The Birth of the Golden Retriever

It probably comes as no surprise that the Golden Retriever is one of the most popular breeds in America.

However, it may be a surprise for some to learn that these Golden beauties didn’t exist until fairly recently.

Since dogs first became domesticated, humans have learned that by breeding dogs with desirable traits, the likelihood of creating dogs with those traits is increased. By classical Roman time, dog breeding had reached the point that most of the modern dog families were clearly established. Retrievers, however, were not among the established families at that time.

The reason for not having Retrievers back then is easy to understand. As most people know, the trademark ability of the retriever is to bring back birds that hunters can’t easily reach. Until the introduction of guns, birds were usually caught by falcons or by throwing large nets over them. Only when hunters began shooting birds down with guns were they confronted with the problem of getting the birds, which may have fallen too far ahead or into deep water.

With the first muzzle-loading firearms, bird dogs that traditionally were used only to find and point out game also began to be trained to retrieve it. The breech-loading shotgun entered the scene in the mid-1800s, raising the requirements for retrieving. In the past, hunting with a muzzle-loader may have produced ten shot birds in a day. The ease and accuracy of the newer guns made it simpler to shoot birds in flight, therefore making them more likely to fall in inaccessible places. Bird shooting soon became the new fashionable pastime of the rich.

Popular shooting parties that were part picnic and part fashion show were often held. The wealthier estates tried to outdo each other in terms of extravagant house parties, game, and dogs. The pressure was on the kennelmen of the estates to create and perfect a dog that would stay close until the shooting stopped, find dropped birds, and return them to the hunter without damage. Around 1840, even greater attention was directed at developing a unique kind of retriever. This special dog would be a good swimmer, very obedient, strong, have a good nose and a soft mouth, and have less interest in wandering around to hunt on its own.

Existing dogs were usually interested in picking up birds, but could not be counted on to return them in good condition, nor were most of them capable of retrieving birds that had fallen in water. While Water spaniels were more skilled in water, the key ingredient came from a type of dog known at the time as the Lesser Newfoundland, a breed developed in Newfoundland as an all-around fisherman’s helper. This was a dog that could carry items in its mouth through strong seas and at the command of the fisherman. Some hunters had already discovered that those same qualities made them outstanding water retrievers for birds. The first of these dogs, later to become known as Labrador Retrievers, came to Britain in the early 1800s. Crosses of Water Spaniels with smaller varieties of Newfoundlands were proving to produce the best retrievers known at that time, but they still weren’t Golden Retrievers.

LORD TWEEDMOUTH

The elements for a perfect bird-retrieving dog were there. Now all that was needed was an expert to combine them, the proper conditions to test them, and the resources with which to refine them. This expert was Dudley Coutts Marjoribanks, who later became known as the first Lord Tweedmouth. Marjoribanks, who owned the Guisachan estate in the Scottish highlands near the Tweed River, was a sportsman, dog lover, and serious breeder of many fine animals. Among his dogs were spaniels and retrievers, but the most significant addition came from an accidental encounter with a golden-coated retriever owned by a cobbler. Because the cobbler had no use for this dog (named Nous), he sold him to Marjoribanks, who in 1868 bred him to one of his Tweed Water Spaniels named Belle. From this union came four yellow retrievers named Crocus, Cowslip, Primrose, and Ada. These four became the foundation of the Golden Retriever.

Marjoribanks, along with some family members who were also dedicated sportsmen, eventually created a distinctive line of exceptional retrievers. These dogs were not only attractive and talented, but because they were owned by prominent families, they were seen and eventually acquired by other wealthy sportsmen as they visited each other’s estates for shooting parties.

While Lord Tweedmouth was close to his dogs, he did allow a few to leave in order to influence retrievers elsewhere. In addition, his family was well connected, and several family members maintained their own kennels that continued Lord Tweedmouth’s lines. Lord Tweedmouth maintained detailed records of his dogs, but his records ended in 1890. The last two dogs mentioned were named Prim and Rose. His descendant did not keep records, so most of the breed’s history during the following two decades has been lost.

EMERGENCE OF THE GOLDEN RETRIEVER

When the need for a supervisory organization to register dogs and set competition rules became obvious, the Kennel Club of England was founded in 1873. And coincidentally, the organization was founded by a retriever aficionado.

The first Goldens were shown in 1908 by Lord Harcourt of Culham Kennel. In the early days of retriever breeding, littermates could come in various colors and coat types, and although different strains and types existed, they were all known as “Retrievers” as far as the Kennel Club was concerned.

In 1913 the Kennel Club began registering them as varieties of Retrievers, so Goldens were then shown as “Retrievers (Yellow or Golden).” A few years later, this was further simplified to “Retrievers (Golden).”

Breed interest gradually increased and the Golden Retriever thrived in England. Goldens were making their names known in both the ring and field as their numbers steadily grew. World War I caused a temporary setback, however, but the breed recovered quickly after the war and was soon stronger than ever.

World War II proved to be more devastating. Not only were shows and competitions canceled, there was not enough food for kennels of large dogs. As a result, many large breeds essentially disappeared from Britain. Fortunately, the Golden had some dedicated breeders who sacrificed a lot to keep the main breeding stock going. After the war, the Golden emerged as the golden child of the dog world once again.

GOLDENS COME TO AMERICA

The first Golden to come to North America came with one of Lord Tweedmouth’s sons in the 1890s. Conflicting evidence exists as to whether the dog named “Lady” owned by Archie Marjoribanks came to America with him or was born from an unidentified Golden female that he brought with him. Either way, Lady lays claim to being either the first Golden import to American or the first Golden born in America. There is also confusion about whether she had a litter while in America. Regardless, it is said that her offspring did not have an impact on the breed in this country.

In the years that followed, Golden Retrievers were occasionally seen in the United States and Canada, but sightings were far from common. The first noteworthy kennel in North America was known as Gilnockie, which began breeding Goldens in 1918. This was followed in 1928 by one of the most influential kennels—Rockhaven. The owner of Rockhaven, Colonel S. S. Magoffin, eventually acquired Gilnockie as well, but he came to be best known for his part in founding the Golden Retriever Club of America (GRCA).  This led to the American Kennel Club’s official recognition of the Golden Retriever in 1932.

Since recognition of the breed in the 30s, a new population of pet breeders began to emerge. For the most part, these pet breeders were largely unaware of hereditary health problems in the 1950s and 60s. They bred despite what the available research said and they failed to follow recommended guidelines suggested by the GRCA concerning hip dysplasia and eye problems. Although the GRCA was instrumental in establishing the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA), pet breeders were rarely informed or concerned about health screenings. Unfortunately, this was a situation that would have many serious consequences for years to come.

With increasing popularity, Goldens began to be cast in movie roles and television commercials. They became a symbol of a wholesome family with an All-American dog. If every American didn’t already know about the Golden Retriever, they surely did when President Ford made a Golden Retriever named Liberty the First Dog. By that time, AKC registrations had reached almost 22,000 Goldens per year.

Because of the popularity and exposure they were receiving, the breed became exceptionally vulnerable to unethical breeders and puppy mills. Sadly, Goldens were becoming money-making puppy producers. In some cases, they were victims of puppy mills churning out dogs to an unsuspecting public. In other cases, they were simply the pets of naïve backyard breeders unaware of the harm they were doing.

In addition, not every Golden had the temperament, health, or physical qualities that represented the breed; yet these dogs were repeatedly bred with no regard to the quality of the dogs produced or the lives they lived. Dogs with improper socialization, bad temperaments, and poor health were sold to people who didn’t know the difference, and in turn, bred these poor-quality Goldens. As numbers grew and quality fell, prices also fell, and more people bought Goldens on a whim, only to abandon them at the slightest problem.

At the end of World War II, less than 150 Goldens were registered with the AKC each year, but by 1998, over 65,000 were registered.