About our Bloodlines

 At Red Diamond Labradors most of Labs carry the strongest bloodlines of pointing Labradors.When you review our labs pedigrees you will find they all have Kelloggs & Helms bloodlines with the exception of our Red Fox English Labrador Keepsakes IssaBella Rose who has her own Lengendary English line. Here is a little history of the Kellogg Line.Kellogg Kennels have been breeding top notch Labs since 1922 and full Pointing Lines since 1981. Founded in 1899 by L.E. Kellogg and Harold E. Kellogg they are recognized for bringing the first Labrador Retrievers west of the Mississippi River. Mayo Kellogg, the founding father, of the American pointing lab noticed pointing in his South Dakota line as early as 1946 and set out, over the next 40 years, to show that a pointing retriever is superior to a retrieving pointer. Mayo passed away in 2003 leaving his kennel to his son Hugh who reported that 95% of his buyers ask for labs that point. Jim Helm, life long friend of Mayo Kellogg, picked up where Mayo left off by continuing to refine and improve the line of American style pointing red fox labs. He really hit the mark with his Helm’s Point Doctor (featured in Outdoor Life) and now his son Helm’s Signature Point Doctor.

These dogs are often called “versatile dogs”, as indeed they are. On the one hand, they are closer working and steady to point and on the other hand they possess a naturally good nose and excellent retrieving abilities. They tend to be more patient in the blind and certainly love the water. They love to hunt hard but keep a sweet disposition for the kids when they get home. That personable disposition lends itself in an eagerness to please that makes all training more fun and productive for the dog and owner.

HISTORY OF LABRADORS

Early 1800’s – First St. John’s dogs arrived in England, some imported by the 2nd Earl of Malmesbury to Heron (Hurn) Court, near Poole1814 – First written reference to the Labrador in “Instructions to Young Sportsmen…” by Colonel Peter Hawker who observed them on Newfoundland1823 – Sporting artist Edward Landseer painted a black dog with white markings-entitled “Cora. A Labrador Bitch.”1835 – 5th Duke of Buccleuch started kennel of St. John’s dogs in Scotland

1839 – 5th Duke of Buccleuch wrote a letter referring to his “Labrador” Moss as well as the “Labrador” Drake belonging to the 10th Lord Home1870 – the name Labrador Retriever becomes common in England1882 – 3rd Earl of Malmesbury gave 6 of his Labs to the 6th Duke of Buccleuch and the 12th Earl of Home so that the closely held breeding stock would be preserved1885 – Inauguration of the Newfoundland Sheep Protection Act, which imposed a duty on all dogs, along with the Quarantine Act in England and the decreasing fishing trade led to the dwindling supply of imported dogs from Newfoundland to England

1887 – Letter from the 3rd Earl of Malmesbury to 6th Duke of Buccleuch refers to the breed… “We always call mine Labrador dogs and I have kept the breed as pure as I could from the first I had from Poole….known by their having a close coat which turns the water off like oil and, above all, a tail like an otter.”1892 – Two “liver” colored Labrador pups born at Buccleuch’s kennel1899 – First yellow Lab on record, Ben of Hyde born at kennel of Major C.J. Radclyffe1903 – Labradors recognized by the kennel club in England

Early 20th Century – Scottish style shooting and the prestige of bringing over a Scottish gamekeeper led to the importing of Labs to America1916 – Labrador Club formed in England; instrumental in this were Lord Knutsford (Munden Kennel line) and Lady Lorna, Countess Howe (Banchory Labradors)1917 – First Labs registered in the American Kennel Club1931 – The Labrador Retriever Club incorporated in the U.S. and the first American field trial for Labs held at the Glenmere Court Estate in Chester, NY

1930’s – Field trial clubs spread throughout the U.S.1933 – First American specialty for Labs; held in NYC and judged by Mrs. Marshall FieldLate 1930’s – Chocolates became known in 2 British kennels, Tibshelfs and Cookridge1938 – First dog to appear on the cover of Life Magazine-“Blind of Arden”, a black Lab belonging to W. Averell Harriman. At 4 years of age he won the top US Retriever stake that year.

1941 – National Retriever Club established in the U.S.Late 1940’s and 1950’s – Social and economic changes that developed after World War II led to the growing popularity of the Lab with Americans from all walks of life 1959 – First dog ever to appear on a U.S. stamp, the famous black Lab, “King Buck”1991 – Labradors leap into first place in AKC registrationsA Lab by any other name would be as sweet…Some of the many names used over the centuries to refer to the lab and its ancestors:

St. John’s DogLesser St. John’s DogNewfoundland Dog

Lesser Newfoundland Dog

Little Newfoundlanders

Newfoundland Water Dog

Labrador Dogs

St. John’s Labrador Dogs

Black Water Dog

Lesser Labrador

Smaller Labrador

English Retriever

English Labrador

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