Dogs and Labrador
The original name for what is now known as the Labrador retriever was the Lesser Newfoundland. It was as popular back in time as it is today as is now known as the most popular dog breed on the planet. Not only is the Labrador retriever a well loved pet but it is also so smart that it is routinely used as a service dog by law enforcement and other organizations. As the original name suggests, the Labrador was first known to Newfoundland and can be dated back as far as 1878. The well known English Kennel Club recognized The Lab in 1903 as a unique breed but through the years the Lab has bred and there are now a number of Lab mixes available as pets.
There is some belief that the Lab was introduced and discovered first in Portugal long before its introduction in Newfoundland. These people further believe that it was Portuguese sailors that took a liking to them first. This is hard to verify though since there really is no true record of the Lab until around the 19th century when the importation of dogs began.
Small villages in the northern end of Portugal made use of work dogs to protect their livestock. These were St. John’s dogs but resembled the Labrador retriever which is why many believe that Labs originated in Portugal.
What we do know prior to that time is that the Labs went by a different name, “St Johns” dogs. These dogs were very well liked and useful for the fishermen and also the children who loved to play with them. Ironically, this is the very same reputation that the Labs carry with them to this day. They are still known for being wonderful and hard-working dogs. Their hard work was a sought after commodity by the wealthy Englishmen that used to rely on them for hunting purposes. At that time the dogs has to be imported from Canada and it was only the rich that could afford that luxury. St Johns Dogs had dropped that name and became known as Labs by the mid 1800’s.
The laws regarding St Johns Dogs became so strict that the breed eventually faded away. The laws were enforcing only one St Johns Dog per household and strict and expensive licensing fees became compulsory that were even more inflated for the female dogs making it so no one could afford the expense of owning one.
Prior to 1892, all Labs were black in color but after ample breeding they began to show up in a unique liver color. In 1899 the first yellow Lab surfaced and not until 1930 did the world see the first Chocolate Lab.
In both the US and the UK there is no dog loved more than the Lab since the beginning of the 20th century. The very same characteristics that the Lab was loved for back in the 1800’s are still the reason they are so loved today. The Lab loves to hunt but will settle for a good game of fetching.
