Golden Retriever
#46
Wamiz's Top Breed

The Golden Retriever has been for many years at the top of the ranking of our favourite dogs. The good character of the Goldie is recognised and appreciated all over the world, especially in the United States. Versatile at work, affectionate and sociable towards everyone, he is the perfect companion, at work and at home.
Key facts about the Golden Retriever
Origins and history
Originally from Great Britain, the recognition of the breed is quite recent since it dates back only to 1931; but we know practically nothing of his history. Only legends are known: the most famous one says that in 1858 Lord Tweedmouth bought a couple of Caucasian Shepherds that he had seen working in a circus. Eventually, he kept only the golden puppies to fix the recessive personality of the parents. Another theory argues that the breed originated from the cross between a sandy-coloured dog from St. Hubert (Bloodhound), and a Tweed Water Spaniel that’s now extinct. Other authors still argue that the ancestor of the breed was a yellow dog born from a cross between this water Spaniel and a Flat-coated Retriever.
FCI breed nomenclature
FCI Group
Group 8 - Retrievers - Flushing Dogs - Water Dogs
Section
Section 1 : Retrievers
Physical characteristics of the Golden Retriever
Adult size
Female : Between 20 and 22 in
Male : Between 22 and 24 in
Weight
Female : Between 53 and 62 lb
Male : Between 62 and 71 lb
Coat colour
The Golden Retriever’s coat can be any shade of yellow, ranging from cream to dark gold. Some white hair can be seen on the chest, but red or mahogany shades are forbidden.
Type of coat
The hair is mid-length.
The top-hair is flat or wavy with fringes and the undercoat is tight and provides good waterproofing.
The double coat, thick and silky, allows him to be very comfortable and perfectly protected in the water and against bad weather.
Eye colour
His eyes are brown, the edge of his eyelids are dark.
Description
The dog looks balanced, powerful, sturdy and soft at the same time. A well-proportioned dog.
Good to know
In addition to being an excellent hunting, companion, and guide dog, the Golden Retriever is also used by search and rescue teams or by police units to detect drugs and explosives due to his unrivalled tracking capabilities.
Goldens are very well known for their "soft mouth", which enables them to grab a victim's arm without hurting them. In fact, it is said that Goldens can pick up raw eggs without even cracking them!