Labrador: The Story of the World’s Favourite Dog

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The brutal, heartbreaking reality of having a dog of course is that we will inevitably outlive our beloved hound.

On the other hand the history of the Labrador delves incredibly deeply that I do not think the average dog lover would be able to focus on the extensive founding of this breed of dog. This could well have signalled the end of the Scottish lineage of the labrador retriever were it not for the sixth Earl of Malmesbury who “gave them a pair, descended from our own imported dogs”. They hold on with great gentleness, and for that reason they have become coveted hunting and shooting companions, as they don’t damage the prey: a Labrador can carry an egg in its mouth without breaking it. Pure breeds taken on ships from the early 16th century onwards included mastiffs, bloodhounds, spaniels and terriers. Labradors are the most popular breed of dog in the UK and for Ben Fogle it's not very hard to see why.Marina and the children chose a little black girl we named Storm and she blew into our lives like a tornado.

Without cookies this site can not work properly, preventing you from logging in or storing your preferences. As gundogs to the gentry, Labradors acquired a fashionable status attractive to the aspirational classes.

It projects happiness – the tail-wagging and the overall body language project a euphoria that I find contagious. When we got married, the dogs took pride of place on top of the wedding cake (marzipan versions, not the ACTUAL dogs, that would have been interesting). Of course, this isn’t unique to the breed, but unlike bloodhounds, say, the Labrador has the distinction of following a scent for its own benefit. If you do not allow these cookies we will not know when you have visited our site, and will not be able to monitor its performance. Meghan Markle forced to miss glitzy Beverly Hills ceremony where Prince Harry received a 'Living Legend'.