Greyador

The Greyhound parent is an ancient breed that appeared in Egyptian art, the Bible and in Roman poetry. During the Dark Ages, the Greyhound came to Europe and has always been extremely fast as well as an amazing hunter. Coursing, a sport that involves running after prey, and racing led to the Greyhound growing in popularity in England. The breed eventually made its way to the Americas when it was brought by both British colonists and Spanish explorers. In 1885 the dogs were recognized by the American Kennel Club. The Labrador was known as the St. John’s Water Dog after the capital of Newfoundland.  In the 1700’s this athletic breed was helpful to fishermen, assisting them to man their nets and collecting any fish that fell out of them. The breed’s name was later changed to the Labrador after the Labrador Sea, which was where it was developed, swimming the cold waters. Records indicate that the Labrador was brought to England in the 1820’s, where the second Earl of Malmesbury was an early owner of the breed. The dogs became popular as a result of their skill at retrieving waterfowl during hunting. While the breed almost became extinct in the 1880’s, the Malmesbury family and other English breeders worked to save it. Unfortunately, the breed disappeared in Newfoundland as a result of strict government restrictions and tax laws. In the 1920’s the Labradors were brought to the United States where the breed established a presence.