Where the Labrador Retriever came from
The Labrador Retriever began in Newfoundland, Canada, where fishermen used water dogs to haul nets and retrieve fish from icy water. These dogs were called St. John's water dogs.
English visitors took some of the dogs home in the 1800s. Aristocrats like the Earl of Malmesbury and the Duke of Buccleuch bred them as retrievers for shot ducks and helped set the modern breed.
The AKC recognized the breed in 1917. Today Labs are one of the most popular breeds in the US and work as guide, service, detection and search dogs.
- 1800s Newfoundland water dogs reach England and are bred as retrievers
- 1903 The Kennel Club in England recognizes the breed
- 1917 AKC recognizes the Labrador Retriever
The job a Labrador Retriever was bred for
The dogs retrieved in cold water and brought game back gently. That shaped the love of carrying things, water, food and wanting to work with people.
What you see at home
Mouthy. Steals things. Jumps to greet. Eats almost anything.
Stealing socks and shoes
That is the retrieving drive. Hand them a toy to carry and trade for it.
Jumping to greet
Big joy, no manners yet. Reward four paws on the floor and greet them only then.
Eating everything
Labs love food. Use meal time for scent games and measure the treats.
Mouthing hands
Their mouths are built to carry. Offer a toy right away and praise when they take it.
Sports that fit a Labrador Retriever
- Field work. Hunt tests and retriever work are their roots
- Dock diving. Natural swimmers
- Scent work. Great noses and food drive
- Obedience. Eager and food motivated
- Therapy work. Friendly and steady
Training tips for a Labrador Retriever
- Use food rewards, but measure them, since many Labs gain weight.
- Give a toy to carry and teach a trade for it.
- Teach calm greetings, since exuberance is common.
- Use retrieving games as rewards.
Body and health
Prone to hip and elbow problems and to weight gain. Keep them lean, and avoid hard jumping while growing.
Fun fact. Labs have fully webbed paws and an otter like tail that help them swim.
Breed is where we start
A study of more than 18,000 dogs found breed explains only about 9 percent of the differences in behavior between dogs (Morrill and others, Science, 2022). So your Labrador Retriever is a starting guess, not a label. We find the drive your dog actually runs on, give it a job, and teach you to read them.
Looking for a different breed? See what 75 breeds were bred to do.