Golden Retriever

General Appearance
A symmetrical, powerful, active dog, sound and well put together, not clumsy nor long in the leg, displaying a kindly expression and possessing a personality that is eager, alert and self-confident.

Owning
Renowned for its reliable temperament, the Golden Retriever makes a great hunter, family pet or show dog. Although they can adapt to living in a small apartment they need to be given plenty of exercise daily. The Golden Retriever's dense water repellent coat ranges in color from light to dark shades of gold.

Temperament
Friendly, reliable, and trustworthy. Quarrelsomeness or hostility towards other dogs or people in normal situations, or an unwarranted show of timidity or nervousness, is not in keeping with Golden Retriever character.

Did You Know
The first registration of a Golden Retriever by the American Kennel Club was in November 1925. The most complete records of the development of the Golden Retriever are included in the record books that were kept from 1835 until about 1890 by the gamekeepers at the Guisachan (pronounced Gooeesicun) estate of Lord Tweedmouth at Inverness-Shire, Scotland. These records were released to public notice in Country Life in 1952, when Lord Tweedmouth's great-nephew, the sixth Earl of Ilchester, historian and sportsman, published material that had been left by his ancestor. They provided factual confirmation to the stories that had been handed down through generations. Golden Retrievers are used successfully in field trials, hunting, obedience, and as guide dogs for the blind. The first three dogs of any breed to achieve the AKC Obedience Champion title, first available in July 1977, were all Golden Retrievers. Golden Retrievers were first shown in England at the Crystal Palace show in 1908, and were listed as Flat Coats (Golden).