Sovie is the local gal who lives "just over the mountain" from Boyd's. And her dog, Maverick, was the star of the show. Wrapped in his triple-XL Santa Claus costume, Maverick enthralled all — from children to older folks and even the other dogs in attendance.

It was nothing but another day at the office for the burly black Newfoundland, however.

"It's pretty much right up their alley, but you have you watch the weight balance a little bit," Sovie said, petting her 115-pound pet. "He's probably pulled five or six loads today."

Choose-and-cut tradition

Maverick and his pals' docile nature made it easy for the many children who ran up to pet, hug and love on the dogs throughout the afternoon.

Jaxon Litte, who attends Hazelwood Elementary, spent much of his time petting Teddy, one of Maverick's Newfoundland friends.

Interacting with the lovable hulks was just another part of the Little family's growing traditions.

"This is our ninth or 10th year," said Wayne Little, Jaxon's father. "We lived in Florida, came up here on vacation and fell in love with the place. We decided that every year since then, we'd come here to get a tree. We love it here."

Brandi Little, Jaxon's mom, said coming to Boyd's is something the whole family looks forward to doing every Christmas season.

"We come here, and my son gets to carry the bow saw and go up the mountain. We all judge the tree: 'How about this one? How about that one?' That's half of the fun," she said. "They have to be big and bushy to take up half of our living room."

And as any dutiful husband, Wayne Little said finding the perfect tree is up to his wife.

"She picks the perfect one, I just cut it," he said.

Recent newlyweds John and Susue Pakulski who drove up from Greenville, South Carolina, to get their first real Christmas tree at Boyd's last Saturday.

"We had nothing like this growing up, so it's really cool," Susie Pakulski said. "We're going to make this a tradition since this is our first Christmas together."

The experience of trekking the mountain for the perfect tree and with a Newfoundland loping beside them was quite the treat.

"It's only an hour and 45 minutes, so if you're near the mountains, you might as well take advantage of it," John Pakulski said of their day trip to kick off the Christmas season.

'There's a soul in there'

Susan Egan got her first Newfoundland in 1979 and hasn't quit since.

"I've had at least one — but usually two or three — since then," she said. Although her dog Streater looks like he could carry two or three grown men, he's actually a multi-talented animal.

"He's a (show) champion and his father was a champion, and I did water work with him," Egan said, explaining how the Newfoundland are accomplished swimmers thanks to their webbed feet, unique breaststroke swimming style and double coat.

"They want to work, they love to work and to be with you. They're so smart. It's just amazing how smart they are," she said. And Streater is even learning some new tricks.

"He just earned a trick dog title, which is really to demonstrate that you and your dog are connected, that he's going to listen and do what you ask him to do," Egan said.

Although the Newfoundland strikes an impressive outward appearance, Egan said it's what's on the inside that keeps her raising Newfoundlands year after year.

"When you look in their eyes, there's a soul in there," she said.

When Maverick was done hauling trees and wreaths for the many customers at Boyd's on Saturday afternoon, he got a drink of water, plopped down and snoozed. It's another hallmark of the breed.

"He is really chill," Sovie said, mentioning that Maverick had just completed his 400th hour of therapy. Yep, this big, strong dog is also an accomplished therapy animal.

"He does a national reading program with the local schools, which just started," Sovie said.

Maverick and Sovie visited second, third and fourth-grade students at Shining Rock Classical Academy, Haywood County's charter school, this past year.

"It's a three-step program," Sovie said. "They get a book and learn about the Newfoundlands. Then we talk about writing, they get a journal and are assigned to write a story. Then, if they've written a story, they get to read it to the dog. He's right there the whole time."

Bringing her Newfoundland friends up to the mountains to interact with her community was icing on the cake for Sovie.

"It warms my heart because they got to see what these dogs do," she said. "It brings the community together."