What Was The Original Color Of The Golden Retriever?

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The Golden Retriever, beloved for its friendly demeanor and stunning coat, wasn’t always the golden hue we know and love today. The story of the breed’s development reveals that the original Golden Retrievers exhibited a broader range of colors, extending beyond the various shades of gold we typically see.

The breed’s origins trace back to Scotland in the mid-19th century. Dudley Marjoribanks, later known as Lord Tweedmouth, is credited with establishing the breed through careful breeding practices at his Guisachan estate. In 1868, Tweedmouth acquired a yellow Wavy-Coated Retriever named “Nous” from a cobbler in Brighton. Nous, meaning “wisdom” in Gaelic, became the foundation sire of the Golden Retriever breed.

Nous was bred to a Tweed Water Spaniel bitch named “Belle.” Tweed Water Spaniels are now extinct, but they were known for their intelligence, retrieving abilities, and curly, liver-colored coat. This initial pairing of a yellow retriever and a liver-colored spaniel introduced a wider range of color possibilities into the early litters.

While the exact color genetics are complex, it’s crucial to understand that the color of a dog’s coat is determined by multiple genes interacting. The breed’s early history reveals that the puppies produced from Nous and Belle weren’t uniformly golden. Reports indicate that the litters contained puppies ranging in color from cream and yellow to shades of gold, and even some that were nearly red. Some puppies inherited more of the liver color influence from the Tweed Water Spaniel side.

Tweedmouth meticulously documented his breeding program, including the color variations observed in the puppies. He selected dogs with traits he desired – particularly retrieving ability, intelligence, and a good temperament – for future breeding, and coat color was one factor considered. Over generations, a preference for the lighter shades of gold gradually emerged. While darker golds and even reddish hues were present in the initial gene pool, selective breeding favored the lighter end of the spectrum.

As the Golden Retriever breed developed and gained popularity, breed standards were established to guide breeders. These standards, which varied slightly across different kennel clubs, solidified the preference for various shades of gold. The American Kennel Club (AKC) standard, for example, describes the coat as “rich, lustrous golden of various shades.” This indicates that while various shades of gold are acceptable, the core color remains golden. The British Kennel Club standard similarly emphasizes golden shades, while discouraging extremely pale or extremely dark colors.

Therefore, while we associate Golden Retrievers primarily with their namesake golden coats, the original dogs possessed a greater diversity of colors, including cream, yellow, lighter shades of red, and various shades of gold. Through selective breeding and the establishment of breed standards, the lighter golden hues became the defining characteristic of the breed we know today.