Where Did Labradors Get Their Name?
They were originally referred to as Newfoundlands (since that is where they were originally spotted). They didn’t receive their name as Labradors until 1887 a letter written in England by an Earl of Malmesbury described the dogs that he bred and imported from Newfoundland as Labradors “known by its close coat which turns the water off like oil and, above all, a tail like an otter.” When a heavy dog tax was imposed on Newfoundland, their numbers grew low. Also quarantine regulations made importing impossible. To continue the breed, the dogs remaining in England were interbred with other Retrievers. Luckily, the predominant features of the Labrador remained and the dog was known as the Labrador Retriever. The Labrador Retriever was recognized as a separate breed in 1903 by the English Kennel Cub. The American Kennel Club didn’t recognize it until 1917 with the first registered Lab, “Brocklehirst Nell,” a Scottish import. Back to Top What to Look for in a Labrador Puppy: Regardless of wha
