 During the 1880s , the 3rd Earl of Malmesbury , the 6th Duke of Buccleuch and the 12th Earl of Home collaborated to develop and establish the modern Labrador breed . The dogs Buccleuch Avon and Buccleuch Ned , given by Malmesbury to Buccleuch , were mated with bitches carrying blood from those originally imported by the 5th Duke and the 10th Earl of Home . The offspring are considered to be the ancestors of modern Labradors . 
