Golden Retriever

Some dogs are admired. The Golden Retriever is adored. The face says welcome, the tail says everything is wonderful, and the whole body says you were missed, even if you only stepped out for the mail.

The breed began in the Scottish Highlands in the 1800s. Lord Tweedmouth wanted a retriever that could fetch game over rough ground and cold water, then carry it home unharmed. He bred his yellow retrievers with care and kept careful notes.

The result was a dog with a water-shedding coat, a soft mouth, and a mind eager to please. The AKC recognized the breed in 1925.

Then the work widened. Goldens became guide dogs, search partners, therapy visitors, and patient listeners beside children learning to read. Wherever people need comfort, a Golden seems to arrive.

America took the breed to heart. Presidents kept them. Films starred them. Year after year, they rank among the nation’s favorite dogs.

At home, a Golden asks for little. A walk, a toy, a family. It will bring you a stick, a shoe, or a stuffed bear, and then look proud. Keep it close, keep it busy, and expect to be loved.