The Labrador Retriever is one of the most popular breeds of dog in the world. They are considered as being in the class of sporting dogs, one that is generally used to hunt upland game birds and waterfowl. Labrador Retrievers were actually first recognized in England as far back as the year 1903, and first registered by the American Kennel Club in the United States in 1917.

The Labrador Retriever has always had a reputation for being devoted, loving, affectionate and for its excellent hunting and retrieving abilities. There was a Labrador Retriever Club that was established in the mid-1900s and which has recognized the importance of keeping the Lab true to its original purpose and the AKC does not put any restrictions and so the dual champions of the past have as a result been greatly reduced. The general appearance of the Labrador Retriever has basically always been the same, although the dogs seem to have slenderized somewhat in terms of their stature.

One of the most important moments in the history of the Labrador Retriever took place during World War I, when they were first imported to the United States. At this point they were appearing in the British Kennel Club's events and were very popular dogs around the world. They were being mainly used as gun dogs in the war. Gun dogs are a category of dog breeds that are used to assist hunters to find and retrieve game, and the Labrador Retrievers were especially useful for this because they are born with a natural knack for retrieving.

The breed actually eventually died out in Newfoundland, but since the breed had already been brought to England it therefore continued to thrive and gain intensely in terms of popularity. Today the breed continues to stand out just as it did in the past, namely for its ubiquitous practical uses. They are used for tracking, retrieving, hunting and as guide dogs for the blind and service dogs for the disabled.

It is easy to see that the history of the Labrador Retriever is very long and significant. It is important for any potential Labrador Retriever owner to be educated not only on the history of these dogs but also on what your reasons are for choosing this breed. One of the nicest things is that Labrador Retrievers are great indoor and outdoor dogs and so whether you want to have the dog indoors as a family pet or you are the outdoor type and like to hunt they are the ideal dog for you.

There are really too many benefits to the Labrador Retriever to be able to list them all in detail, and as long as you are aware of the different benefits and have a good reason for getting one of these dogs for yourself, then you should not have any problems. By being aware of the breed's history and temperament you will really be better off. Getting a dog is a long-term commitment, one that you should take incredibly seriously and ensure that you are choosing the right breed for you and your lifestyle.