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Golden Retriever Day
"My friend Phil has a theory that the Lord, having made teenagers, felt constrained to make amends and so created the golden retriever."
~ Mary McGrory
Have you crossed paths with a Golden? This past July in 2023, a five-day summer festival was held celebrate the breed on the grounds where the first golden retriever puppies designated as such were born in 1868! This beautiful and amiable breed's Scottish origins has a colourful backstory, but one also embroiled in a deeper art mystery! Breeders, owners, and forensic art detectives have uncovered a fascinating history of this Scottish breed's likely true origins! For many years it was generally accepted that Goldens were the direct descendants of some Russian circus dogs purchased by a member of the English gentry, Sir Dudley Marjoribanks, later the first Lord Tweedmouth. These dogs were allegedly taken to Tweedmouth’s Scottish estate, Guisachan, site of last summer's celebration, where they were used to hunt deer. Pleased with their skills, the dogs were further bred to reduce size and improve scenting ability. In the first deviation from this fanciful story, subsequent research suggested that Lord Tweedmouth had instead purchased an unregistered Yellow Retriever named “Nous” from a cobbler in Brighton in the year 1865 and after hunting this dog for a time, bred him to a Tweed Water Spaniel (a now extinct breed from Scotland). But more recently, a deeper dive and examination of older paintings, engravings, and chromoliths, some from the early 1800s, finds evidence of golden coloured hunting dogs long before Lord Tweedmouth's breeding efforts. Regardless, Goldens and their owners should be delighted with this beautiful tartan whose golden and green, blue, and heathered accents representing both the dog and its retrieving heritage within the Scottish landscape. Woof! 🐕 🐾 💛 💚 💜 💙 💛
Designed by Locharron of Scotland, the colours chosen are intended to represent primarily the gold colour of the dog and its purpose of retrieving game from varied landscapes and water, hence the green, blue and heather. These colours reflect the landscape of its origin and its Scottish heritage and produce a design that is intended to be used to enhance the Club’s worldwide standing.
The Golden Retriever is one of the most popular and recognizable dog breeds, beloved for its friendly, tolerant attitude and intelligence. Originally bred in Scotland in the 19th century, these dogs were developed to retrieve game during hunting parties, a task to which they were well-suited thanks to their soft mouth and love for water. Golden Retrievers are characterized by their dense, water-repellent outer coat with a thick undercoat, usually in various shades of gold. They are medium to large-sized dogs with a kind and trustworthy face, showcasing intelligence and eagerness to please, making them excellent family pets. Their versatility also shines in roles beyond companionship; Golden Retrievers excel in fields such as search and rescue, guide and assistance work, and competitive events. Their gentle nature and patience make them fantastic with children and an ideal choice for a family pet.
For more on the golden retrievers interesting breeding origins which possibly contradict the official history, click the puppy!