Originating from Scotland and developed by a Sir Dudley Marjoribanks, later Baron Tweedmouth, the Golden Retriever is a type of gundog breed that was traditionally employed for retrieving shot waterfowl, ducks and upland game birds. Recognisable by his thick golden coat, today's breed sees Golden gundogs in varying shades of dark gold to an almost white shade in colour.

With the improvement of guns and firearms in the 1800s, the need arose for a more specialist retriever that would become the ultimate hunting dog. With many birds being shot and downed at further distances and under increasingly difficult terrain, the requirement for a hunting dog that could cover a greater space quickly became necessary.

The original cross was of a yellow coloured retriever with a Tweed Water Spaniel, now extinct. The cross in 1868 produced a litter of four pups, which would form the basis of a breeding program, which included amongst others, the Bloodhood, the Irish Setter and the St. John's Water Dog of Newfoundland. The intention of creating a more vigorous and powerful hunting dog was always Marjoribanks' intention, however his original interest in the yellow coloured retriever was of his gentle and trainable persona, something that his master wished to maintain.

Like the Labrador, today's Golden Retriever is celebrated for his intelligence and his remarkable gentle nature. He also possesses a strong awareness of his surroundings, which often sees him employed in jobs such as a guide dog for the blind, a hearing dog for the deaf, hunting dog, search and rescue detector and an illegal drug detector.

The Golden Retriever today is as popular than ever before too, ranked 4th most popular breed in the US and 8th in Great Britain by registration, the breed is a firm-favourite world-wide and a much-loved family pet. Visit the Golden Retriever Club here.  

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