Page 18 - ShowSight Presents The Golden Retriever

Photo by Barb Loree
THE GOLDEN RETRIEVER:
PRIMARILY A HUNTING DOG, A HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE.
Golden Retriever enthusiasts from around the world will gather this July in the beauti- ful Cotswold town of Ciren-
cester, England to celebrate the cente- nary (100th anniversary), of the Golden Retriever Club. From July 12th to 15th, the GRC will celebrate with two cham- pionship shows, two working tests, dis- plays from the archives, demonstrations of Goldens doing heelwork to music and a Golden drill team, all on the beautiful Bathhurst Estate. There will be a Gala din- ner and a day of seminars and international networking, where noted judge and Gold- en Retriever historian, Valerie Foss, will speak, along with a panel of international breed experts and veterinarians.
A highlight for many will be a sub- sequent pilgrimage to the highlands of Scotland, near Inverness. From July 16th to 19th, the Golden Retriever Club of Scotland will continue the celebration
252 • SHOWSIGHT MAGAZINE, FEBRUARY 2015
by GLENDA BROWN & AINSLIE MILLS
with social events, a “scurry” (timed, singles retrieving test) and a champion- ship show, with many of the events at the ruins of the Guisachan estate, home from 1854 to 1894 of Sir Dudley Mar- joribanks, the first Lord Tweedmouth. He was the person largely responsible for the development of the Golden Retriever breed at this Scottish retreat.
The Golden Retriever was regarded as a “gentleman’s” hunting dog and a com- panion to the aristocracy. Certainly, the Golden was not the working man’s dog, out to help him secure his dinner or earn his livelihood. But apparently some fan- cier’s idea of a gentleman is a jolly, fat man who leisurely strolls on a lawn simi- lar to those shown in photos of Blenheim, shooting a bird that lands twenty yards away. After spending a vigorous fifteen minutes or so, the dog and Gentleman retire to sit beside a blazing fire so the Gentleman can enjoy a hot toddy or two!
This description is far from reality, as the retriever was expected to expend a full day’s effort in the field.
The Scots were a tough people, and their working dogs had to be as well. The dogs all had to get along, as they worked with, and lived with, other dogs. Scottish breeds, including the Scottish Deerhound, Collie, Shetland Sheepdog, Cairn Terrier, West Highland White Ter- rier, and the Golden Retriever are hardy breeds whose conformation, coats and constitutions were developed to with- stand the climate and terrain in which they lived and worked.
Like many of the gentry of this time, Marjoribanks was keenly interested in the breeding of sporting dogs and other livestock. He wanted to develop a retriev- er suited to the Scottish climate, terrain and type of available game. In 1868 and 1871, breedings between Nous, a yellow wavy-coated retriever, and Belle, a Tweed