A GOLDEN PROFILE:

*A NOBEL HEAD . . . A GENTLE TWINKLE OF THE EYE . . . A SMILING FACE . . . A VIBRANT BURST OF ENERGY, RUNNING FREE AS THE WIND . . . A WAGGING TAIL, HAPPILY BEATING FROM SIDE TO SIDE . . . A THUNDERING SPLASH INTO ICY WATERS IN QUEST OF GAME ON A COLD NOVEMBER DAY . . .A JOYFUL BOUNCE, UP AND DOWN LIKE A CLOWN, AS A LOVED ONE APPROACHES . . . A SHINY COAT, GLISTENING LIKE A NUGGET OF GOLD . . . A NOBLE PARADE THROUGH THE HOUSE WITH A FAVORITE POSSESSION CARRIED PROUDLY IN ITS MOUTH . . . AN ENTHUSIASTIC SEARCH FOR SNOWBALLS TOSSED BY THE FAMILY AS THEY GATHER TOGETHER TO BUILD A SNOWMAN ON A SUNNY WINTER'S DAY . . . A COMFORTING NUDGE WHEN YOU FEEL BLUE, JUST TO REMIND YOU THAT YOU ARE NOT ALONE . . . AND, MOST OF ALL, A CONTENTED BALL OF LOYAL, UNQUESTIONING DEVOTION CURLED UP AT YOUR FEET AT THE END OF A BUSY DAY. THIS IS THE ESSENCE OF THE GOLDEN RETRIEVER.

If you wonder about the reasons for the popularity of this breed, you can easily satisfy this curiosity by acquiring a Golden Retriever for a friend, as the devotion he is capable of may be considered his most valuable asset. This devotion is to the total family, for the Golden feels that even the youngest child is worthy of his love. Tempered with his intelligence, trainability, willingness to please, loyalty and gentleness it will become apparent to you why the Golden is considered a "Super Dog" by many. While exhibitors and field trialers continue to prove that Goldens rank among top bench, obediance, and field winners, the family continues to reaffirm that he is also a top-notch pet.

Goldens, being clean by nature, are exceedingly easy to housebreak. They seem to have manners and are capable of conducting themselves with dignity, whatever the occasion. Their willingness to please is an asset worth mentioning, for even the novice dog owner can master the charge of a Golden with a set of clear instructions and a consistent approach.

The fine temperament of the golden is probably its most attractive attribute. Dogs that are all-around family dogs, accepting and loving all members of the family from young children to the elderly, make very desirable pets. Goldens will warn the family of approaching strangers; however, once the stranger enters the home at the family's request, the Golden will be the first in line to welcome him. Accompanying this calm, happy stability of temperament is a willingness to please. Let the Golden know the house rules and he will try his best to keep them. Most Goldens love affection and enjoy being petted. Some Goldens, however, are content to be at your feet but don't like being hugged or cuddled. Each dog must be respected for his stype in giving and receiving affection. ( We have one of each of this type. Tikka prefers to just be near you but Ben would be content with someone petting him all the time.)

ORIGIN:

**The Golden is the youngest of all the retriever breeds, dating to the late 1860's when Sir Dudley Marjoriebanks, first Lord Tweedmouth at Inverness, Scotland, bred the first litter of yellow retriever pups.

An avid hunter with a particular passion for waterfowling, Tweedmouth dreamed of developing a sporting dog capable of retrieving game from the fields and rugged waters of the English seacoast - a dog that would also deliver that game to his hand. In 1868 he bred Nous, a yellow male, out of a litter of black Flat-Coated Retrievers, to Belle, a liver colored Tweed Water Spaniel. Through selective breeding of succeeding yellow pups over the next 20 years, the yellow retriever became a popular sporting dog in England. Eventually some of them traveled to the United States with their hunter-owners and began to carve their own niche in the American dog world. The American Kennel Club gave them official status in 1925. Those early Golden hunters have evolved into the "everything" Golden we know today.

If you are in the market for a Golden Retriever you should research the breed with at least as much diligence as you would when buying a new car or refrigerator. Read books on Golden Retrievers and breed literature. A cautiious and intelligent puppy shopper should be well-informed and ask lots of questions.

For a canine companion that can be a hunter, competitor, assistant and your best friend ever, it is worth the effort. Through careful puppy selection and a thorough "Golden" education, you can enter and enjoy the very special world of the GOLDEN RETRIEVER.

THE GOLDEN IN BRIEF:

Country of Origin: England

AKC/CKC Group: Sporting

SIZE: Males 23 - 24 inches at withers, 65 to 75 pounds: females, 21 1/2 to 22 1/2 inches at withers, 55 to 65 pounds.

COLOR: Rich, lustrous gold of various shades.

TEMPERAMENT: Friendly, reliable and trustworthy.

Dogs are our link to Paradise. They don't know evil, jealousy or discontent.