About This Breed
GOLDEN RETRIEVER
The Golden Retriever, also called "Golden" for short, is the second most popular breed in the United States. One of the most common family dogs worldwide, they are prized for their sociability, high tolerance and compatible natures. Originally developed in Scotland, by Sir Dudley Majoribanks, the GoldeN' lineage was a subject of controversy for many years. Upon the publication of Majoribanks' breeding records in 1952, it was discovered that the original cross occurred in 1868, between Nous, the only yellow pup in a litter of black wavy-coated Retrievers, and a Belle, a now extinct Tweed Water Spaniel. From this breeding, four females were produced, and they became the basis of a breeding program which incorporated lines from Red Setters, Bloodhounds, St. John's Water Dogs, Springer Spaniels and two other wavy-coated black Retrievers, with the goal of creating a more vigorous and powerful dog that retained its existing good nature, gentleness and trainability. Today, there are field lines, which are lean, longer legged, and have more reddish coats, and show lines, which are bigger boned, longer and have blond, flowing coats.