Blog | Pet Fed

14 Jul, 2021 By : Staff Writer

The History of Golden Retriever

The first Lord Tweedmouth, Dudley Marjoribanks, developed the breed during the reign of Victoria in the Scottish Highlands. Between 1840 and 1890, Tweedmouth kept detailed records of breedings effected to create an ideal gundog for use at his Guisachan estate in the Highlands, Inverness-shire, Scotland. Tweedmouth crossed his “Yellow Retriever” with the Tweed Water Spaniel, a breed that is now extinct, as he wanted a dog suited to the rainy climate and rugged terrain of the area.

An admiring historian wrote that Tweedmouth, through several generations of clever breeding, created a consistent line of exceptional working retrievers. His vision included a more vigorous and powerful dog than previous retrievers, one that would still be gentle and trainable. The Golden Retriever was powerful, active, and had a gentle mouth for retrieving games while on hunts.

The Golden was first seen at a British dog show in 1908, and also started arriving in America and Canada at the same time. The show fanciers were fascinated by their beauty and dash and were also impressed by the Golden’s sweet, sensible temperament.

The Golden Retriever was admired from the beginning of its history in America, but the breed’s popularity took off in the 1970s, the era of President Gerald Ford and his beautiful Golden named Liberty.

Goldens are outgoing, trustworthy, and eager-to-please family dogs, and relatively easy to train.