Long before the retrievers, pointers, and other gun dogs of today came the first sporting dogs. The earliest descendants of modern hunting dogs can be traced to Europe in the 14th and 15th centuries. These first hunting dogs, though not yet official breeds, resembled spaniels and were used to flush birds from cover for hunters using falcons or nets to harvest them. Over time, dogs with similar traits were bred until the first true gun dog breeds were created. Early flushing dogs were followed by setters, then, in the 17th century, pointers.
For waterfowl hunters, however, one breed comes to mind: the Labrador Retriever. But these beloved hunting dogs didn’t come from the first hunting breeds at all. In fact, they share an entirely different lineage, stemming from the working water dogs of generations past.
Water Dogs
Early water dogs were bred for utility. Rather than focusing on a single task, like retrieving birds, the first water dogs were seen as utility animals. In some instances, they helped fishermen pull nets and retrieve fish. In others, they helped retrieve gear that fell off boats and served as companions on the high seas. Life around cold-water fishing grounds shaped several notable characteristics retrievers are known for today, such as their coat, size, and swimming ability. Selecting for these favorable traits eventually led to many of the earliest water dog breeds.
Along the Iberian Peninsula, the Spanish developed the Spanish Water Dog to aid fishermen and even assist in herding. Meanwhile, the French developed the Barbet—a pivotal water dog that would eventually become an ancestor to the poodle. But the most pivotal water dog, and modern ancestor of beloved breeds like the Labrador Retriever, stems from a different part of the world.
In Newfoundland, part of Northeast Canada, fishermen bred the St. John’s Water Dog. This hardy breed could withstand the frigid waters of the North Atlantic while helping fishermen retrieve nets and fish. Though isolated to this specific region, chance encounters between English sailors and Canadian fishermen would solidify Labrador Retrievers in waterfowling history.
Through trading between the two nations, the first St. John’s Water Dogs made it to the UK. While this breed had many desirable traits for retrieving—strong swimmers and good coats—they weren’t true hunting dogs. Breeding programs quickly began, crossing the St. John’s Water Dog with other British hunting dogs, seeking to achieve a medium-sized breed with an affinity for water, excellent drive, and the ability to retrieve birds without damaging them.
The First Labrador Retrievers
The beloved Labrador Retriever is a descendant of the St. John’s Water Dogs imported to Europe thanks to two pivotal breeders. In the 1800s, the Earl of Malmesbury began his breeding program. These early dogs had features like an oily coat and a thick tail that modern Labs still have today. Meanwhile, the Duke of Buccleuch in Scotland began his breeding program in the 1830s, also selecting for similar traits. A third breeder in Scotland, the Earl of Home, was also working on a program of his own.
These kennels sought to keep their bloodlines pure, though they struggled with a lack of outside genetics. However, a chance encounter in the 1880s would secure the Labrador Retriever’s status as America’s favorite duck dog. The three attended a waterfowl shoot in England, noting the similarities between the bloodlines of their dogs. Following the event, the third Earl of Malmesbury gave two of his dogs to the Duke of Buccleuch. Crossing these bloodlines proved to be just what the Labrador Retriever needed, resulting in a well-established and genetically diverse breed. By 1903, the Kennel Club in England recognized the Labrador Retriever as a breed. Shortly after, in 1917, the American Kennel Club followed suit, officially solidifying the Lab as one of the most popular breeds in history.