History of the Breed

The ancestors of the modern-day Labrador Retrievers were originally found not in Labrador, but in Newfoundland, where they were used in many capacities by cod fisherman. With their short but exceptionally dense coat, they were well suited to the cope with the freezing salt spray, snowy and icy near-arctic winds. Their even temperament and strong willingness to please were greatly prized.

They were expected to retrieve the fish that slipped out of the net and flapped on the icy surface of the sea. They had to carry the rope end from the boat to the shore in the strongest of tides and stormiest weather. They were strongly built so that they could pull a heavy sled carrying firewood, barrels of fish, and other necessities of life in a place where horses would be useless.
They had to survive and indeed thrive and breed, on the scantiest of food, probably half-frozen fish guts, a piece of dried meat, and a surreptitious chew at their leather harness.

All these activities took place in terrible weather conditions, and having dense waterproof coats enabled these dogs to work effectively. As the work was done in water, on land, in forests, snow drifts and over slippery rocks, an extremely active, well-made and balanced dog was required; any structural weakness in its frame and exaggeration could affect their  working ability.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    In the early 1880's, somewhere in the north of England, a few                                                                                                                    landowners bred together a handful of these dogs that had                                                                                                                      survived from an earlier importation. These land owners were                                                                                                                  quick to realise the value of the dogs as a sporting and working                                                                                                              dog, and a breeding strain was soon established.

                                                                                                        In 1916, the Labrador Club (England) was formed, and it was they                                                                                                            who drew up the breed standard and recognised the Labrador                                                                                                                Retriever as what it is known today.                                                                                                                                                              (Source: Labrador Retriever Club of Victoria)