The Labrador, officially called Labrador Retriever, is a breed of dog that originated from Newfoundland, Canada, in the 1500s, despite the breed's name suggesting it came from Labrador, also in Canada. These breeds of Newfoundland came in various sizes, the largest of which eventually evolved into the breed known as the Newfoundland, while the smaller dog is the one known today as the Labrador Retriever.
Producing The Labrador
Small water dogs were crossed with Newfoundlands to produce the St. John's Water Dog or Lesser Newfoundland at the time. These breeds of dog belonged to fishers who plunged into the freezing water to retrieve fish that had dropped off their hooks. They would also bring in nets containing fish.
These dogs were ideal for these jobs due to their water-repellent coat and webbed paws, which enabled them to be great swimmers.
Early Uses of The Labrador
The dogs remained native to Newfoundland far into the early 1800s until they were transported to other parts of the world like England and America. The Earl of Malmesbury observed the Labrador breed at work and soon took them home. Colonel Hawker, a British Sportsman, praised the dogs as "the best for any form of shooting" in 1830. Typically black, smaller than a Pointer, with elegant legs and short, smooth hair exceptionally swift in sprinting, swimming, and combat."
Earl and Duke of Malmesbury employed them for sport shooting and started to refer to them as "Labrador Dogs." The Earl's son bred the dogs after the name stuck. Later, the English Kennel Club acknowledged the Labrador in 1903.
The breed's popularity began to increase. In the early 1900s, American hunters and farmers discovered the breed's work ethic and began adopting "Labs" into their daily lives. Later in 1917, the American Kennel Club acknowledged the Labrador Retrievers, and the breed quickly became a popular family companion.
Looking to Get a Labrador?
Today, the Labrador Retriever is still willing to work and delight its owners in many ways. In addition, they are friendly, easygoing, smart, and kind towards people, particularly youngsters and other pets. They require little care but a substantial amount of daily physical exercise. Generally, Labradors enjoy activities Th like active hikes, fetch games, and even swimming in a secure location. They consistently rank among the AKC's most beloved dog breeds.
This blog was kindly written and provided by: Faustinus Angmortey
