| The Labrador Retriever originated on the island of Newfoundland, now part of the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. It is believed to have descended from the St. John's Water Dog, a crossbreed of native water dogs and Newfoundlands. The name Labrador was given to this dog by the Earl of Malmesbury and other breeders in England in order to differentiate them from the Newfoundland dog. The Labrador Retriever was originally called the lesser Newfoundland or the St. John's dog. |
