While there are only four of them, you won’t find a hardier bunch than the Canadian dog breeds. Whether it was for work in the frigid rivers, icy coastal waters, or deep snow, each of these canines was created to perform vital tasks for their Canadian masters. So here are the dog breeds from Canada and what you’ll want to know about each of them.
Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever
Originally known as the Little River Duck Dog, the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever hails from the southern tip of Nova Scotia. This medium size retriever was created in the 1800s.
This was accomplished by crossing the St. John’s Water dog (a now-extinct Canadian dog breed that was also used in the creation of the Labrador Retriever, Newfoundland, along with most other modern-day retriever breeds as well) in addition to several other breeds that included spaniels, collies, and setters.
In the past the Toller had a very unique function, it actually would attract curious waterfowl into the shooting range of awaiting hunters by acting like a fox. The breed’s fox-like movements and color on the shoreline would attract the curious birds and when they flew by to investigate they would then be shot.
Today the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever functions as a top-notch traditional waterfowl retriever and family companion that is best suited for those that have an active lifestyle.
Newfoundland
This extra-large Canadian dog breed is so massive that it’s often compared to a bear. However, unlike an actual bear, the Newfoundland is known for being incredibly gentle, especially with young children. In fact, its placid nature is a hallmark of the breed. While today these sweet-tempered and patient giants typically function as family pets, they are also used as water rescue dogs.
In fact, they are considered to be the top breed in the world for this job and naturally have the instinct to save drowning people. Their immense strength and webbed feet make these dogs powerful swimmers and in the past, they were used to help fishermen pull their nets and even sometimes their boats ashore in the icy Atlantic ocean.
The breed is named for the Canadian island of Newfoundland where English Settlers first encountered these native black dogs with phenomenal swimming abilities. While their exact origins are a mystery, (some say their ancestors arrived with the Vikings) the breed was later improved upon in England with Newfoundlands that were brought back by traders.
Labrador Retriever
The Labrador Retriever is easily one of the most popular dogs on the planet. And luckily for its fans, this Canadian retriever breed comes in three gorgeous colors: black, yellow, and chocolate. This is a canine that is versatile, energetic, and eager to please.
The breed was created in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador where it was used by fishermen to jump into the water and grab any fish that fell from the trawl. It also functioned as a retriever of fallen ducks for hunters. It’s no wonder that today the breed naturally loves both the water and retrieving anything and everything.
While it most often serves the function of a family pet because of its versatility, intelligence, excellent sense of smell, and friendliness it is commonly employed as a detection dog, guide dog for the blind, and search and rescue dog.
The Labrador Retriever is also considered to be one of the best hunting dog breeds in the world and is widely used for retrieving waterfowl and also on land for hunting upland game as well.
Canadian Eskimo Dog
Originating in the harsh extremes of the Canadian Arctic, the Canadian Eskimo Dog breed is thousands of years old. It is the only surviving native Canadian dog breed and is also believed to be the oldest living native breed in all of North America. The breed is also known as the Canadian Inuit Dog and as the Qimmiq by the Inuits.
It was used by the Inuits for both transportation and for providing food for their families as the breed was a sled and hunting dog. Unlike other types of sled dogs which are built for speed, in contrast, the Canadian Eskimo Dog is known for its strength and endurance. With the invention of the snowmobile, however, the numbers of this rare Canadian dog breed plummeted and it almost went totally extinct.
Luckily in the 1970s, there was a successful effort to save the breed from its certain fate. And while it survived today it is one of the rarest breeds in the world. The Canadian Eskimo Dog is still used as a sled dog and also a family pet however because of its origins it does best in cold climates and when given lots of daily exercise.
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