The Golden Retriever originated in the Highlands of Scotland in the late 1800s and owes its development to Dudley Marjoribanks, (later known as Lord Tweedmouth). He crossed a flat-coated Retriever and the now extinct ‘Tweed Water Spaniel’ and this gave us the dog we now call a ‘Golden Retriever’, one of the world’s most well known and loved breeds.
English Golden Retrievers and American Golden Retrievers aren’t two different breeds. They are both recognized as a ‘Golden Retriever’ by the American Kennel Club (AKC). But they almost look like two different breeds, don’t they?
As you can see, physically, there are some differences. The English Retriever is lighter in color, stockier and heavier than it’s American cousin. The head of the English Golden Retriever is also broader, and sloping, the chest deeper, and a flatter topline.The eyes are round compared to the slanted appearance of the American Retriever. The ears are level to the eye compared to the higher set of the American Retriever
Well known for their calm demeanor, English Goldens are now becoming the therapy dog of choice. With their intelligence, high level of sociability and willingness to learn, they are commonly used for guide dogs, mobility assistance dogs and in the search and rescue field.
Healthwise there is a major difference between the English and American Retrievers.As a breed, their biggest killer is cancer. Research has shown that cancer was the cause of death for around 61% of American Golden Retrievers, compared to around 38% of English Golden Retrievers. Although both rates are very high compared to other dog breeds, the English Cream Golden cancer rate is substantially lower, hence the longer lifespan of 12 years as compared to 10-11 years for the American Retriever.
For us, the health and calm temperament, combined with the elegant beauty of this breed are the reason why we love them so much.
