English Labradors were originally bred to be retrievers on fishing boats. They were bred to have a stunted predatory sequence. The standard predatory sequence is: orient, eye, stalk, chase, grab-bite, kill-bite, dissect, consume. In the English Labrador, kill-bite, dissect, and consume were selected against, producing dogs that would carry a net without consuming its contents.

They retrieved fishing nets, waterfowl, fallen tools, and even overboard fishermen from the water, and therefore were needed to be explosively athletic in short bursts. They initially lived in the fishing colonies of Newfoundland with a changing cast of workers from season to season, so they learned to trust humans easily and work flexibly with whoever was around. In the winters, their role was therapeutic in addition to their manual labor; they provided much-needed companionship to workers through the frigid, dark winters.

These breed qualities fit nicely into the modern American home. The typical English Labrador is generally easy to train and is interested in working closely with her humans. She understands the relationship between pleasing people and having her needs met, so she is interested in being around people and she tolerates their quirks charitably. She flexibly accepts the instructions of many people, making her a wonderful dog for families and in workplaces. She does not guard her toys or food; on the contrary, her working history as a retriever teaches her to release objects easily.

She can show beautiful athletic talent in short bursts but she is not tireless. She plays traditional dog games like “fetch” and she enjoys the water. However, she never strays too far from her trusted humans. Between exercise sessions, she rests quietly and waits for the next adventure. She fits nicely into the role of “companion animal” that we prize today.