Labrador retrievers are among the most popular dog breeds in the world, especially in the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada. Labs originated from the waterdogs from Newfoundland, Canada in the 1500s. These dogs were known as the St. John’s water dogs and were employed by hunters to retrieve ducks and by fishermen for retrieving fishing nets and ship ropes. The St. John’s dog was a working breed, they were known for working long hours in the cold waters and for having a good temperament. The St. John’s water dog breed is now extinct. It’s believed the last dogs of this breed died in the early 1980s. However, it looks like modern Labradors have inherited their gentle character and predisposition for working hard and helping humans.
St. John’s water dogs were described to be medium size, with strong and stocky bodies. They had black hair with white patches on the chest, chin, feet, and muzzle. Some modern Labradors and Labrador mixes show traits of the St. John’s water dogs, in the form of white patches in the chest or chin and stray white hairs in their feet.
The last St. John’s dogs in Newfoundland
In addition to the Labrador Retriever, The St. John’s water dog is also the ancestor of other modern retriever breeds such as the Flat-Coated Retriever, the Curly Coated Retriever, the Chesapeake Bay Retriever, the Golden Retriever, and the larger, but gentle Newfoundland dog.
The origins of the Labrador as we know it today started in the 19th century when British aristocrats began importing St. John’s water dogs into England. James Harris the 2nd Earl of Malmesbury bred these dogs in England for waterfowl hunting. Other nobles like Walter Scott, the 5th Duke of Buccleuch also bred St John’s dogs in Scotland. During the 19th century, the breed was refined and standardized. It’s unclear why the British descendants of the St. John’s dogs, were named “Labrador dogs” but it is how we know them today.
In 1903 the Kennel Club of England recognized the Labrador breed, and the American Kennel Club registered its first Lab in 1917. Labradors have become America’s favorite breed since 1991 when they topped AKC registrations for the first time.
