Early in its existence, the dog that Lord Tweedmouth created (the dog we know as the Golden Retriever), was known as the Golden Flat Coated Retriever, and technically speaking, was regarded as a color variation of the Flat-Coated Retriever, not a separate breed. The Kennel Club of England first recognized the breed in 1903 and assigned it the name, “Flat Coats-Golden.” This changed in 1913 when the Golden Retriever Club in the United Kingdom was formed. It wasn’t until 1920 that the Kennel Club allowed them to take on their present name, ‘Golden Retriever.’
It didn’t take long for the breed to soar in popularity, nor to make a name for itself: When the AKC introduced OTCH obedience titles in 1977, the first three to earn the title were Golden Retrievers, and the very first title went to a bitch named, “Tonka.” During her career, she earned eight perfect scores and 176 “High in Trial” awards.
Image: “Shakin’ It Up,” a Golden Retriever in scratchboard by Cathy Sheeter
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