Present a History of the Labrador Breed

The Labrador, originally called the St. John’s Dog, came from Newfoundland off the coast of Canada.

Newfoundland was settled by English Fishermen in the 1500's and the St. John's dog developed alongside the fishing occupation. The fishermen of St. Johns (a port situated on the east coast of Newfoundland) used the dogs to retrieve the fish that had fallen off their hook lines back into the water. Their dense short coat, which repelled water and provided great resistance to the cold, made them ideal working companions for the fishermen. The dogs were considered to be ‘workaholics’, ever eager to please their masters and worked tirelessly during the day, only to return home to play with the fishermen’s children at night.

In 1807 several dogs were brought over to England by the Earl of Malmesbury who, seriously impressed by the St. John’s stamina, good nature and hardiness, embarked on a breeding programme at his 'Labrador' Kennel. The ship they travelled on was shipwrecked and two dogs (one black and one chocolate or ‘liver’ coloured) were found and rescued, subsequently becoming part of the breeding programme that created the Chesapeake Retriever. The Earl’s dogs were used for shooting sports as early as 1809 and he is perhaps the most influential person in keeping the Labrador Breed alive

These remarkable dogs sadly became extinct in their native Newfoundland due to heavy taxes on the dogs and the stipulation by the Governor that households must be restricted to only one dog. As a result many dogs were destroyed at birth and by the 1930s the breed was extremely rare in it’s native homeland. Thankfully, due to the foresight of a small handful of British gentry (the 6th Duke of Buccleuch imported several St. John’s dogs for his own kennels and the 12th Duke of Home also was so impressed with the Earl of Malmesbury’s dogs that he too carried on the breeding programme) the breed was given a second chance in the British Isles. Their dogs Ned (born 1882) and Avon (born 1885) are said to be the ancestors of all British Labradors. One particular dog that was brought over by sea to England earned his name in a dramatic way. The dog went overboard into the rough waters to fetch a cap belonging to one of the crew but it took two hours before they managed to rescue him, after which he was so exhausted they revived him with (and also named him) ‘Brandy‘.

The Labrador Retriever was finally recognised by the Kennel Club of Great Britain in 1903.

The St. John’s coat was originally black, although there is proof that ‘liver’ colours and ‘golden’ coloured dogs existed in the breed later on. As recessive colours, the chocolate and yellow puppies would occasionally appear in later litters, though at that time they were considered to be ‘off colours’ and very often ‘culled’ until the American and British Kennel Clubs accepted them at the turn of the 20th Century. The first yellow Labrador recorded was born in 1899 and named ’Ben of Hyde’.
Very early breeding stock carried white muzzles and feet, nowadays no longer accepted in the breed standard, although it is interesting that older dogs of today’s breed very often become grey in these areas with age.



Profile of the Labrador Breed
Is the Labrador a suitable dog for you?
 

Active and strong having intelligent eyes, soft/gentle mouth - stockier dogs are from 'show' type breeding while the narrower dogs are from working backgrounds.
Double coat (undercoat is weather resistant, outer coat is short and dense)
Otter tails are short and associated more with stockier ‘show type’ dogs
Longer tails are associated with slimmer ‘working type’ dogs
Good nose (meaning sensitive and able to recognise a wide range of scents together with their associations)

Sizes:
Medium sized dogs
Weigh from approx 25kg to 40kg
Height from approx 52cms - 57cms (20-23 inches) to the withers

Temperament: Intelligent, easy to train, suited to obedience/field sports/search and rescue dogs/guide and hearing dogs
Love companionship and are not suited to spending long periods of time alone.
High energy
Low levels of aggression
Highly compatible with other animals
Highly suitable for families with children
Affectionate and good natured - patient, forgiving and loyal. Love to be included in most family activities.

Grooming:
Once a week. Easy maintenance. No clipping required due to short coat.
Moult once or twice a year - shedding is usually profuse.
Tools needed for grooming: Slicker Brush, Bristle Brush/Zoom Groom, Toenail clippers, toothbrush/ear wipes are optional but sometimes appreciated!

Average costs:
Feed £6-8 per week (Not fussy eaters. Tend to be greedy. Careful diet needed due to tendency to become obese.
Pet Insurance approx (£10-30 per month)  Veterinary Fees:  Hopefully no more than the initial inoculations (approx £50) and annual boosters thereafter.  Other veterinary fees could be incurred from routine visits (ie neutering, flea and worm applications, toe clipping etc etc).

Exercise:  In the first six months exercise MUST be kept to a minimum.  'We recommend one minute lead exercise per every week of the puppy's age (ie at 10 weeks old allow no more than 10 minutes of lead exercise per day - excluding play in the garden).  Thereafter, upon reaching adulthood at 1 year old, exercise can be unrestricted and to fit your timetable - certainly 1 hour per day to include some obedience/intelligence/agility if required.

Nell 1856 aged 12. 

Here you can see clearly the white muzzle and paws.  She was bred by The Earl of Home (1799-1881)

Buccleuch Avon 1885 is said to have sired 'liver-coloured' pups.