Spantriever

The Spantriever is a hybrid dog; as such, there is little regarding his history. Therefore, we must study the origins of his parent breeds in order to understand the history of the Spantriever. The modern Cocker Spaniel is a descendant of the ancient Spaniel family. It is believed that the dog originated in Spain, which would be why the dog is referred to as a "spaniel." The Cocker Spaniel and the Springer Spaniel were closely related, and the smaller Spaniel was deemed the "cocker" due to his excellence at hunting woodcock. In the late 1870s, Americans began bringing the Cocker Spaniel to the United States. Eventually, this dog was bred to be smaller in size, with certain restrictions in breeding guidelines. The Cocker Spaniel is popular throughout the United States. The Labrador Retriever is native of Newfoundland, Canada. The Lab was originally called the "St. John’s dog" in tribute to the capital city of Newfoundland. In the 1700s, the Labrador Retriever was a fisherman’s helper, retrieving fish that escaped from hooks and tow lines. Experts believe that the St. John’s dog was a mixture of the Newfoundland dog and local water dogs.  Around 1830, the third Earl of Malmesbury imported several St. John’s dogs to England. The Earl would eventually coin the term “Labrador Retrievers,” and the name stuck.  In the 1880s, the breed almost became extinct. The Malmesbury family dedicated themselves to keeping the breed from dying out. The breed thrived in England. The American Kennel Club recognized the breed in 1917. Labs today work in search and rescue, as therapy dogs, and on drug detection missions. Hunters also continue to utilize the hunting prowess of the Lab. It is currently one of America's most popular dog breeds.