Labrador Retriever puppies for sale across Canada

Breed history

The Labrador Retriever originated in the early 1800s from the island of Newfoundland (not Labrador), where small water dogs known as St. John’s Water Dogs worked alongside fishermen. These dogs were prized for their ability to retrieve fishing nets, haul lines, and fetch fish from icy waters — thanks to their water-resistant coat, strong tail (often called an “otter tail”), and natural retrieving instinct. British sportsmen imported the dogs to England in the 19th century, where they were refined into the modern Labrador Retriever as a gundog used to retrieve game for hunters. Over time, their intelligence, trainability, and gentle temperament made them one of the most popular family dogs worldwide — and consistently one of the top breeds in Canada, the U.S., and the U.K.