As the name suggests, Labrador Retrievers originated in Newfoundland.
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 Exploring this corner of the globe in 1497, Cabot observed that it was totally uninhabited by man or dog. English fishermen from Bristol who put in here probably brought dogs with them, and they subsequently settled in the region. In 1662, W. Cormack, a native of St John, journeyed across Newfoundland on foot and returned with stories of small black water dogs, "admirably trained in retrieval". Their short hair was an advantage for these Newfoundland type dogs, as they didn't turn into a block of ice when they got out of the water. They were also excellent, powerful swimmers, and their size allowed them to accompany sailors in their dories, the small boats that where used to ferry them between the shore and the ships anchored out at sea. These dogs would also catch fish brought up from great depths and that slipped through the nets.
St. John's Dog
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The dog, which is a little larger than a Pointer, with a broad chest and fine limbs, was dubbed the St. John's Dog. The hunting and swimming skills of this almost always black animal were complemented by its good temperament, which soon became apparent. The dog's arrival in England around 1830 is attributed to Lord Malesbury and Colonel Hawker. In a letter to a friend, Lord Malesbury's son explains that he calls them Labrador Dogs. He asserts that he keeps the breed as pure as possible, not wanting to lose a dog whose "hair shakes off the water as if it were oil" and that has the "tail of an otter".
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It was introduced in France in 1896. The Retriever Club de France was etablished in 1911.
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