Where do our dogs come from?

Most of us have a favourite dog breed that we either own or hope to own one day, but do we always know where these breeds have come from - and why they’ve become some of the most loved breeds in the UK? We decided to take a look into the origins of some of Britain’s favourite dog breeds – the Labrador, golden retriever, miniature Schnauzer, springer spaniel, and whippet.

Read on to find out more about these breeds and their history, to uncover how they came to the UK and won our affection! We focused on five key areas: origin country, ancestors, original use, when they came to Britain or when they were first exhibited, and their current usage (e.g., companion dog).

Where do Labradors come from?

Starting off with a classic pooch, we’ve got the Labrador. Friendly, intelligent, great with kids, and a constant companion, there are nearly 40,000 Labradors in the UK – but where did these playful dogs originally come from?

Labradors originally came from a province of Canada known as Newfoundland and Labrador. Their ancestors were the St. John’s water dog, a now-extinct breed of large hunting dog that had a thick black coat and tuxedo markings on its face and chest. This dog was very popular among fishermen for its great retrieving skills and water-repellent coat. They were so loved, in fact, that they were brought over with emigrating fishermen in the 1800s and continued to be used to hunt birds.

The first yellow Labrador was born in 1899, and in the last century, these dogs have gone from hunting dogs to excellent service dogs, helping those with visual and audio impairments, as well as those in need of a companion. We’ve even seen a rise in the number of silver Labradors, which people began breeding as recently as the 1950s.

If you’re thinking of getting yourself one of these friendly fluffballs, here’s some insider knowledge on what you should be prepared for:

Where do golden retrievers come from?

Golden retrievers, while similar in look to Labradors, are actually from a completely different dog breed and origin country! Originating from Scotland in the late 19^th century, these fluffy pups came from the wavy-coated retriever, mixed with tweed water spaniels, setters and bloodhounds. The genes combined to make a strong hunting dog, favoured for its swimming abilities through the Scottish Highlands’ rivers and boglands.

Marjoribanks’ famous 1868 litter contained the puppies who are considered the world’s first ‘golden’ retrievers – Cowslip, Crocus and Primrose. The golden retriever was first exhibited in 1908 in the UK. Since then, golden retrievers have shed their hunting dog origins, and are instead used for their great intelligence as service and guide dogs. They also make for great family dogs thanks to their patience and good temperament. As with the Labrador, we’re also seeing a rise in new colours of golden retrievers, with the red retriever gaining in popularity.

Golden retrievers are a delight to live with, and if you’re thinking of owning one, check out these quick facts to see if they suit your lifestyle:

Where do miniature Schnauzers come from?

Miniature Schnauzers, while small in stature, have a long history amongst dog breeders. They were originally found in Germany in the 19^th century, but their ancestor, the standard Schnauzer, can be found as early as the 15^th century; the result of blending German poodle "wolfspitz" (now keeshond) and wirehaired pinscher stock. Standard Schnauzers were originally bred to be guard dogs, while the miniature Schnauzer was brought to the UK in 1928 and quickly became a companion dog for the wealthy. 

It might surprise you to know that miniature Schnauzers didn’t always have the same name - they actually used to be called wirehaired pinschers and looked a little scrappier than they do now with their groomed moustaches. At this time, they used to chase vermin on working farms. They are still very much loved in the UK, with over 4,700 miniature Schnauzers living in loving homes. 

If you’re thinking of acquiring a miniature Schnauzer, check out the facts below to see if they’ll be the perfect companions you’re looking for:

Where do springer Spaniels come from?

The springer spaniel is another dog that hails from the British Isles, having most likely originated from spaniels that were popular in the 1500s – and they continue to be popular, with over 25,000 spaniels living in the UK today! Spaniels were thought to have come from Spain originally, brought to the UK by the Roman legions during pre-Christian times in Britain – they are mentioned by name in an ancient Welsh law dating from as early as 300AD.

The Norfolk spaniel is the original ancestor of the modern springer spaniel that we know and love, which was first identified in the UK in 1902 and used to flush out game from underground burrows and warrens.

Springer spaniels and cocker spaniels actually used to be the same breed. A litter of puppies would be separated by size at birth, and the smaller dogs were designated as cockers, which hunted a bird called the woodcock, and the larger dogs were designated as springers. It wasn’t until the turn of the 20th century that springer and cocker spaniels were designated as separate breeds. 

Check out these facts if you’re a first-time owner of a springer spaniel:

Where do whippets come from?

There are over 4,000 whippets living with British families today, and this is little surprise considering they are one of the oldest dogs to have been introduced to the UK in our list. Originally hailing from the large greyhound in 1859, the whippet also has an early dash of ratting terrier (for quickness) and a later cross with Italian greyhounds (for elegance and refinement). 

They used to be called the ‘poor man’s greyhound’, as greyhounds were used by rich landowners and heirs to go hunting. It was discovered that whippets were also good for hunting smaller prey like rabbits and foxes, and working-class men soon found that whippets would chase waving rags, leading to the creation of whippet racing.

Nowadays, whippets are great all-around pets, with little cause to bark. However, make sure not to let them off the leash as they still have that hunting gene that makes them want to chase down prey!

For first-time owners of whippets, it’s worth knowing these facts:

Dog-friendly holidays in the UK

If you have one of the lovely breeds we’ve mentioned, why not take them on a holiday that they’ll love at one of our dog-friendly holiday cottages? From the seaside to the city, we’ve got a holiday home for every dog breed!