Golden Retriever

Dogs are our link to paradise. They don’t know evil or jealousy or discontent. To sit with a dog on a hillside on a glorious afternoon is to be back in Eden, where doing nothing was not boring – it was peace. – Milan Kundera

The Golden Retriever was developed in the mid-1800s by a Scotsman, Lord Tweedmouth. Among the Scottish elite, wildfowl hunting was a popular pastime but dogs used to retrieve the downed animals were not able to negotiate both water and land. As the landscape of that time was dotted with marshy ponds and rivers, it was necessary to have a retriever who could cope with both.

The best of the water spaniels were crossed with the existing retrievers, and through selective breeding of retrievers, spaniels, setters, and the bloodhound, the breed was stabilized as a superb gun dog with a soft mouth capable of retrieving ducks and upland game birds without damaging them. These new dogs, the first Golden Retrievers, appeared at “Guisachan”, the highland estate of Lord Tweedmouth.

Goldens were first accepted for registration by The Kennel Club of England in 1903 as Flat-Coats, Golden. Later, they became retrievers reflecting their abilities to retrieve game.

Photos displayed courtesy of David and Susan Eby, Moonstone Reg’d, Ontario

Moonstone Reg’d Golden Retrievers

These dogs are extremely active and have a high energy level.

They need lots of exercise and are particularly fond of swimming. This is a breed that will retrieve sticks from the water all day long! As highly intelligent animals, they do very well in obedience trials, and will always enjoy the action in agility classes.

Originally kept and bred as gundogs, today these dogs continue to work in the field and as guide dogs and service dogs to physically challenged people. Their patience makes them ideal for assistance dogs, and their gentleness makes them a favourite as a therapy dog.

Their strong bond with people and extreme willingness to learn make Golden Retrievers the most successful guide dogs of any other breed.