This dog is a very good example of the generic “wavy-coated retriever” that was common in Britain in the middle to late nineteenth century. The judging from the size of the rabbit, it is not a particularly large dog, so the black and white coloration did not primarily come from the large Newfoundland dog.
My guess is this dog is primarily long-haired St. John’s water dog, although it might have some collie ancestry, judging from its somewhat narrow muzzle.
White markings were more common in retrievers in the past, but they still pop up today.
And not just in Nova Scotia Duck-tolling retrievers, where they are standard.
