History of Labrador Retrievers
To start out with the name Labrador Retriever is very misleading. They are from Newfoundland, not Labrador. Newfoundland at that time was populated with mostly small water dogs. When they bred those small water dogs with Newfoundlands they produced a breed who was referred to as the St. John's Water Dog. The St. John's Water Dog was a prototype for the Labrador Retrievers of todays age. Early in the 19th century, the Earl of Malmesbury saw
This photo of Nell is from 1856 and is the earliest known photo of a Labrador Retriever (St. John's Water Dog).
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one of the St. John's Water Dogs and had it imported. Back in 1830 the British sportman Colonel Hawker referred to the Labrador Retriever as "the best for any kind of shooting... generally black and no bigger than a Pointer, very fine in the legs, with a short, smooth hair... is extremely quick running, swimming, and fighting... and their sense of smell is hardly to be credited."
The St. John's water dogs were ideal for sport and hunting that is why they were |
becoming in popular with well-to-do Englishmen. By mid 1800s there a few references to the St. John's Water Dog being referred to as a Labrador. The name Labrador came into common use around 1865. At this same time there were a few limited breeding programs underway in
Britain. All Labradors had black coats until 1892 when Duke of Buccleuch bred the first liver colored Labrador. The first real chocolates didn't appear in any number until the 1930s. The first yellow Labrador was born in 1899, and that was the famous Ben of Hyde.
The English Kennel Club started in 1903 and followed by the American Kennel Club in 1917. Labrador Retrievers have since increased their popularity to number one. |
This is Ben of Hyde. He was born in 1899. He was the first Yellow Labrador Retriever. The color of his coat was better described ad butterscotch.
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