Actually, Meriwether Lewis did take a along a Newfoundland (which he had purchased for $20 in 1803). The dog's name was Seaman and he was adopted by the whole Corps of Discovery and referred to as "Our Dog".
The book, Undaunted Courage, is fascinating. I had no idea of the hardships faced by the Corps during their exploration.
Thanks for the info. I was just in it for the joke anyway. You KNOW how us Americans love hitting roadside diners.