Labrador Retriever

[rutylr]

A. HISTORY

In 1822 a traveler to Newfoundland gave an account of a number of small water dogs preferred for retrieving by waterfowlers because their smooth, short coats did not retain icy water in the freezing weather. The Earl of Malmesbury upon seeing the swift black retrieving dogs took a liking to them and arranged to have some imported to England. It wasn't until 1887 that the name "Labrador" was coined when the Earl incorrectly referred to them in a letter as his "Labrador dog." It was in the same letter that he also mentions the physical attributes which still distinguish the breed today... "its close coat which turns the water off like oil and above all, a tail like an otter."

Dog taxes eventually caused the Labrador Retriever to lose popularity in Newfoundland, and the quarantine laws of England prohibited anymore to be imported. The British, however, recognized its attributes as a quality retriever and began interbreeding with the other types of retrievers. The Labrador traits remained predominant, however, and eventually true fanciers of the breed set up a standard to establish the breed and discourage further interbreeding. In 1903 the English Kennel Club recognized the Labrador Retriever as a separate breed. In the United States the American Kennel Club recognized the breed in 1917, but it wasn't until the late 1920s and 1930s that the breed seemed to gain its popularity here.

B. TODAY'S STANDARD

The standard is the official description of the ideal specimen of the breed. Usually, the standard is drawn up by the parent club, in this case the Labrador Retriever Club, Inc. It is then approved by the American Kennel Club and comes to serve as a guide to breeders and to judges in evaluating individual dogs of that breed. The Official Standard for the Labrador Retriever as set forth by the American Kennel Club was originally adapted from the English standard.

Nearly a decade ago there was some dissension among parent club members in which the standard was regarded as being too general and, therefore, responsible for the increasing disparity between bench Labradors and field Labradors. This meant that the Labrador was eventually destined to exist as two separate breeds (as is true of the Cocker Spaniel, Irish Setter, Springer Spaniel, etc.), one for field and one for show. It was the proposal of the members of the parent club (who are primarily field enthusiasts) that the standard be rewritten.

In November of 1992, a new standard was proposed and again voted on. This time the proposal was accepted by a majority of members and was subsequently approved by the A.K.C.. As before, the new standard remains at the center of much controversy and dissension among enthusiasts of the breed. Though intending to unify the breed, many of us who originally supported its acceptance now fear that it has provoked animosity within the sport and, as a result, may actually be increasing the breach. It may be said, however, that a change of standard may not improve the situation as long as there are breeders who breed Labradors solely for their appearance or solely for their speed and endurance.

C. "TYPE" PREFERENCE, OR WHAT IT MEANS WHEN A LAB IS "AMERICAN", "ENGLISH", "FIELD" or "SHOW"

This brings us to the issue of "type." If one were to look at examples from two different breeds of dog, one could distinguish quite easily between a Labrador Retriever and a Cocker Spaniel. There are very obvious differences between the two which make them recognizable as distinct breeds from one another. However, if all the dogs in the world were Labrador Retrievers, one would have to look for more subtle differences such as head-shape, coat texture, tail set, etc. to distinguish between two dogs. This is how a Labrador fancier looks at Labradors. He does not look at the obvious differences, he can see the subtle ones.

Over the years, Labradors have been categorized in various ways usually pertaining to their appearance or type. For instance, field Labs vs. water Labs, American vs. English, and more recently field vs. show. In each case the former represents the individuals longer in body, neck and tail, and taller and lighter-boned; the latter represents those individuals which are more compact, stocky, and heavy-boned. Although many people use the term English to refer to show and American to refer to field, there are actually American show bloodlines as well as English field bloodlines. Furthermore, there are actually more types than just American and English.

Typically, the English type describes those dogs which are very short-coupled, stocky, heavy-boned, and have broad heads with shorter, more square muzzles. Tails are usually very fat (as thick as a forearm). Size is at the lower end of the American standard height, but the males can weigh about 85 pounds; females about 65 to 70 pounds. In regard to temperament, English Labs tend to be more laid-back and sedate, reaching emotional maturity much more quickly than Labs of other descent. In general, because of their build, English Labs do run a higher risk for hip-joint subluxation which leads to shallow acetabulums and mild forms of hip dysplasia. Many of these dogs are built very wide in the rear and their muscle tone does not develop at a sufficient pace with their bone development. Furthermore, they do have a tendency toward obesity which may further make them candidates for HD. However, most of these dogs remain clinically asymptomatic for hip dysplasia and it is not a degenerative form seen more typically in the American and Field lines. Additionally, epilepsy is probably more preponderant in the English lines. Because hereditary epilepsy in these dogs is usually mild, with seizures occurring infrequently and not requiring medication, some English breeders have never felt this form of epilepsy to be a reason to exclude dogs from their breeding programs.

Similar to the English type is another type which is referred to as the New England Water Lab. These Labs are very short and compact dogs often described as "beer barrels with short legs". The NE water Lab is an off-shoot of English lines, but with lighter bone and less exageration of head and features. These dogs were selected through many generations for their size because many waterfowl hunters in the New England area needed a small, compact retriever that they could drag in and out of the boats easily. Therefore, a shorter leg and topline resulting in a very small, compact type of Lab gave rise to the New England Water Lab "type". Many of these dogs fall below the American standard for height. In regard to temperament, these dogs are great family dogs but are slightly more energenic than the English lines.

The American-show (bench) type is more of an overall moderate version of Lab, free of exaggerated features, and therefore, typical to the written standard of the breed. Though many have nicely shaped heads and expressions, they are not as over-done as the English dogs. They are mid-sized, neither small nor large, but average. They are active as puppies and tend to be moderately active adults.

The American Field Lab was bred and selected for speed and endurance in the field and is an opposite version of the NE water Lab: where the NE Lab is short-legged and compact for swimming, field labs are designed for speed and endurance in the field and are long in leg and lanky in body. This Lab "type" has been selected for in the central and mid-west part of the U.S. where field trials are more popular. Because of the working demands placed on these dogs, high-energy and "drive" are qualities required in field Labs. In terms of temperament, though some are head-strong and require an experienced hand for training, these dogs are extremely intelligent and develop strong bonds with their human companions. Unfortunately, however, the average pet owner may not have the experience or tolerance required to achieve such a companionable relationship with these dogs.

Be aware that these are just generalizations and type and temperament are more dependent on the breeding cross and therefore, unique to the individual dog. Additionally, many of the Labs today have a mixture of English and American show and or field bloodlines, therefore, some Labs that may have English bloodlines may look more American and vise versa depending on the actual breeding and the outcome of the cross. Therefore, the particular "type" we use to refer to the Lab may have nothing to do with the actual ancestry of the dog, but rather the overall appearance of the dog.

When purchasing a puppy it is important to know one's preference in type so that one may consult a breeder who may specialize in that type. For example, if one desires a show puppy or show-type, one shouldn't go to a field breeder and vise versa. This does not mean, however, that show breeders cannot produce field trial prospects or that field breeders cannot produce show prospects. Some breeders are very interested in transcending the gap between show and field by breeding individuals from show stock to individuals from field stock. Through research, planning and selection, a breeding program such as this allows one to choose desirable traits from both lines while breeding out undesirable ones.

[kimberly]

Love It Love it Love it I can't get enough!!!!!! Do you know about the Flat coat Retriever? After having a pup out of 10 with curly hair? I questioned her.In the blood lines from years or ages ago The Flat hair was a Lab. Breed. So across the lines my Purebred sire n bitch [hate that word] had that blood in them to birth that particular breed. I believe it's in "DOG FANCEY" from this past Sept. issue. The movie with Diane Lane and John Cuszack features these dogs. So when strangers ask what kind of dog is my Molly? I just say she is 1 out of 10! She is special in her own right!

[rutylr]

Flat coated
History
The Flat-Coated Retriever was developed in the 1800's by crossing several already established breeds, including the Irish Setter, Labrador, Water Dog, and the St. John's Newfoundland, though one source also mentions the Collie. The breed became popular in Britain amongst the gamekeepers due to its excellent working ability. Due to the two World Wars there was a decline in numbers despite a small group of dedicated breeders maintaining the viability of the breed, until the return of many gamekeepers from World War Two. Since then, numbers have steadily increased. The Flat-Coated Retriever deserves more attention, as he is not only an excellent bird dog and swimmer but also an outstanding family dog. These dogs are gifted with a fine intuition and an excellent sense of smell. The Flat-Coated Retriever is used above all for retrieving on plains and in areas thick with trees and bushes. They are good swimmers and also work well in marshy areas.

Temperament
This good-natured intelligent breed loves making friends. With its stable temperament, the flat coated retriever makes an excellent family dog and loves being around children. They have a puppy-like demeanor throughout their lives. The Flat Coated Retriever is quiet indoors and very active outdoors.

Upkeep
This active dog needs daily exercise and fun, and especially enjoys the chance to hunt or swim. This is a family-oriented dog that does best when allowed to live inside and play outside. Its coat needs only weekly brushing and little, if any, minor trimming occasionally.

[Blaze]

Thanks for posting this! Very informative!

[kimberly]

Thanks also! I really appreciate it! Kimberly

[pomlover80]

Yes thanks for posting this...very interesting and informative

[rutylr]

Found more on Labs
The Labrador Retriever must be from Labrador, right? No so, however. From all accounts Labs originated in Newfoundland. The name assignment may have resulted from a geographical association since Labrador is situated just northwest of Newfoundland and the sub-arctic waters of the Labrador Current flow down the east coast of insular Newfoundland. The name may also be explained by the origin of the word labrador, Portuguese for yeoman or laborer and the Spanish word for workmen, labradores. A related connection could be the village in northern Portugal called Castro Laboreiro where the dogs that guard livestock bear a striking resemblance to Labrador Retrievers.

There is a bit of mystery about the ancestors of the Labrador, appropriate perhaps given the amazing versatility of the breed. After all, how could one dog be so adept at such a wide variety of jobs, be capable of working under very harsh conditions and also have one of the friendliest personalities around? From the men who began to use the Newfoundland region for fishing in the mid to late 15th century, a rough and often seedy sort, to the aristocratic English gentlemen who refined and preserved the breed in the 19th century, the people responsible for the development of the lab were themselves a remarkably diverse group.

The fishermen used dogs to retrieve fish that fell off hooks and to help haul in swimming lines or fishing nets. These dogs needed to be eager to please, strong swimmers and small enough to haul in and out of the two man "Dory" type boats. They needed to have short, water repellent dense coats that could withstand very cold water and wouldn't ball up with ice or bring excess water onboard. Onshore, as temporary settlements gave way to more permanent ones, a retrieving dog would have been a very useful hunting companion. The St. John's area of Newfoundland was settled predominantly by Englishmen who brought these working dogs to England through Poole Harbor, Dorset, the hub of the Newfoundland fishing trade. These St. John's dogs became the most prized sporting dogs for the gentry who could afford to maintain kennels for controlled breeding.

Without written records from the earliest days to detail which dogs came from where and to whom they were bred, we can only speculate about the ancestors of these St. John's dogs. The black St. Hubert's hound from France, working water dogs from Portugal, old European pointer breeds and dogs belonging to the native Indians have all been suggested as possible predecessors. Certainly some mixture of these or others is logical since tradesmen from around the world frequented Newfoundland for several centuries, plenty of time to develop breeds with the desired working traits. Two distinctly different breeds resulted, the larger longer haired dog used for hauling that became the Newfoundland we know today and the smaller shorter coated retriever that led to our present day labs. See the breed "standards" which detail form and function specifications for Labradors. AKC Breed Standard, FCI Standard

Some of the "Who, What, When and Where"
in Labrador Retriever History

Early 1800's - First St. John's dogs arrived in England, some imported by the 2nd Earl of Malmesbury to Heron (Hurn) Court, near Poole

1814 - First written reference to the Labrador in "Instructions to Young Sportsmen…" by Colonel Peter Hawker who observed them on Newfoundland

1823 - Sporting artist Edward Landseer painted a black dog with white markings-entitled "Cora. A Labrador Bitch."

1835 - 5th Duke of Buccleuch started kennel of St. John's dogs in Scotland

1839 - 5th Duke of Buccleuch wrote a letter referring to his "Labrador" Moss as well as the "Labrador" Drake belonging to the 10th Lord Home

1870 - the name Labrador Retriever becomes common in England

1882 - 3rd Earl of Malmesbury gave 6 of his Labs to the 6th Duke of Buccleuch and the 12th Earl of Home so that the closely held breeding stock would be preserved

1885 - Inauguration of the Newfoundland Sheep Protection Act, which imposed a duty on all dogs, along with the Quarantine Act in England and the decreasing fishing trade led to the dwindling supply of imported dogs from Newfoundland to England

1887 - Letter from the 3rd Earl of Malmesbury to 6th Duke of Buccleuch refers to the breed… "We always call mine Labrador dogs and I have kept the breed as pure as I could from the first I had from Poole….known by their having a close coat which turns the water off like oil and, above all, a tail like an otter."

1892 - Two "liver" colored Labrador pups born at Buccleuch's kennel

1899 - First yellow Lab on record, Ben of Hyde born at kennel of Major C.J. Radclyffe

1903 - Labradors recognized by the kennel club in England

Early 20th Century - Scottish style shooting and the prestige of bringing over a Scottish gamekeeper led to the importing of Labs to America

1916 - Labrador Club formed in England; instrumental in this were Lord Knutsford (Munden Kennel line) and Lady Lorna, Countess Howe (Banchory Labradors)

1917 - First Labs registered in the American Kennel Club

1931 - The Labrador Retriever Club incorporated in the U.S. and the first American field trial for Labs held at the Glenmere Court Estate in Chester, NY

1930's - Field trial clubs spread throughout the U.S.

1933 - First American specialty for Labs; held in NYC and judged by Mrs. Marshall Field

Late 1930's - Chocolates became known in 2 British kennels, Tibshelfs and Cookridge

1938 - First dog to appear on the cover of Life Magazine-"Blind of Arden", a black Lab belonging to W. Averell Harriman. At 4 years of age he won the top US Retriever stake that year.

1941 - National Retriever Club established in the U.S.

Late 1940's and 1950's - Social and economic changes that developed after World War II led to the growing popularity of the Lab with Americans from all walks of life

1959 - First dog ever to appear on a U.S. stamp, the famous black Lab, "King Buck"

1991 - Labradors leap into first place in AKC registrations

A Lab by any other name would be as sweet…

Some of the many names used over the centuries to refer to the lab and its ancestors:

St. John's Dog
Lesser St. John's Dog
Newfoundland Dog
Lesser Newfoundland Dog
Little Newfoundlanders
Newfoundland Water Dog
Labrador Dogs
St. John's Labrador Dogs
Black Water Dog
Lesser Labrador
Smaller Labrador
English Retriever
English Labrador