Sir Dudley Marjoribanks, later known as Lord Tweedmouth, first developed the Golden Retriever at his highland estate “Guisachan”, in Scotland.

Wildfowl hunting was a popular sport for the wealthy Scottish, but the dogs of that time were incapable of reliably retrieving downed game from both water and land. The hunting grounds were pocketed with marshy ponds and rivers, making it necessary for the dog to be proficient at land and water retrieving.

Gun manufacturing made decided improvements in the 1800s, which made it easier to shoot birds from a greater distance. With the marshy terrain, and increase in distance, many hunted fowl were lost. Setters and pointers were in training for retrieval of game, but were found ineffective. The result was a rising ambition to breed a dog that would be a dependable retriever of game on both dry and wet terrain, and at varying distances.

Like many elite gentlemen of his day, Tweedmouth bred several different kinds of animals, aiming to perfect different breeds. A passionate hunter of waterfowl, what Tweedmouth was striving to produce is shown in his records from 1835 to 1890. Tweedmouth wanted a talented retriever with an exceptional scenting ability, greater attentiveness to his hunting master than the setters and spaniels of their time, and a well balanced, devoted family dog.

For many years, there was a dispute about what breeds were used in the breeding program, but in 1952, the Marjoribanks’ breeding records from 1835 to 1890 were published, dissipating the legend that a set of Russian tracker sheepdogs were purchased from a traveling circus. Rather, it provides a detailed record of a careful line-breeding program.

In 1865, Tweedmouth bought a yellow retriever, ‘Nous’, from an unregistered litter of retriever pups. Interestingly, his littermates were all black with wavy coats. Nous was crossed with a Tweed Water Spaniel female dog, ‘Belle’. The Tweed Water Spaniel is now extinct, but at that time they were known for being eager retrievers in the hunting field, and yet tranquil and devoted with the family.

In 1868, this cross produced a litter of four pups which became the foundation of Tweedmouth’s breeding program. His extended program included the Irish Setter, the sandy-coloured Bloodhound, St. John’s water dog of Newfoundland, and two more wavy-coated black retrievers. Tweedmouth kept mostly the yellow puppies to continue his breeding program, and gave others away to friends and relatives.

The bloodline was inbred and selected for qualities that reflected Tweedmoth’s vision for the ultimate hunting dog. His vision included a more vigorous and powerful dog than previous retrievers, and yet one that would still be gentle and trainable.

Tweedmouth’s breed received attention for their skills in the hunting field. One of the most well-known was Don of Gerwyn, a liver-coated descendent of one of Tweedmouth’s dogs, who won the International Gundog League Trial in 1904. The Kennel Club in England officially recognized the Golden Retriever as a distinct breed in 1911. At that time, they were classified as “Retriever — Yellow or Golden.” In 1920, the breed name was officially changed to Golden Retriever. It took another 14 years (1925) for the breed to be recognized by the American Kennel Club.

Since Golden Retrievers have a double coat, they will need regular brushing, especially when they blow coat in spring and fall.

Their coat consists of two layers, a dense undercoat (woolly in texture) and a top coat of long hair called guard hairs. The undercoat protects the dog from both heat and cold, and the top coat repels moisture and dirt. They should not be shaved as their double coat acts as an insulation, protecting their skin from the sun.

To remove loose and dead hairs, use an undercoat grooming rake. Giving your Golden Retriever a bath during heavier shedding seasons will help wash out a lot of the loose hair. When bathing your dog, it is important to use a good quality dog shampoo.

Keep an eye on his ears. Fold over ears are more prone to infections, so keep them clean and dry. Eco Ears is a good natural product that helps keep the ears dry and clean.

You may also find that your Golden Retriever will need to have its nails trimmed on a regular basis. If you are concerned with trimming too close to the quick of the nails, you can take your dog to a groomer and have them trimmed for you.