Brief history of the Labrador Retriever The origins of the strain are unclear. However, it seem that the most credible theory is the one which traces the origins of the Labrador back to the late 1700's to the Island of Newfoundland, near the Labrador Coast. At the time, there were two different black breede, the Greater Newfoundland and the Lesser Newfoudland. "St. John's dog", regarded ad the strain's ancestor, was used both for hunting and draft work in the sea for its exceptional swimming skills. In the mid 1800's, the first examples of the Labrador were imported to England as a result of trading on the Labradors Coast. Thanks to the passion and ability of English breeders, the morphology and the character of the Labrador was graded. These dogs were originally used to strengthen the blood lines of English retrievers and some Setter species. By 1903, the Labrador Retriever was established as a pure breeding strain and it was granted a registration status by English Kennel Club. Finally, in 1916 the Labrador Retriever Club was founded by Lady Howe, one of the first Labrador breeders. The Labrador's general appearences has changed from its origins; however, thanks to the passion of serious breeders, very good results have been attained. Futhemore, while English Labradors have always been regarded as the best variety, nowadays, according to English Breeders and judges, who have had the opportunity to observe them during dog shows, we have reached very good standard in Italy too.