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All modern Golden Retrievers can trace their ancestry back to the late 1800s breeding program of Sir Dudley Majoribanks (Lord Tweedmouth) incorporated on his Guisachan estate in Scotland.
Lord Tweedmouth decided to breed two different breeds of dogs he had acquired in 1866. The male was a yellow colored, Wavy Coated Retriever named “Nous” (Greek for wisdom) and the female, a Tweed Water Spaniel named Belle. The results of this breeding in 1868 were four yellow pups which were named “Ada”, “Crocus”, “Cowslip”, and Primrose”. Deciding to keep Cowslip, Lord Tweedmouth bred her to “Tweed”, another Tweed Water Spaniel. At a later date, he also bred her to “Sampson” a Red Setter. This Red Setter union was to enhance the color and the nose of his dogs.
Years later in 1884, a second “Nous” was whelped. This Nous was also a yellow dog and the result of Lord Tweedmouth breeding “Jack” (a son of Sampson and Cowslip) to “Zoe”(a daughter of Tweed and Cowslip).
Later, this Nous was bred to “Queenie and produced two yellow puppies named “Prim” and “Rose”. It is from these two dogs that all modern Goldens can be traced to.
The first Golden Retriever registered with the English Kennel Club was in 1904 and it was listed with the Wavy and Flat Coated Retrievers. It was in 1913 that the breed was known as Golden or Yellow Retrievers and “Golden Retriever” became the official term in 1920.
Golden Retrievers were known to be in the United States as early as 1890. Photographs exist showing Lord Tweedmouth’s son, the Honorable Archie Majoribanks at a ranch in Texas with a Golden named Lady.
It wasn’t until 1925 that the first Golden Retriever was registered with the American Kennel Club. This dog, Lomberdale Blondin was imported from England by Robert Appleton of East Hampton, Long Island. Mr. Appleton also imported a female Golden Retriever named “Dan Hill Judy” and the breeding of these two dogs produced the first registered litter for the breed in December 1925.
Although registered for several years, it wouldn’t be until 1932 that the AKC shows would separate the Golden Retrievers from the Labrador Retrievers.
Another major event for the breed occurred in 1932 when Col. Samuel Magoffin of Vanover, British Columbia imported a male Golden from England named “Speedwell Pluto.” Pluto became a champion in both Canada and the United States and went on to be the first Golden in history to win a Best in Show award. Speedwell Pluto was not only beautiful in the show-ring he was an exceptional hunting dog. Pluto is also considered to be the foundation sire for the Golden Retriever breed in America.
It took until 1939 for an official club, The Golden Retriever Club of America to be formed by mid-western breed fanciers.
When the American Kennel Club first offered Obedience Trial Championship titles in the early 1970s, the first three recipients were Golden Retrievers. Although continually seen at shows and field trials, the Golden remained in virtual seclusion from the general public until 1974.
It was in this year the Golden Retriever came into the national limelight when President Gerald Ford acquired a young female named “Liberty”. When Liberty produced puppies in the Whitehouse, nationwide publicity ensued and caused an almost overnight popularity. Registrations skyrocketed and the Golden Retriever became one of the top five most popular breeds.
Other famous people who have owned Golden Retrievers are Chevy Chase, Bob Newhart, Ed McMahon, Frank Gifford, Mary Tyler Moore, Bill Blass, Jimmy Stewart, and Oprah Winfrey.
The breed standard, which was approved by the AKC in October 1981, calls for an active dog well put together without being clumsy or long in the leg. He or she should display a kind expression and have a personality that is alert, eager and self-confident.
Males should be 23-24 inches at the withers and females 21.5-22.5 inches. Any deviation in the height standard of more than one inch will disqualify the dog. Dogs should weigh 65-75 pounds and bitches 55-65 pounds.
The head is broad in skull without prominence of frontal or occipital bones. Eyes are friendly, intelligent, medium sized and medium to dark brown. Nose should be brownish black to black.
A Golden’s neck should be medium long and merge gradually into well laid back shoulders. The dog should have a sturdy, muscular appearance but not ponderous. The back is level from withers to a slightly sloping croup.
The Golden Retriever has a wide, deep chest, a heavily plumed tail with bones that just reach the point of the hocks. A coat that is dense and water-repellent as well as having a good undercoat is desired. The outer coat is firm but not coarse. The dog’s coat can be straight or wavy with colors that vary from a rich reddish gold to almost blonde. With the exception of a few white hairs on chest and graying around face due to aging, white hair is penalized accordingly.
Golden Retrievers normally have a friendly, reliable, trustworthy and outgoing personality. Any sign if quarrelsomeness, hostility, timidity or nervousness is undesirable and will also be penalized accordingly.
The automatic disqualifications in a conformation class are undershot or overshot jaws as well as a deviation in height of more than one inch of the standard.
Resources:
American Kennel Club
51 Madison Ave.
New York, NY 10010
(212) 696-8200
Golden Retriever Club of America
2005 N.E. 78th St.
Kansas City, MO 64118
The Golden Retriever World Magazine
Hoflin Publishing Inc.
4401 Zephyr St.
Wheat Ridge, Colo. 80033-3299
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