The ubiquitous Labrador Retriever is such a fixture as a great all American pet that those of us who don’t hunt sometimes forget that this a serious hunting breed that loves water, and his double-layered coat that practically wicks away wetness serves him well. Back in the day when the breed was known as the St. John’s Dog (after the capital of Newfoundland) or the Lesser Newfoundland, it retrieved nets filled with fish for Canadian fishermen, as well bring in nets, pull ropes between boats, and recover escaped fish.

Between a quarantine of animals imported into England and new taxes on dogs in Canada, the sale of St. John’s water dogs come to an abrupt stop. Eventually, it’s said, original Labs went extinct in Canada, but the breed survived in Great Britain thanks to kennels in Scotland. Labs were finally recognized by the English Kennel Club in 1903, as and they say, the rest is history. Labs eventually became so popular all over the world that when asked why he owned a Labrador Retriever, one French politician replied, “If you wish to get on in politics, you simply must have one.” It worked. He later became president of France.

Image: In 2012, Garden and Gun magazine ran its favorite “Good Dogs” in a Photo Contest, and ”Tre Caillouet,” a Labrador Retriever from Thibodaux, Louisiana, was among the winners.