Labrador Retriever

The first recorded mention of the Labrador Retriever was made by a traveler to Newfoundland in 1822, who praised the dogs' hunting ability and short coat, which made him superior for water work. Today, the Labrador Retriever may be the most popular breed in the world. Its love of food makes this breed very easy to train, and its great desire to please makes it an excellent gundog. Because of this breed's intelligence and trainability, it is also used as guide dogs for the blind, search and rescue dogs, drug and bomb-scenting dogs, and much more, making the Labrador truly a jack of all trades. The ancestors of this breed were small Newfoundland-like dogs that made their way to England in the early 19th century. By the end of the 19th century, Britain's quarantine regulations stopped the importation of these sturdy hunting dogs, but by then the foundation for the Labrador Retriever in England had been laid, and the breed continued to develop there.