As one of the most popular breeds of dogs in the United States, Golden Retrievers are instantly recognizable for their kind eyes, golden fur, and loyalty. They are so famous that they had an entire series of movies dedicated to them. But if you have ever wondered where America’s favorite golden boy comes from, well, we are here to answer that. Today, let’s talk about the history and the origins of the Golden Retriever.

Mid-19th Century Scottish Hunting

The earliest reference golden retrievers came in the mid-19th century Scotland. As wildfowl hunting was becoming famous among the Scottish elite, a need for good dog breeds arose specifically for retrieving downed game. These breeds had to be fast as well as capable of traversing both land and water. Hunting dogs especially had to be good at retrieving game from the water and land, as the hunting grounds would often have pockets of swamps and marshy areas.

So to get the best of both worlds, a dog that could tread land and water quickly, breeders crossed the current retrievers with the best water spaniels. This mix between some of the best land and water retrievers leads to the breed that we call Golden retrievers.

Why the Need for New Dogs?

While many will argue that Golden retrievers became necessary because of their incredible speed, there were other factors. Hunters were looking for more than dogs that are fast and strong. They wanted dogs that were loyal and had a much softer grip.

An important part of the wildfowl hunt would be retrieving your game, which was especially easier with the help of dogs. However, some dogs would not be very gentle with the carcass and would crush it on their way back.

Luckily, Golden retrievers filled all of the requirements that hunters needed at the time. They were fast, both on land and in water, while being loyal to their owner. Most importantly, they had a soft grip and would never crush the game. Instead, they gripped the carcass with just enough force to hold onto it and were quite gentle despite the rough terrain that they had to go through.

Better Guns, Better Dogs

Another reason why the need for better hunting dogs was necessary was the better guns. The early 1800s saw an incredible shift in terms of firepower as well as their utility. These guns were very powerful and had better range, which means the game would fall much farther than usual, creating a need for better hunting dogs. Since Golden Retrievers were purebred hunting dogs, they could easily trek long distances without damaging the game.

The Original Cross

The famous golden color of these retrievers came from the first original cross between a Tweed water spaniel and a yellow-colored retriever. The tweed water spaniel, now extinct, was common across the border and was a fast swimmer. The cross between these two dogs lead a litter of puppies, out of which four became instrumental in various breeding programs. These programs produced dogs such as the Sandy colored Bloodhound, the Irish Setter, as well as others.

Till the 1900s, at least, breeders made sure that the Golden retriever remains a purebreed, as all of the golden retrievers were inbred.

The United Kingdom

Since breeding for golden retrievers started in Scotland, UK was the first to recognize them as an official breed. In 1903, the Kennel Club accepted and registered Golden retrievers as Golden Flat coats.

Subsequently, the Golden retriever club in Scotland arranged a gathering of all golden retriever enthusiasts. This gathering took place in the Guisachan House, better known as the ancestral house, and the club also took a photo to commemorate the event. The picture still holds the record for the most Golden Retrievers captured in a single frame.

Canada

Archie Majoribanks, the first breeder of the golden retrievers, took one of his golden retrievers in 1881. A few years later, he registered one of his Golden Retrievers – Lady – to the AKC. This is also the earliest record of a Golden retriever in Canada. And in 1927, Golden retrievers were officially registered dogs in Canada. Golden retrievers exploded in popularity there, after which 1958 saw the formation of the Golden Retriever Club of Ontario (GRCO).

The Englishmen who co-founded the Golden Retriever Club of Ontario, Cliff Drysdale, brought over an English Golden to Canada. In later years, the Golden Retriever Club of Ontario expanded to an unprecedented degree, and eventually became the Golden Retriever Club of Canada.

The United States

While the United Kingdom was well past recognizing Golden Retrievers, the United States took an extra 14 years to do so. And by 1925, the American Kennel Association officially recognized Golden retrievers as a dog breed. They were especially popular in the United States, as people loved their big size and an equally massive heart. The American Kennel Club Registrations ranked them at number two, as over 62,652 dogs have registered. The only dog that is higher than them is the Labrador Retriever.

Although the world saw the golden retriever for its traits as a hunting dog, Americans saw it more as a companion. The incredible loyalty and immense heart of this massive yellow-haired canine took Americans by storm. Soon these hunting dogs started to become household dogs, contributing to the over 66,000 registrations.

Conclusion

For a long time, Golden retrievers were inbred, as hunters wanted them to retain their incredible athletic and hunting skills. But as the American market started to keep them as pets, they soon started breeding among other breeds. This lead to various versions of golden retrievers.

However, despite the different breeds of Golden retrievers, many prefer the big old bundles of joy despite their other counterparts. Their big eyes, along with the fluffy coat and undying loyalty, make them one of America’s most favorite dogs. Dating back to the early 1800s, Golden retrievers have quite the lineage.