The Golden Retriever
History and Description
 
The Golden Retriever was originally developed in Scotland at "Guisachan" near Glen Affric, the highland estate of Sir Dudley Marjoribanks (pronounced "Marybanks"), later Baron Tweedmouth. For many years, there was controversy over which breeds were originally crossed. In 1952, the publication of Majoribanks' breeding records from 1835 to 1890 dispelled the myth concerning the purchase of a whole troupe of Russian sheepdogs from a visiting circus.
Improvements in guns during the 1800s resulted in more fowl being downed during hunts at greater distances and over increasingly difficult terrain. This led to more birds being lost in the field. Because of this improvement in firearms, a need for a specialist retriever arose as training setter and pointer breeds in retrieval was found to be ineffective. Thus work began on the breeding of the dog to fill this much needed role.
The original cross was of a yellow-colored Retriever, Nous, with a Tweed water spaniel female dog, Belle. The Tweed Water Spaniel is now extinct but was then common in the border country. Majoribanks had purchased Nous in 1865 from an unregistered litter of otherwise black wavy-coated retriever pups. In 1868, this cross produced a litter that included four pups; these four became the basis of a breeding program which included the Irish Setter, the sandy-colored Bloodhound, the St. Johns Water Dog of Newfoundland, and two more wavy-coated black Retrievers. The bloodline was also inbred and selected for trueness to Majoribanks' idea of the ultimate hunting dog. His vision included a more vigorous and powerful dog than previous retrievers, one that would still be gentle and trainable. Russian sheepdogs are not mentioned in these records, nor are any other working dog breeds. The ancestry of the Golden Retriever is all sporting dogs, in line with Majoribanks' goals.
Golden Retrievers were first accepted for registration by the The Kennel Club of England in 1903, as Flat Coats - Golden. They were first exhibited in 1908, and in 1911 were recognized as a breed described as Retriever (Golden and Yellow). In 1913, the Golden Retriever Club was founded. The breed name was officially changed to Golden Retriever in 1920.
The Honorable Archie Majoribanks took a Golden Retriever to Canada in 1881, and registered Lady with the American Kennel Club (AKC) in 1894. These are the first records of the breed in these two countries. The breed was first registered in Canada in 1927, and the Golden Retriever Club of Ontario, now the Golden Retriever Club of Canada, was formed in 1958. The co-founders of the GRCC were Cliff Drysdale, an Englishman who had brought over an English Golden and Jutta Baker, daughter in law of Louis Baker who owned Northland Kennels, possibly Canada's first kennel dedicated to Goldens. The AKC recognized the breed in 1925, and in 1938 the Golden Retriever Club of America was formed.
Appearance
English type
Some variations do exist between the English type Golden Retrievers prevalent throughout Europe and Australia, and those of American lines and these differences are reflected in the breed standard. Its muzzle is wider and shorter, and its forehead is blockier. It has shorter legs, with a slightly deeper chest, and shorter tail. Its features make it generally heavier than the Canadian type. Males should be between 56–61 centimeters (22–24 in) at the withers and females slightly shorter at between 51–56 centimeters (20–22 in). Their weight, however, is not specified in the UK standard. The KC standard calls for a level topline and straight hindquarters without the slight rear angulation found in American lines. The eyes of the European type are noted for their roundness and darkness as contrasted with the triangular or slanted composition of their American counterparts. A Golden Retriever of British breeding can have a coat color of any shade of gold or cream; however, red or mahogany are not permissible colors. Originally cream was not an acceptable color in the UK standard; however, by 1936 the standard was revised to include cream. It was felt this exclusion was a mistake as the original "yellow" retrievers of the 19th century were lighter in color than the then current standard permitted. The British KC standard is used in all countries with the exceptions of the US and Canada Some breeders of this type in America may import their dogs to improve the temperament and health noted in those bloodlines .
English Cream Golden Retrievers, also called English Crème Golden Retrievers, English Golden Retrievers, European Golden Retrievers, Blond Golden Retrievers, Light Golden Retriever or White Golden Retrievers. They are also known as White Goldens, Platinum Blond Goldens etc. These names are used in America to distinguish (British) Kennel Club Standard Golden Retrievers as a separate type separated from "normal" Golden Retrievers, which virtually only exist in America. Although purebred English Cream Goldens are fully registerable as Golden Retrievers by the American Kennel Club and other purebred dog registries in America, there are quite a few differences between these two types of Golden Retrievers.
   
American type
An American Golden is lankier and less stocky than a British Type. A male should stand 22–24 inch (58–61 cm) in height at the shoulders, and females should be 21.5–22.5 inch (55–57 cm). They range in weight from 65–75 lb for males and 55–65 lb for females. The coat is dense and water repellent, in various shades of lustrous gold, with moderate feathering. The gait should be free, smooth, powerful, and well-coordinated. The show-type American dogs tend to have a more similar look to the English type, as many English type dogs have been imported to improve / develop these lines over the years. The average American golden retriever is very dissimilar looking to the American show type as well as the English type.
   
Canadian type
The Canadian Golden Retriever is a newer type of Golden. Appearance is meant to be similar to the American type in height and weight, with a light coat color. Color is described as not as light as a British type, and not as dark as an American type. Field line Golden Retrievers tend to be smaller and have a less dense coat than their conformation line counterparts, and they are usually darker in color.
| Classification & standards |
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FCI |
Group 8 Section 1 #111 |
standard |
AKC |
Sporting |
standard |
ANKC |
Group 3 (Gundogs) |
standard |
CKC |
Group 1 - Sporting Dogs |
standard |
KC (UK) |
Sporting Dog |
standard |
NZKC |
Sporting Dog |
standard |
American vs. English type
The term "English Golden Retriever" does not necessarily indicate an English origin. It refers to the standard by which the breed is judged. Many English Golden Retriever breeders state they breed English-type Goldens to eliminate confusion. The United States uses the American Kennel Club (AKC) as their standard but the rest of the world (outside of Canada) uses the British Kennel Club (KC) as their standard.
Topline & Hindquarters
AKC: Strong and level from withers to slightly sloping croup, whether standing or moving. Sloping backline, roach or sway back, flat or steep croup to be faulted.
KC: Calls for level top line. Loin and legs strong and muscular, good second thighs, well bent stifles. Hocks well let down, straight when viewed from rear, neither turning in nor out.
Amazingly these supposedly similar requirements give a different angulation in practice! This is very visible on these Champion pictures below. (the English champions shown are in our male’s pedigree). English Goldens have more level top line with legs more straight, American Golden Retrievers usually have slightly sloping top line with legs standing more out.
Head, Neck, Eyes & Ears
AKC:
- Head- Broad in skull, slightly arched laterally and longitudinally without prominence of frontal bones (forehead) or occipital bones. Stop well defined but not abrupt. Foreface deep and wide, nearly as long as skull. Muzzle straight in profile, blending smooth and strongly into skull; when viewed in profile or from above, slightly deeper and wider at stop than at tip. No heaviness in flews. Removal of whiskers is permitted but not preferred.
- Eyes- friendly and intelligent in expression, medium large with dark, close-fitting rims, set well apart and reasonably deep in sockets. Color preferably dark brown; medium brown acceptable. Slant eyes and narrow, triangular eyes detract from correct expression and are to be faulted.
- Ears- rather short with front edge attached well behind and just above the eye and falling close to cheek. When pulled forward, tip of ear should just cover the eye. Low, hound-like ear set to be faulted.
- Neck- medium long, merging gradually into well laid back shoulders, giving sturdy, muscular appearance. No throatiness.
KC:
- Head and Skull - Balanced and well chiselled, skull broad without coarseness; well set on neck, muzzle powerful, wide and deep. Length of foreface approximately equals length from well defined stop to occiput.
- Eyes - Dark brown, set well apart, dark rims.
- Ears - Moderate size, set on approximate level with eyes.
- Neck - Good length, clean and muscular.
In both standards there is no clear indication how big the head must be in comparison to the rest of the body. These different specs resulted somehow in a generally smaller head in American Goldens then in English Goldens. This is more visible for males then females usually.
English standard calls for a clean and muscular neck. It is perfectly understandable that for holding bigger head a dog need more muscular neck. Still there is no mentioning about any grooming, clipping whisker trimming in KC standard. And that is one of the fundamental differences.
KC Standard concentrates on description of ideal specimen. In America the way of showing the dog is frequently more important than the dog itself.
Another very characteristic difference is foreface and muzzle. AKC standard wants the muzzle to be straight but also states the foreface should be nearly the length of the skull. This resulted in smaller muzzle and more conical shape. Despite its more laconic form KC standard is more precise. It wants the length of foreface to be approximately length stop to occiput. English Goldens have definitely bigger and wider muzzles which influences stronger jaws.
English-type Goldens are bigger-boned and shorter, with a more square head and or muzzle and are generally slightly heavier. The British Kennel Club standard calls for a level topline and straight hindquarters without the slight rear angulation found in American lines.
Eyes – “Pure” American Goldens have their eyes very well apart usually while English type usually does not. Because US Golden Retrievers eyes are so well apart they tend to be slanted, narrow, triangular and detract from correct expression sometimes. In this their eyes are defying their own standard in contrast to the British Goldens.
Ears and specifically their position are another point of difference between the two types of goldens. AKC wants ears well behind and above level of eyes. KC wants them at the level of eyes. This causes two very different looks.
 
Coat and color
Golden Retrievers vary widely in color.
As indicated by their name, their coat comes in light golden colors to dark golden colors. The coat is dense and waterproof, and may be straight or moderately wavy. It usually lies flat against the belly. The American Kennel Club (AKC) standard states that the coat is a "rich, lustrous golden of various shades", disallowing coats that are extremely light or extremely dark. This leaves the outer ranges of coat color up to a judge's discretion when competing in conformation shows Therefore, "pure white" and "red" are unacceptable colors like black . The Kennel Club (UK) also permits cream as an acceptable coat color. Judges may also disallow Goldens with pink noses, or those lacking pigment. The Golden's coat can also be of a mahogany color, referred to as "redheads", although this is not accepted in the British show ring. As a Golden grows older, its coat can become darker or lighter, along with a noticeable whitening of the fur on and around the muzzle. The darker a Golden Retriever is in color, the faster it will whiten. Puppy coats are usually much lighter than their adult coats, but a puppy with a darker coloration at the tips of the ears may indicate a darker adult color. A golden's coat should never be too long, as this may prove to be a disservice to them in the field, especially when retrieving game.
Temperament
The temperament of the Golden Retriever is a hallmark of the breed and is described in the standard as "kindly, friendly and confident". They are not "one man dogs" and are generally equally amiable with both strangers and those familiar to them. Their trusting, gentle disposition therefore makes them a poor guard dog. Any form of unprovoked aggression or hostility towards either people, dogs or other animals, whether in the show ring or community, is completely unacceptable in a Golden Retriever and is not in keeping with the character of the breed and as such is considered a serious fault. Nor should a Golden Retriever be unduly timid or nervous. The typical Golden Retriever is calm, naturally intelligent and biddable, with an exceptional eagerness to please.
Golden Retrievers are also noted for their intelligence. The Golden Retriever ranks fourth in Stanley Coren's The Intelligence of Dogs, being one of the brightest dogs ranked by obedience command trainability. These dogs are also renowned for their patience with children.
By the time they reach maturity however, Goldens will have become active and fun-loving animals with the exceptionally patient demeanor befitting a dog bred to sit quietly for hours in a hunting blind. Adult Golden Retrievers love to work, and have a keen ability to focus on a given task. They will seemingly work until collapse, so care should be taken to avoid overworking them.
Other characteristics related to their hunting heritage are a size suited for scrambling in and out of boats and an inordinate love for water. Golden Retrievers are exceptionally trainable—due to their intelligence, athleticism and desire to please their handlers—and generally excel in obedience trials. In fact, the first AKC Obedience Trial Champion was a Golden Retriever. They are also very competitive in agility and other performance events. Harsh training methods are unnecessary as Golden Retrievers often respond very well to positive and upbeat training styles.
Golden Retrievers are compatible with children and adults and are good with other dogs, cats and most livestock. Golden Retrievers are particularly valued for their high level of sociability towards people, calmness, and willingness to learn. Because of this, they are commonly used as guide dogs, mobility assistance dogs, and dogs. They are friendly and tend to learn tricks easily.
They are also known to become excellent surrogate mothers to different species. Kittens and even tiger cubs from zoos are well taken care of by golden retrievers. In some cases, a retriever may produce milk for its adopted even though it may not have been pregnant or nursing recently.
 
Health
While the breed is recognized for its vitality, many retrievers are susceptible to specific ailments. A responsible breeder will proactively minimize the risk of illness by having the health of dogs in breeding pairs professionally assessed and selected on the basis of complementary traits.
Breeding Golden Retrievers can be profitable for puppy mills and backyard breeders. As a result of careless breeding for profit, Goldens are prone to genetic disorders and other diseases. Hip Dysplasia and Elbow problems are very common in the breed; when buying a puppy in the US the parents should be examined by the OFA or by PennHipp for hip disease. A responsible breeder will also clear breeding dogs for eye disorders with a CERF exam. A responsible breeder will also clear breeding dogs for heart disorders by OFA exam.
Health Differences
The health differences between the English Golden and the American Golden are staggering. It is the greatest reason why a serious dog seeker will consider purchasing an English Golden over an American Golden. The money saved in purchasing an American Golden pales in comparison to the vet bills accumulated over the dog's lifespan.
Cancer was the cause of death for 61.8% of American Goldens according to a 1998 health study conducted by the Golden Retriever Club of America, making it the breed's biggest killer (CLICK HERE to see the study). The most common types of cancers in Goldens are hemangiosarcoma, followed by lymphosarcoma, mast cell tumor, and osteosarcoma. The incidence of cancer among English bloodlines is significantly lower than in the American lines. In fact the British Kennel Club (KC) did a very extensive study recently and found that cancer only caused the death of 38.8% of English Goldens (CLICK HERE to see the study). The median age of an English Golden is 12 years and 3 months according to the study, but the median age of an American Golden is only 10 years and 8 months.
Hip Dysplasia and Elbow Dysplasia are also much more common in American Golden Retrievers than in English-type Golden Retrievers. The reason is two-fold. There has been a much stronger emphasis in Europe placed on the quality development of the breed than in America. Dog shows are found throughout the European continent in every country and in hundreds of villages. Competition is much more fierce than in America. More competition produces a superior Golden Retriever. Secondly, the American Golden Retrievers have a limited gene pool. They came from a limited number of Goldens imported from Europe less than a century ago. This genetic limitation contributes a greater risk factor for health defects. It is interesting to note that there are now many English Goldens being imported to the United States to help improve American Golden bloodlines.
Activities
The Golden Retriever's eagerness to please has made them consistent, top performers in the obedience and agility rings. Plus with their excellent swimming ability they are great at dock jumping Their natural retrieving ability also sees them excel in flyball and field trials.
The first three dogs ever to achieve the AKC Obedience Champion title were Golden Retrievers; the first of the three was a female named Ch. Moreland's Golden Tonka.
       
Retrievers in service
Dr. Bonita Bergin, the initial creator of the idea of a "service dog" reports that Golden Retrievers are the best suited breed for service dog work. The reason that Goldens are the best suited breed is their combination of gentle disposition, great intelligence and strength. Service dogs must be strong enough to pull wheel chairs but must also be calm as well as intelligent enough to learn the many commands that service dogs and their owners use to communicate with each other. This breed is also especially capable of bonding with their owners, so the two soon come to make a great team.
Golden Retrievers are among the most popular family pets in the United States. They were originally bred as hunting dogs, but quickly gained a reputation for being a great family dog because of their gentle and easy going temperament. However, Golden Retrievers are often used as working dogs, too. In particular, they are excellent service dogs and are often used as narcotics dogs.
Assistance work
  
    
It is estimated that it costs approximately $10,000 to train a dog to be a service dog, though most are given away to their final owners. Training is intensive and thorough, ensuring that the dog's owner literally can trust their canine companion with their life. Once the dog is trained, the owner who will receive him must be trained, too, so that owner and dog can communicate with each other and so that the dog can do his job properly. Currently, there is a 5 year wait to obtain a trained service dog. These dogs are used as guide dogs for the blind; hearing dogs that alert their humans to sounds; mobility assistance dogs that may pull a wheelchair or directly support a person; seizure alert dogs; and medical condition alert dogs, among other uses.
Police / Narcotic work
Golden Retrievers are also regularly used as narcotics dogs. Because they were originally bred as retrievers for hunters, they have excellent tracking abilities, which also lend themselves well to finding hidden narcotics. And, because Golden Retrievers are so intelligent and eager to please their masters, they can be trained to sniff out drugs more quickly than many other breeds. Their natural athletic ability is also helpful in the narcotics arena. When police and their dogs go sniffing for drugs, it is often in rough terrain and they often work for hours before they find what they're looking for. These abilities make the Golden one of today's most often used breeds for narcotics work.
Therapy work
Retrievers also excel at therapy work. They are gentle, affectionate and have a calm temperament that is well-suited to this type of service. Therapy dogs have been very quietly making a huge impact across the world as their volunteers visit Hospitals, Hospices, Residential and Nursing homes, Day Care Centers, Special Need Schools, etc bringing their assessed and healthy dogs care and special life-enhancing benefits to every one they visit.
Blue (pictured above), was one of several dogs and a pony that attended a London event to represent the many thousands of animals across the country that help their human owners by providing companionship and practical assistance. Blue who is a Golden Retriever was the first registered PAT puppy in the UK. He and Michelle work with clients living in the community with severe and enduring mental illness, helping them overcome their fears and lead fuller and more independent lives.
Last year, Michelle was Highly Commended by the National Institute for Mental Health in England at their first positive practice awards as an individual who has made a real difference to peoples lives with her work in mental health with her PAT dog. “Blue and I make a good team,” explains Michelle. “Together we can build a bond with people with mental health issues and help them improve their confidence and social skills.”
As you can see, the Golden Retriever has many talents and abilities. They are capable of performing many different kinds of jobs, but are also one of the best breeds to curl up with at the end of a busy day of working for the both of you.
References
Sporting Breeds: Golden Retriever. Animal Forum.com. Retrieved on November 30, 2007.
"Enter The Golden Retriever". Article3000.com. Retrieved on December 7, 2007
Classification: The Versatile Golden Retriever. Buzzle.com. Retrieved on February 4, 2007.
AKC Dog Registration Statistics. AKC.org Retrieved on December 7, 2007.
Golden Retrievers: History. K9web.com. Retrieved on November 30, 2007
Golden Retriever Extended Breed Standard: Origin of the
Breed. ANKC.org.au
Retrieved on December 16, 2007.
Golden Retrievers: Everything You Need To know. goldenretriever-dog.com
History. Golden Retriever Club of America. Cool Retrieved on February 4, 2007.
ANKC Golden Retriever standard. ANKC.
Retrieved on December 16, 2007
KC Golden Retriever standard. UK Kennel Club. Retrieved on November 30, 2007
American and British Golden Retrievers – the same breed? Brighton Goldens.com. Retrieved on December 8,2007
White Golden Retrievers Golden
Retriever Club of America. Retrieved on January 27, 2008
AKC Golden Retriever standard. American Kennel Club. Retrieved on February 4, 2007
Canada's Guide to Dogs: Golden Retriever. Canadasguidetodogs.com Retrieved on December 17, 2007.
Golden Retriever. www.fetchdog.com Retrieved on September 16, 2008.
The Golden Retriever Club of America, National Health Survey: 1998-1999 (PDF). The Golden Retriever Foundation. Retrieved on February 4, 2007
Acquiring a Golden Retriever. The
Golden Retriever Club of America. Retrieved on February 4, 2007.
Golden retriever. University of Prince
Edward Island. Retrieved on February 4, 2007
Project Outline: Golden Retriever Hemophilia A Study
2004-2005. Golden Retriever Club of America. Retrieved on February 7, 2007
Golden Retriever Did You Know? AKC.org. Retrieved on December 7, 2007
The Complete Dog Book, 19th edition, American Kennel Club, Howell Book House, 1998.
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