The American Kennel Club recognizes six retriever breeds within the Sporting Group category, all defined by their relationship with hunters, and their innate ability to locate, down and/or retrieve quarry.
Like other sporting breeds, Retrievers possess superior abilities in water, woods, and rugged terrain, as well as insulated water repellant coats, high trainability, and an eagerness to please. What defines them as Retrievers, however, is their instinct to retriever quarry and a “soft” mouth, capable of carrying prey without damaging it.
Chesapeake Bay Retriever
The Chesapeake Bay Retriever is descended from two St. John’s Newfoundland puppies saved from an English brig that wrecked off the coast of Maryland in 1807. The dogs (a red male named Sailor, and a black female named Canton) went on to live in the local community, and turned out to be excellent natural retrievers.
The two were not bred to each other, but interbred with other dogs in the area, like the Otterhound, Flat-Coat Retriever, and Curly-Coated Retriever. Eventually, these intelligent, powerfully built gundogs were developed into a distinct breed, with a characteristic wavy, straw- to brown-colored coat.
Curly-Coated Retriever
Considered to be one of the oldest of all the retriever breeds, the Curly-Coated Retriever is thought to be descended from the 16th-century English Water Spaniel, the St. John’s Newfoundland, the retrieving setter, and the Poodle.
Distinguished by its coat of small, water-resistant curls, this multipurpose hunting retriever is reliable, robust, and highly intelligent. One of the more independent retriever breeds, the Curly may appear somewhat aloof, but is always willing to please and a great family dog.
Flat-Coated Retriever
Closely related to the Labrador Retriever, the Flat-Coated Retriever is descendent of the Newfoundland, setters, sheepdogs, and spaniel-like water dogs. Leaner and more elegant than other Retrievers, the Flat-Coated Retriever flaunts a lustrous, flat-lying coat that comes in solid black or liver, with feathering at the legs and tail.
Though beautiful, the distinctive coat actually protects these superb retrievers from harsh weather, icy water, and rugged ground cover. Another breed hallmark is the long head that projects a smart and kindly expression, and is unique among Retrievers.
Golden Retriever
Developed in the 17th century Scottish Highlands, the Golden Retriever breed originated with a lone yellow puppy obtained from a litter of black Wavy-Coated Retrievers. This dog was eventually bred with a female Tweed Water Spaniel (now extinct) creating the Golden Retriever that is so popular today. Since then the breed’s beauty, high intelligence, physical abilities, and loving personality have earned the Golden millions of devotees.
Labrador Retriever
The Labrador Retriever most likely originated not in the area of Labrador, in northeastern Canada, but on the adjacent island of Newfoundland, where fishermen worked with sturdy, eager-to-please, water-loving dogs trained to haul in lines, and retrieve fish that fell back into the water.
As more people settled in the St. John’s area of Newfoundland, the Labrador Retriever’s excellent retrieving abilities made them very useful and popular hunting companions. Their intelligence, solid build, versatility, gentle and pleasant nature, and desire to please enable them to excel at many roles beyond hunting, including a guide dog, search-and-rescue work, therapy work, narcotics detection, and, of course, top-notch all-around family companion.
Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever
Developed in the Little River Harbour area of Nova Scotia, the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever is a compact, agile, alert, and intelligent breed, developed for an unusual method of hunting waterfowl, known as “tolling.”
Tolling relies on the dog’s playful action of retrieving a stick or ball to lure curious waterfowl onto the shoreline, where they are more easy to down, or catch with nets. The smallest of the Retrievers, the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever is intelligent, affectionate, eager to please, and, due to its history - will play fetch until your arms fall off.