Let s clarify this immediately. The term, retriever, refers to any one of several breeds of sporting dogs. It is a relatively generic term for an overall class of dog. The term, Labrador Retriever, refers to a specific breed of dog.
Retrievers are dogs that are easily trained to locate and bring back dead, or wounded, game.
Generally, these dogs are used in the hunting of waterfowl such as the duck. They are also used in the hunting of land poultry, such as the pheasant. Retrievers hunt by using smells that they pick up on the air, whereas hounds use smells picked up via land and clothing, or other stimuli. Retrievers are generally all first-rate swimmers. Retrievers all usually have water-resistant coats.