About the Golden Retriever
Known for their friendly nature, love of children and willingness to play, Golden Retrievers have been considered the icon of the ” family dog ” through the years. However, these furry friends have particular characteristics that distinguish them from other breeds.
In this post you will be able to learn about its origin, care, feeding and many other interesting aspects that you surely did not know about this wonderful representative of domestic canines.
Origins of the Golden Retriever breed
The Golden Retrievers have their origin in the year 1850, in the lands of Scotland . For the eighteenth century, sport hunting activities were a source of entertainment for high society gentlemen and in these activities it was necessary to have some animal that could retrieve the prey that fell when hunted, both on land and in the water. .
As expected, a high-society gentleman would not go into a lake to retrieve his prey, so the dogs were the wisest choice. Not all dogs are born hunters or trackers, so the search focused on that breed that could track and retrieve prey from both land and water with ease.
In the highlands of Scotland, the humidity of its green lands abounds, so that the water dogs or Andalusian Turks of the territory, when mixed with the retrievers or Retrievers , gave rise to the birth of the breed that is now known as the Golden Retriever. .
The first Golden Retriever in history is said to have been owned by Sir Dudley Marjoribanks , who owned an estate in Guisachan, Scotland.
At first, the retriever breeds that existed were the Setters and the Pointers, however their effectiveness did not meet the needs of the hunters, so they tried to cross the best specimens to obtain a retriever or retriever dog that did meet the expectation. .
At this point, a golden retriever named Nous and a Tweed Water Spaniel named Belle were crossed, resulting in 4 puppies that would be pioneers in crossing animals for the purpose of breeding retrievers. It was Sir Dudley Marjoribanks who began the study and crossing of these specimens along with other breeds, trying to obtain an improved breed for demanding hunters.
Due to the scarcity of records, the issue of the breeds that gave rise to the Golden Retriever has been much discussed, however the important thing was that by 1903 the breed was recognized in society and formally accepted with its particular characteristics that remain until today. the present.
Types of Golden Retrievers
Although it is a consolidated breed, there are certain physical characteristics that vary according to the particular type of Golden Retriever in question. In general, its golden color is distinctive, as are its character and physical characteristics. The types of Golden Retriever known today are the following:
American golden retriever
Also known as the American Golden Retriever, it is the most popular and its most notorious physical aspect is that it is a lighter or slimmer specimen than others.
Its distinctive shiny golden coat makes it easily distinguishable from other specimens of the breed, with slight variations in the tone of the coat, between light and dark.
Their fur tends to be longer in the area of the neck, tail and legs, presenting areas of wavy hair. Their eyes are usually lighter in color than those of the other types of Golden Retriever and their shape is much more triangular, in addition, these specimens usually reach 54 to 61 cm in length at the level of the withers.
English Golden Retriever
Also known as the British Golden Retriever , it is a specimen that stands out for its texture and the tonality of its coat, aspects that distinguish it from other specimens.
This English specimen is usually more corpulent than the American and the shape of its skull is larger than in other specimens. Rather than gold, the English Golden Retriever is beige or cream in color, which could be considered a very very light gold . Like the American, its coat is wavy but shorter in general than that of other types of Golden Retriever.
Their eyes represent another distinctive feature, since they are usually dark and round, an aspect that can be distinguished with the naked eye. In addition, its size, although very similar to the American specimen, can sometimes be a little smaller but corpulent in comparison.
Canadian Golden Retriever
This is perhaps the most different specimen that exists among the three, although it also has similarities with the other types of Golden Retriever.
One of the most outstanding aspects is its short and fine fur , in addition to the fact that its color is golden, a variation between dark and medium tones.
Its size is generally larger than the American and English specimen at the height of the withers, although its build is medium, compared to the other two.