Did you ever wonder how many AKC registered Goldens there
were, or how many titles Goldens achieved? Or did you ever want to learn a
little more about the Golden Retriever? Or how to get more involved with your
Golden? Here is a brief overview of the second most popular dog in America and
how to get more involved.
Golden Retrievers have been in
second place, right behind Labradors, in numbers of registered retrievers with
the American Kennel Club (AKC) for sometime now. Labs out number Goldens on
average a little more than 2:1 annually. Through the past five years, there
were slightly more than 52,000 Goldens annually registered while Labs ring the
top dog bell at over 140,000 annually.
The status of the Golden Retriever, while always high, has
improved even more because the profile of the typical person who owns one has
changed. TodayŐs Golden must be
versatile, that is good looking, obedient, do well in the field, excel in
agility while being great at scent work and all while being great at home with
the kids! For most today, the performance Golden is a show dog, an obedience
dog, a hunting retriever, a tracker and an agility dog. In addition our best
friend must also qualify as a family pet and, toward that end, the Golden
Retriever has no peer. Affectionate, playful, he is a wonderful companion, and
an ideal kids' dog.
As for looks, the show Golden
is beautiful, structurally correct, strong and like all other Goldens, it has a
permanent smile a gentle face and a huge desire to please. He is one that all
would want to play with, hunt with or perform with. In the conformation show
ring Goldens always produce significant champions. In rough numbers, there are
about 1,000 Goldens per state and in each state roughly 5 become prestigious
breed Champions. There are
however, many more Goldens on the east and west coasts thus claiming their
proportionate share of champions.
AKC
Champions and GRCA Hall of Fame
Goldens are perhaps the easiest of all the retrievers to
train, they are nearly always tractable and they are among the best at adapting
to new situations. They easily learn new skills and easily apply those news
skills to more complex skills. As a result, Goldens are always among the top
producers of Obedience titles and Obedience Trial Champions.
AKC Obedience &
GRCA Hall of Fame
The average hunter today is no longer a weathered
outdoorsman who spends thirty to forty days a year hunting waterfowl and upland
game. TodayŐs hunter is more likely to be a business professional that manages
to get out a half a dozen times or so for either actual hunts or simulated
hunts. In fact todayŐs hunter, more than ever before, is more likely to be a
woman, since the number of women participating in hunting related activities
has rapidly risen. Go to an AKC, GRCA or NAHRA Hunt Test and you will see women
out numbering men by more than 3:1!
The intelligence, trainability and easy-going characteristic
of the Golden are among its hallmark traits, which makes it an excellent
performer in the field. Goldens are as fast and as tough as any other retriever
and can handle the most severe weather conditions. Many knowledgeable trainers
recognize that Golden Retrievers have a great nose for scent. Sometime ago,
Blood Hounds were mixed in the breed to give it a good nose. (Ever wonder why
there is such excessive skin under the neck of Golden? Look at a Blood Hound!)
As a result of the Blood Hound, no other retriever has the scenting ability of
the Golden. Because of their great nose, Goldens are the undisputed leaders of
all the retrievers in hunting upland game and in many cases they are becoming
the preferred upland game dog. In the field, Goldens have amassed the following
titles.
AKC Hunt Titles
AKC Field Titles
GRCA Field Working Certificates
The great nose just doesnŐt stop at hunting. Goldens are
being used for tracking, drugs, rescue, avalanche and other areas where a great
nose, adaptability and trainability is required. As a result, Goldens are quickly racking up titles in AKC
tracking events and they have accumulated these titles.
