Native Nations Astonished by Seaman — Offer Horses in Trade

Throughout the westward journey, Seaman attracted enormous attention from the Native American nations the expedition encountered. Many of these peoples had never seen a Newfoundland or any dog of comparable size, and they regarded Seaman with a mixture of wonder and reverence. Lewis recorded multiple instances of Native Americans expressing astonishment at the dog and offering to purchase him.

The Shoshone, Nez Perce, and various Plains nations all made overtures to acquire Seaman. Some offered to trade three fine horses for the dog—a remarkable offer that underscored the value they placed on the animal. Lewis consistently refused all offers, no matter how generous. “The dog was of the Newfoundland breed and was one of the finest I had ever seen,” he wrote, “I prized him much.”

Seaman also served an unintended diplomatic purpose. His presence often helped break the ice during first encounters with new nations. The dog’s impressive size and gentle temperament made him a natural conversation starter, and his presence with a woman (Sacagawea) and her infant child helped signal to Native peoples that the expedition came in peace. A war party would not typically travel with a large dog, a woman, and a baby.