The Labrador is the world's most popular dog
How a Newfoundland fisherman's dog became Britain's best-loved family companion.
The Labrador History
The Labrador is the world's most popular dog, beloved by families and royalty alike for years. As one of the world's most versatile breeds, it appears in every field from guide dogs to search and rescue — they really can do it all.
The breed has been a faithful companion to some of history's most notable figures, from presidents and prime ministers to musicians and authors. Although these days a Labrador is just as partial to curling up on the sofa, its working roots run deep.
The complete origin of the breed spans several parts of the world — Canada, Portugal and Britain. British settlers took their hunting dogs of the time to Newfoundland at around the same time the Portuguese were making use of the area's rich fishing waters.
A fisherman's friend
The Labrador is a direct descendant of the St John's Dog. These dogs were described as being as at home in the water as on land, specialising in retrieving ropes and nets, and were even known to dive into the water to retrieve any fish that had slipped the net.
The Earl of Malmesbury was the first to give the official name "Labrador" to the breed, after playing an important role in importing them to England for the first time.
The St John's Dog had a dense, oily and waterproof coat — perfect for venturing into the water. Like today's Labradors, they were largely oblivious to the cold and happy to swim in exceptionally icy conditions.
A popular dog by far
Despite the popularity of Labs in the 19th century, a dog tax caused the breed to drop in numbers, particularly in Newfoundland. The Labs that remained were bred across several other breeds to preserve the line — and thankfully that worked.
In 1903 the Labrador was officially recognised as a breed by the English Kennel Club. Through the 1920s and 1930s England saw a huge influx of Labradors, so much so that the majority of today's Labs can be traced back to them.
As the world moved into the modern era, many people found there was more to the Labrador than the typical hunting and fishing traits — traits that made them well suited as indoor household pets. Patience is a virtue, after all.