Varieties of Golden Retrievers
Coat Colors:
The Golden Retriever may be registered under three different coat colors: Light Golden, Golden, or Dark Golden. Each dog's coat must be grouped as closely as possible into it's shade category. A dog with a cream colored coat would be in the same Light Golden category as a blonde dog. These dogs are very different in color, but both are considered Light Golden. Golden Retrievers can vary from white to a deep rust color. While most kennel club standards shy away from either extreme of these colors, many people love them and seek them out, so the tradition continues of a wide variety of golden shades to choose from!
Breed Type:
There is only one Golden Retriever. However, there are variations within the breed that are often referred to as "type". If one has seen several Goldens in pictures or in life, one will notice there are a wide variety of colors and "styles" of Goldens out there. Most Goldens can be identified as to fitting into one of three types: Field/Hunting Golden, American Golden, and the English Cream/British White Golden. These are not official titles, they are just common terms used among Golden fanciers. All are Golden Retrievers. Any may be bred with each other and still receive purebred Golden Retriever puppies. Most believe that by "blending" two types together, a more-rounded Golden Retriever is achieved by widening the gene pool. Most refrain from calling this "mixing" types as it may cause the general public to believe it is a mixed-breed dog and not a purebred. You may see advertisements for English/American blend Golden puppies. This shows the type of Golden of the parent dogs.
So why are there different types of Goldens? For the same reason there are hundreds of dog breeds. Breeders want to achieve what they want out of a dog by breeding dogs with desirable characteristics for that particular person. An avid hunter is going to breed Goldens who excell in the field. Over time, these dogs evolve into a type of dog somewhat different to what a breeder of show dogs wants in a dog. The hunter wants to see what kind of work a dog can do, while the dog shower cares more about appearance. You will rarely find a Golden that excels in both the field and the show ring for this reason.
The Field/Hunting Golden Retriever: This Golden is usually of the Dark Golden color scheme. They are generally smaller-framed dogs, with more energy, drive, and of course, hunting/retrieving instinct. This is where the name comes from. The dog's smaller size makes it quick and great for going through thick brush in the field.These dogs are well-suited for Agility, drug detection, and search and rescue work. Many people in America have these as pets as well.
The American Golden Retriever: These Goldens range from Light Golden to Dark Golden, but most tend to be the Golden color. They are larger than the Field Golden, yet slightly smaller than the English Golden. This is the Golden Retriever you see in AKC dog shows on tv.
The English Cream/British White Golden Retriever: These Goldens are mostly of the Light Golden color scheme. These dogs are often white or cream. Some are referred to as Platinum Blonde. These dogs are usually larger than the AKC standard, often weighing close to 100 pounds. They are big-boned, have larger, blocky heads, and dark pigmentation to the skin and around the eyes. These dogs have a calmer disposition compared to the American Golden (and especially compared to the Field Golden) and are often referred to as laid-back or big babies. While still referred to as "rare" here in the US, the English type of Golden Retriever is gaining popularity in America.
