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Dog of Discovery: A Newfoundland's Adventures with Lewis and Clark
Meet Seaman, the Newfoundland dog who joined the Lewis and Clark expedition into the uncharted western wilderness. Seaman was much more than the faithful companion of Captain Lewis. Seaman risked his life many times and served the Corps of Discovery as a hunter, retriever, and guard dog. This richly detailed account of the expedition includes its planning, its adventures and discoveries, and its aftermath. During the trek from St. Louis to the Pacific Ocean and back, every member of the Corps of Discovery suffered from hunger, insect bites, injuries, and close calls with death. Noted children's author Laurence Pringle follows the expedition closely and highlights the adventures of Seaman as they appear in the journals of Lewis and Clark. Pringle also offers evidence, first revealed in 2000, about what happened to Seaman after the journey's end. With intriguing sidebars, historical illustrations, journal excerpts, and original art, this account of the Corps of Discovery features the remarkable dog that was the expedition's most unusual member.
152 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2002
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
February 8, 2022
This book is written at a youth level, but has enough good details to make it enjoyable to learn about Lewis and Clark and their dog Seaman. It is written in the format of abbreviated journal entries. It is a quick read, and because of that and the short versions of the entries, you have to pause for a minute to consider all they had to go through, and not just the events and details in the entries, but the days that made up the years to accomplish the task. The details are amazing what they saw, and did, and what the land was like back then.
The dog is discussed as a thread for the book and considered what was recorded, covered well. He helps to get food, warns of bears, and was a fascination for the Indians and was even stolen by them. And Seaman also suffers from the cactus, mosquitoes, and hunger along with those in the expedition.
The other great aspect of the story for Lewis and Clark expedition and the settling of the United States is the story of the native Americans. In this book they describe the tribes they passed through and met, and most often were helped by them, although they had some that stole from them. In this book it is just nice to see them helping and interacting with those in the expedition. Sacagawea is also written about in good detail.
The truth of course is that North America was very populated with native Americans before Europeans came here. And with Europeans came diseases that were the prime cause of massive death of untold numbers of native Americans. Then Native Americans were screwed in other ways to be killed or driven off the best lands. We can't change that, but can only do our best now to live our life recognizing each person as important and equal no matter what the race or gender. Hard to know what to say about this when talking about a book that does not go into the topic, but wanted to mention that I understand that part of history too.
Anyway, getting back to the book Dog of Discovery, good history details. Would be a great book for kids the right age. Dogs live in the now, but good for us to remember a dog that was part of an amazing adventure.
The dog is discussed as a thread for the book and considered what was recorded, covered well. He helps to get food, warns of bears, and was a fascination for the Indians and was even stolen by them. And Seaman also suffers from the cactus, mosquitoes, and hunger along with those in the expedition.
The other great aspect of the story for Lewis and Clark expedition and the settling of the United States is the story of the native Americans. In this book they describe the tribes they passed through and met, and most often were helped by them, although they had some that stole from them. In this book it is just nice to see them helping and interacting with those in the expedition. Sacagawea is also written about in good detail.
The truth of course is that North America was very populated with native Americans before Europeans came here. And with Europeans came diseases that were the prime cause of massive death of untold numbers of native Americans. Then Native Americans were screwed in other ways to be killed or driven off the best lands. We can't change that, but can only do our best now to live our life recognizing each person as important and equal no matter what the race or gender. Hard to know what to say about this when talking about a book that does not go into the topic, but wanted to mention that I understand that part of history too.
Anyway, getting back to the book Dog of Discovery, good history details. Would be a great book for kids the right age. Dogs live in the now, but good for us to remember a dog that was part of an amazing adventure.
September 6, 2015
I know, I know. It's a children's book. But a nice short intro on the Lewis and Clark expedition. Don't look for dog stories, here, though and it's not from the dog's perspective, either. Journal entries from the explorers are plentiful. The author walks a tight rope between giving the Native Americans their credit and passing on the stories/perspectives of L&C. (some tribes were helpful and some were "thieving") The impact of the book is the realization, the "duh" moment, that this was an exploration only for the White Americans. This was exploring someone else's land and they helped us explore it. And then of course we ran them off.
April 6, 2021
Seaman was an awesome dog. The breed was rare in 1800 Pittsburgh. He was purchased for $20. Many historians for many years thought perhaps Seaman had died or been lost on the expedition because nothing was mentioned of him in the final months' records of the expedition. But this author reports that there are some records that indicate Seaman successfully returned home to Louisiana with Lewis.
On the expedition, Lewis sent him out to snag and bring back squirrels, beavers, and other kills which the men cooked for a tasty meal. He napped while the men rowed. The men loved his companionship. He was very affectionate with Clark. Some trappers and natives were very interested in Seaman and tried to buy him, but Lewis never took because Seaman was awesome.
Sadly all was not idyllic for him. Sometimes the mosquitoes were terrible and the poor guy howled all night long for all the biting. Ticks and gnats were a problem too. The men had some bug nets for sleeping and could put grease on their skin to help. But later in expedition, the men could sometimes get no sleep at all because their nets were damaged. Sometimes to relieve the horses, Lewis directed the men to build smokey fires to smoke out the bugs.
Sometimes Seaman warned the men of approaching snakes.
One time the men shot at 3 elk from the river, and the elk ran into the river. Seaman jumped in the water after the elk, but the men called him back to the boat because the elk were only wounded.
When Lewis wrote in journals at night, Seaman snoozed at his feet.
One time Seaman encountered a coyote face to face. At that time coyotes were not known or understood. He often sniffed out tracks of many different animals which helped the men track new discoveries.
Some natives looked on him in total awe. Some of them thought he was like a bear and amazed as Seaman walked by Lewis' side through their camp. The Mandan tribes had dogs too, which also were very distracted by Seaman.
The mens' winter over with the Mandan was frigid, sometimes approaching 40 below zero Fahrenheit. Seamen would nap inside their shelters but never close to the fire for his thick coat. He was not allowed to wander far for the wolves.
One time, Seaman had an altercation with the Beaver in the river. The Beaver had bitten Seaman's hind leg, inflicting a near-mortal wound. One of the men had to sew the wound shut, and Seaman was unconscious for the blood loss for days. The men and Sacajewea nervously nursed him. He slowed roused over days, raising his head, and looking at the others. Eventually his appetite returned and revived.
One time near the foot of the Rocky Mountains, there was a bison stampede through the camp. Seaman lunged out of the tent and barked and warned the men, and pursued and chased the bison. The men knew that Seaman had saved them that day.
One night, Seaman began barking very excitedly, Lewis wrote it was very unusual. Lewis sent 3 men out to investigate and found a group of bison had got stuck in a rapid of the nearby river (Yellowstone?) and were swept away, perhaps a tussle of bulls because some of the men had seen seaman barking at a big bull.
Whenever Lewis embarked in the water of the river to retrieve or investigate something, Seaman enthusiastically leapt to his side into the water to accompany him without summoning.
Later in the expedition toward the Columbia, meat was scarce. The men began to rely on dog meat and Seaman also partook.
When they reached the coast, Seaman was very interested in hunting sea otters but Lewis restrained him somewhat.
Later, a small band of natives lured Seaman from the group and mischievously stole Seaman. Lewis sent 3 armed men to retrieve Seaman!!! Lewis reported they encountered the same band of natives soon thereafter and were "much better behaved" then.
The Blackfeet natives were by far the most aggressive, violent, and mischievous bands they encountered.
The men found and bathed in hot springs probably near current-day Yellowstone. But Seaman did not enjoy the hot water!!
Many historians searched high and low for Seaman's fate. Some evidence was found in 2000 in a museum. In an 1814 Alexandria Virginia epitaph book was an inscription for a dog-collar specifically describing Seaman. The book also describes that when Lewis died, Seaman wouldn't leave, and couldn't be consoled and died soon thereafter.
On the expedition, Lewis sent him out to snag and bring back squirrels, beavers, and other kills which the men cooked for a tasty meal. He napped while the men rowed. The men loved his companionship. He was very affectionate with Clark. Some trappers and natives were very interested in Seaman and tried to buy him, but Lewis never took because Seaman was awesome.
Sadly all was not idyllic for him. Sometimes the mosquitoes were terrible and the poor guy howled all night long for all the biting. Ticks and gnats were a problem too. The men had some bug nets for sleeping and could put grease on their skin to help. But later in expedition, the men could sometimes get no sleep at all because their nets were damaged. Sometimes to relieve the horses, Lewis directed the men to build smokey fires to smoke out the bugs.
Sometimes Seaman warned the men of approaching snakes.
One time the men shot at 3 elk from the river, and the elk ran into the river. Seaman jumped in the water after the elk, but the men called him back to the boat because the elk were only wounded.
When Lewis wrote in journals at night, Seaman snoozed at his feet.
One time Seaman encountered a coyote face to face. At that time coyotes were not known or understood. He often sniffed out tracks of many different animals which helped the men track new discoveries.
Some natives looked on him in total awe. Some of them thought he was like a bear and amazed as Seaman walked by Lewis' side through their camp. The Mandan tribes had dogs too, which also were very distracted by Seaman.
The mens' winter over with the Mandan was frigid, sometimes approaching 40 below zero Fahrenheit. Seamen would nap inside their shelters but never close to the fire for his thick coat. He was not allowed to wander far for the wolves.
One time, Seaman had an altercation with the Beaver in the river. The Beaver had bitten Seaman's hind leg, inflicting a near-mortal wound. One of the men had to sew the wound shut, and Seaman was unconscious for the blood loss for days. The men and Sacajewea nervously nursed him. He slowed roused over days, raising his head, and looking at the others. Eventually his appetite returned and revived.
One time near the foot of the Rocky Mountains, there was a bison stampede through the camp. Seaman lunged out of the tent and barked and warned the men, and pursued and chased the bison. The men knew that Seaman had saved them that day.
One night, Seaman began barking very excitedly, Lewis wrote it was very unusual. Lewis sent 3 men out to investigate and found a group of bison had got stuck in a rapid of the nearby river (Yellowstone?) and were swept away, perhaps a tussle of bulls because some of the men had seen seaman barking at a big bull.
Whenever Lewis embarked in the water of the river to retrieve or investigate something, Seaman enthusiastically leapt to his side into the water to accompany him without summoning.
Later in the expedition toward the Columbia, meat was scarce. The men began to rely on dog meat and Seaman also partook.
When they reached the coast, Seaman was very interested in hunting sea otters but Lewis restrained him somewhat.
Later, a small band of natives lured Seaman from the group and mischievously stole Seaman. Lewis sent 3 armed men to retrieve Seaman!!! Lewis reported they encountered the same band of natives soon thereafter and were "much better behaved" then.
The Blackfeet natives were by far the most aggressive, violent, and mischievous bands they encountered.
The men found and bathed in hot springs probably near current-day Yellowstone. But Seaman did not enjoy the hot water!!
Many historians searched high and low for Seaman's fate. Some evidence was found in 2000 in a museum. In an 1814 Alexandria Virginia epitaph book was an inscription for a dog-collar specifically describing Seaman. The book also describes that when Lewis died, Seaman wouldn't leave, and couldn't be consoled and died soon thereafter.
March 6, 2019
A Newfoundland’s Adventures with Lewis and Clark by Laurence Pringle is written in the format of a journal (diary). But, this is not an ordinary journal. It is Seaman’s journal. Who is Seaman? Seaman is a Newfoundland dog of William Clark. Young readers are given a different perspective recounting this memorable event. As we learn from the journal, Seaman is a spirited hunter who contributes to the food supply for the explorers and their crew.
Mr. Pringle did a remarkable job blending historical information with his text. I liked the way he blended true facts and conjecture (Seaman’s viewpoint). Another strategy employed by Mr. Pringle is the inclusion of original quotes from the explorers’ journals. This allows children to learn about the use of primary sources which is critical in social studies. I highly recommend this book. It is a great read helping young readers understand the Expedition of Discovery.
Mr. Pringle did a remarkable job blending historical information with his text. I liked the way he blended true facts and conjecture (Seaman’s viewpoint). Another strategy employed by Mr. Pringle is the inclusion of original quotes from the explorers’ journals. This allows children to learn about the use of primary sources which is critical in social studies. I highly recommend this book. It is a great read helping young readers understand the Expedition of Discovery.
April 27, 2019
This is a children's book based on Lewis and Clark's journals, largely from a third person perspective. The title is misleading, as it isn't directly about Seaman; in fact, Seaman isn't even a main character. I used Dog of Discovery as the basis of a fourth grade writing and social studies unit plan, and the book works well in that capacity. The reading level is a bit too high and length is too long to go through chapter by chapter with elementary students. One of the activities I used the book for was editing passages, as the exact quotes included from Lewis and Clark's journals have poor spelling and grammar.
March 1, 2021
I wasn’t sure how to rate this. The book flows well and reads easy. I downloaded the audio book because I love reading about animals and how they participated in our history. There was very little written about the Newfoundland, Seaman, that Lewis & Clark took on their expedition, especially once their trek was underway. It is completely understandable considering what was included apparently came from the men’s journals. It was not what I expected considering the name of the book and the cover.
July 18, 2023
Was it good? Maybe. I don't read a lot of history. I picked this up expecting it to be fiction with historical accuracy, but it definitely leaned more into history with historical accuracy. I did like some of the details I learned about the Luis and Clark expedition. I liked the idea of anchoring the story to a side character. And the length felt about right. Over all a decent book.
August 6, 2025
A great book for late elementary students or middle school students to learn about the Lewis and Clark Expedition. It is told through the eyes of Lewis' Newfoundland dog named Seaman. I love on the sidebars it includes snippets of more historical facts. It was published in 2002, but would make for a wonderful class read aloud or a small reading group book.
July 27, 2018
Loved the idea of incorporating the dog and the journal entries but was a bit slow.
January 16, 2021
I really enjoyed this compilation of sources telling the story of Lewis and Clark's Expedition, with an emphasis on Lewis' dog Seaman.
August 26, 2022
Dog of Discovery is also an american history book, easy grade just read it and boom you got your american history grade for the semester.
November 17, 2022
Interesting, good listen
April 1, 2023
Kid's school book. Read as part of my Newfie obsession.
March 12, 2017
Very informative and fun to read.
November 18, 2016
I love the historical fiction element of this book it has a seamless transition between fiction and history you cant even tell.I also loved the focus on the dog I don't think it has ever been done before it was a short read but the info was crammed in.Overall is was a well rounded read that I did enjoy.It was the journey of Lewis and Clark journey through the dog not necessarily first person point but the story was centered around the dog.My favorite element of the story was that it was up to you historians at the end of the book they don't know the book said he lived and went home with clark but,in the prologue is says there is no evidence to support either way so its up to you at the end of the story what do you think with all the adventures.Encounter with Indians and ship wrecks and chili nights and hot summers.What do you think?
January 10, 2015
gr 3-6 140 pgs
1803-1806, Lewis and Clark Expedition. A journal account of the expedition's experiences from March 1803 until September 1806.
The title and the cover led me to believe that Seaman, the Newfoundland dog who accompanied the expedition, would be the focus of the story and perhaps even have the story told from his perspective. Instead, the story is told in the third person in a journal format with occasional mentions of what Seaman did. The focus of the story is on the expedition itself.
I liked Myers' "Lewis and Clark and Me: A Dog's Tale" better.
1803-1806, Lewis and Clark Expedition. A journal account of the expedition's experiences from March 1803 until September 1806.
The title and the cover led me to believe that Seaman, the Newfoundland dog who accompanied the expedition, would be the focus of the story and perhaps even have the story told from his perspective. Instead, the story is told in the third person in a journal format with occasional mentions of what Seaman did. The focus of the story is on the expedition itself.
I liked Myers' "Lewis and Clark and Me: A Dog's Tale" better.
February 24, 2011
I love the story of the Corps of Discovery and reading about it with a focus on Seaman, the big black Newfoundland that was an important member of this group, added more fun to the story. A+ for topic, as a non-fiction piece I definitely thought there could have been important improvements, such as pronunciation guide, at least one actual photo of a Newfoundland dog, timeline and more maps throughout the work to indicate specific locations of the included events.
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January 26, 2016Dog Of Discovery By: Laurence Pringle
I liked the book and here's why. I liked it because it had an interesting plot. Also it was amusing at parts. Finally because it was historical. The main setting is from the Mississippi River to the Pacific Ocean. The main characters are Lewis and Clark and their dog Seaman. The main conflict is trying to get to the ocean. I would recommend this book to people who enjoy history because its historical.
I liked the book and here's why. I liked it because it had an interesting plot. Also it was amusing at parts. Finally because it was historical. The main setting is from the Mississippi River to the Pacific Ocean. The main characters are Lewis and Clark and their dog Seaman. The main conflict is trying to get to the ocean. I would recommend this book to people who enjoy history because its historical.
March 19, 2015
Elliot and I loved this book. It was a great way to learn more about Lewis and Clark's wonderful adventure, some of it through the eyes of their lovable bear/dog, Seaman. Elliot is so intrigued about this part of history, so we enjoyed it from start to finish.
November 22, 2008
Interesting pint of view.
May 6, 2010
This is an excellent book for 2nd to 4th graders depending on their reading level. I enjoyed reading it and think boys might find it especially interesting.
October 10, 2012
Great tale of the Lewis and Clark journey.
February 7, 2011
weird but good
August 29, 2011
Seaman was a very brave dog that was owned by Meriwether Lewis himself.
December 14, 2014
Dog isn't mentioned that much ...
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews