Dog breeds
Labrador Retriever

Many would argue that this is the best gundog to have out on the marsh and
indeed the Labrador Retriever has been 'bred' for this type of work.
With a thick double coat to keep out the cold, even when wet, a built in
desire to retrieve along with an 'easy to train' nature, this is the dog
that you will meet the most on the KWCA shooting grounds and the
recommended dog for a novice wildfowler.

The ancestor of the Labrador Retriever was the St. John's Retriever, a
smaller version of the Newfoundland. These dogs were brought to England,
probably on fishing boats. Gamekeepers crossed these Canadian imports with
various breeds of gun dogs, always striving to improve the breed's hunting
and retrieving instincts.

By the middle of the 19th century, the Labrador's characteristic
water-resistant coat and otter tail were already apparent. By the late
1880s, the breed was sufficiently distinctive that "Labrador Retriever"
became the generally accepted name of the breed. Originally black in
colour, the first recorded yellow Labrador appeared in a litter born in
1899. Chocolates were also recorded at about the same time, but never
achieved the same level of popularity in shooting circles as the blacks and
yellows. Originally bred to retrieve from water, the modern Labrador
Retriever has proven to be one of the most versatile breeds, excelling in
hunt tests and field trials, in obedience and agility events, and as
service dogs.

Colour may be solid black, any solid shade of yellow from red to pale
cream, or any solid shade of chocolate. Yellow dogs may have variations in
shading on the ears, back and underside of the dog. A small white spot on
the chest is permissible but not preferred. White hairs from ageing or
scarring are permissible.

A 'silver' Labrador colour can be found - but this is really just a
variation of the chocolate colour, is not officially recognised in all
clubs and as with the chocolates has usually been bred for the colour - at
the expense of natural hunting instincts.

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