The Labrador Retriever's story begins in Newfoundland, not Labrador as the name might suggest. In the 1500s, fishermen from Europe discovered that the native dogs of Newfoundland were excellent at retrieving fish that had fallen off their hooks and helping to haul in nets.
These early dogs, known as St. John's Dogs or Lesser Newfoundland Dogs, were the ancestors of our modern Labrador Retrievers. They were smaller than the Newfoundland breed we know today, with shorter coats and great swimming ability. These dogs worked alongside fishermen, diving into the icy waters to retrieve fish and equipment.
In the early 1800s, English sportsmen noticed these remarkable dogs and began importing them to England. The Earl of Malmesbury was one of the first to bring these dogs to England, and it was his family who first used the name "Labrador" to describe the breed. The 2nd Earl of Malmesbury is credited with saying: "We always call mine Labrador dogs."
The breed was refined in England throughout the 1800s, with careful breeding programs that established the modern Labrador Retriever we know today. Major contributors to the breed's development included the Earl of Home and his Buccleuch line, and later the Duke of Buccleuch continued the breeding program.
Ironically, the breed nearly became extinct in its homeland of Newfoundland due to heavy dog taxes and sheep protection laws. However, the English breeding programs ensured the breed's survival and continued development.
The breed was officially recognized by The Kennel Club in England in 1903 and by the American Kennel Club in 1917. The first recorded yellow Labrador was born in 1899, named "Ben of Hyde," and chocolate Labradors were developed later through careful breeding programs.
Today, Labrador Retrievers are consistently ranked as the most popular dog breed in the United States and remain beloved worldwide for their intelligence, loyalty, and gentle nature.