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Golden Retrievers

British type Golden Retrievers vs. American type Golden Retrievers

The Golden Retriever is a relatively young breed. It originated in Scotland during the late 1800s where it was developed by a
British aristocrat, Lord Tweedmouth.

The original cross was of a yellow-colored Retriever, Nous, with a Tweed water spaniel female dog, Belle. The foundation of the golden retriever was the now-extinct Tweed water spaniel. Over the years, crosses were made to numerous other breeds, most of which differ significantly from the dogs we know today by the same names:


    Red Setters
    Black Wavy-coated Retrievers
    Labrador Retrievers
    Newfoundland
    Bloodhounds.


From these combinations came the Golden's exceptional scenting ability, strong prey drive and gentle temperament. By the early 1900s, the Golden Retriever had developed into a superb hunting retriever. In addition to its hunting traits, the Golden's most distinguishing features were its luxurious golden coat and sweet disposition.

The British Golden Retriever is in fact the original breed from which all others evolved. When the Golden Retriever was first introduced into the United States, via Canada, it was basically the British breed. The first Golden Retriever to win Best In Show honors in the USA (in 1933) was a Retriever named Pluto, who was also Canadian Champion and had bloodlines originating in British kennels.

Around World War II is when the British type Golden Retriever and the American type Golden Retriever began to go in different directions as breeds. Breeding began to take place between American kennels, rather than relying on bloodlines from overeas. Over time, the American breed began to diverge from its British cousin, becoming a somewhat lighter (in weight) and leaner animal.

The British Golden Retriever is heavier and stockier than its American counterpart. It has a broader skull and more muscular forequarters. While generally lighter in colour than the American Golden, colour has become less and less a defining characteristic of the breed. The British Breed Standard specifies that the Retriever's colour should be ("- any shade of gold or cream, neither red nor mahogany"). The American Standard, which states ("- rich, lustrous golden of various shades."), and the Canadian Standard (" - lustrous golden of various shades") are not much more specific and it would seem that a "typical" Retriever could fit within any of the three standards. The breeds are in reality distinguished from one another primarily by their respective conformations. They are all "Golden" to one degree or another.

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