The 3 Most Popular Canadian Dog Breeds

Canada is famous for many things. Of course, everyone knows about this massive country's obsession with hockey, its love of maple syrup, the free healthcare, the arctic temperatures, and sometimes having to live in the shadow of the USA. But Canada is also the home to 3 immensely popular dog breeds, including the number 1 ranking breed by popularity in the entire world! Can you guess which breed that may be? 

3. Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever

This energy-packed dog is the smallest of all the retriever breeds. However, despite their size, the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever is exceptionally athletic and an outstanding swimmer. As the name suggests, this breed originates in Nova Scotia and was bred intentionally to have red coats in order to resemble foxes. Hunters would send these retrievers to play in the water, and ducks, the curious creatures that they are, would investigate this "foxes" strange behaviour. As the ducks got within closer range, hunters would have an easy target, and the retriever would then bring the kill back to their owner (with a tasty reward, I'm sure, for all their help!). Today, the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever makes an excellent family pet as long as it has daily exercise to burn some of its energy. Unsurprisingly, some of its favourite games include "fetch" and chasing small animals!

2. Newfoundland

The Newfoundland is one of the strongest and biggest dogs in the world. These 100-150 pound dogs are extremely sweet, gentle, friendly, and loveable, making them very deserving of the "Gentle Giant" title. As the name suggests, this dog was first bred in Newfoundland for hauling firewood from the forest and pulling in nets for fishermen, two Newfoundland classics. Although they mean no harm, the "Newfie" will leave trails of dirt around the house due to their long and heavy fur. The Newfoundland also makes a great family pet. It is highly protective of its family members, and children will love using your Newfie as a pillow, but don't worry, your dog will love it just as much!  

1. Labrador Retriever

The world's number one most popular dog and a source of Canadian pride! The Labrador Retriever, despite its name, is another Canadian dog originating from Newfoundland. The Lab has a short coat making them the ideal retriever for fishermen who would send these fearless dogs into the frigid Northern Canadian waters to retrieve fishing nets. In addition, Labs have one of the best senses of smell of any dog breed in the world. This makes these intelligent dogs very useful for military operations such as bomb detection and search-and-rescue operations. Even further impressive, Labrador Retrievers make incredible assistance and guide dogs and are frequently a popular breed for the blind or for people with other disabilities. Labrador Retrievers also make excellent family pets, and their calm, nonaggressive nature makes them perfect for families with young children as well. It's no surprise that this high-achieving dog has become the most popular in the world!