Labrador Retriever History. Origin Of The Most Popular Dog!

The humble Labrador Retriever is a breed of dog that has been a family favorite around the entire world. We take a look at where the story of the Labrador Retriever first started and how they contributed to our history books. We also discover how the breed evolved into America’s favorite dog breed for 3 decades in a row.

Origin of the Labrador Retriever

Labrador Retrievers are also known as “Labradors” and “Labs”. They originated in Newfoundland (Canada) and were bred as sporting dogs and hunting dogs. 

They were introduced to England around the early 1800’s by cod fishermen from Newfoundland. Fishermen utilized the Labrador to retrieve fish that had slipped out of their nets and were flapping on the icy surface of the sea. 

The short and dense coat of the Labrador Retriever made them well suited to the freezing conditions and arctic winds. This breed of dog also displayed their excellent swimming ability by utilizing their webbed paws.

The Labrador Retrievers’ calm temperament and eagerness to please their owners made them excellent working companions. This particular attribute made them perfect hunting dogs and “gun dogs”, ideal for fetching and retrieving downed game to assist hunters.

Historical timeline of Labrador Retrievers

1500 to 1700’s – In Newfoundland Canada, small water dogs were bred with larger breeds in Newfoundland to create the “St John’s Water Dog” or “Lesser Newfoundland”. These historical breeds are the closest and most authentic ancestors of the Labrador Retriever that we know today.

Early 1800’s – This breed of dog was introduced to Poole (England) by Newfoundland fishermen. The first known owners of the breed in England included the Earl of Malmesbury. The Earl of Malmesbury was a British nobleman and sports enthusiast. He had seen the dogs in action and recognized the role they could play in hunting. The Earl of Malmesbury and the Duke of Malmesbury began breeding the dogs and called them “Labrador Dogs.” The popularity of these Labradors continued to grow in England during the 1800’s.

1903 – The English Kennel Club officially recognized Labrador Retrievers.

1917 – Labrador Retrievers were imported into America and officially recognized by the American Kennel Club. The popularity of the Labrador Retriever steadily grew in the United States.

1980 – The Labrador Retrievers genetic ancestor, the St John’s Water Dog, becomes officially extinct.

1991 – The Labrador Retriever is ranked America’s favorite dog. This title was held until 2022 when they were pipped by the French Bulldog. Labrador Retrievers still hold second position and remain a family favorite in the US.

Early breeding and development of the Labrador Retriever

Between the 1500s and 1700s, large breeds of dogs were bred with smaller water dogs in the Canadian territory of Newfoundland. This breed of dog became known as the “St John’s Dog”, named after the capital of Newfoundland. 

The breed was also known as the “Lesser Newfoundland.” The original St John’s Dog water was typically black in color.

After the St John’s Dog was introduced to England in the 1800’s, the Earl of Malmesbury commenced a breeding program to boost the numbers in England. 

He foresaw that the dogs would make excellent duck-hunting dogs because of their excellent retrieving skills and fantastic swimming ability. The Earl of Malmesbury re-named the breed a “Labrador Dog”.

Many years later in the 1880s, the 3rd Earl of Malmesbury met the 6th Duke of Buccleuch and the 12th Earl of Home, Scotland, at a waterfowl hunting shoot at Hurn. 

It was discovered that the Earl of Malmesbury’s Labrador Dogs bore a similar lineage to the bloodline of the Scottish Duke and Earl’s Labrador Dogs. 

A deal was struck between the parties which enabled the Scottish Labrador Dog owners to continue their breeding program.

These original bloodlines of the Labrador Dog only enabled the breed to have a black coat. Eventually, Labrador Dogs from other bloodlines were reintroduced to create the yellow and chocolate coats that we see today. 

The yellow and chocolate-coated breeds were not accepted as valued breeds for many years as they differentiated from the original black coat. They were eventually accepted by Kennel Clubs worldwide as a pure bloodline for the Labrador Retriever.

Labradors in the 18th century

In the 18th century, the dogs we now know as Labradors were only just starting to become recognized outside of Newfoundland. 

This was thanks to fishermen visiting nearby countries with their working dog companions which were referred to as St John’s Dogs. 

Outsiders watched on in awe as these water-loving dogs dove into icy waters to retrieve things such as fish, nets, and other fishing-related items. 

The Labrador dog was still generally only being utilized as a fishing dog up until this point.

Labrador Retrievers in the 19th century

In Poole England in the early 1800’s, The Earl of Malmesbury saw the Labrador Dog in action and identified a use for them outside of fishing. He brought some home to England and began breeding them. 

Subsequent Earls of Malmesbury would find uses for the Labrador Dog when they observed that they were excellent gun dogs. The Labrador Dogs showed that they excelled in retrieving animals shot down by breech-loading guns.

Labrador Dogs were seen as the best type of dog for shooting. Their medium stature, fine legs, short smooth hair, fast running abilities, incredible water skills, and excellent fighting prowess made them perfect for the sport.

Labrador Retrievers in the 20th century

Labrador Retrievers were first officially recognized by the English Kennel Club in 1903. The American Kennel Club followed suit in 1917. This recognition boosted the popularity of the breed in England, America, and subsequently worldwide.

In 1991, the Labrador Retrievers became America’s most favorite dog breed, ending the Cocker Spaniel’s 23-year reign. Their rise in popularity saw them gain exposure in television and movies.