1. Golden retriever is considered 4th smartest dog breed
Looks and brains: Golden retrievers really have it all. These friendly family dogs are also whip-smart.
According to conventional wisdom, they are the fourth-smartest breed of all, trailing only border collies, poodles and German shepherds.
2. It’s the 3rd most popular breed in America
Golden retrievers have sat near the top of the list of America’s most popular dog breeds for many years.
The breed currently ranks third behind Labrador retrievers and German shepherds.
3. Golden retrievers have an excellent sense of smell
As their name suggests, golden retrievers were intended primarily as hunting dogs to retrieve felled game in the field.
Therefore, they were bred to possess an extremely powerful sense of smell, and indeed their olfactory skills are among the best of all dog breeds.
While rarely used in hunting today, golden retrievers are commonly employed as bomb sniffers and search-and-rescue dogs due to their keen sense of smell.
4. Lord Tweedmouth created Golden retrievers
The noble golden retriever has truly aristocratic roots, being the brainchild of Dudley Coutts Marjoribanks, 1st Baron Tweedmouth, aka the Lord Tweedmouth.
Lord Tweedmouth developed the breed in his native Scotland during the mid-to-late 19th century.
Golden retrievers were bred from flat-coated retrievers and Tweed water spaniels (a breed that is now extinct).
5. First 3 AKC obedience champs were all goldens
The American Kennel Club introduced its official obedience trials in 1977, and its first three obedience champions were golden retrievers. The very first was a female named Moreland’s Golden Tonka, aka Tonka. During Tonka’s career, she earned eight perfect scores and 176 “High in Trial” awards.
