Tweedmouth, like many gentry of his day, bred animals of all kinds, trying to perfect different breeds. Tweedmouth's breeding records from 1835 to 1890 show what he was aiming for with the Golden: A talented retriever--Tweedmouth was an ardent waterfowl hunter--with a superb nose, who would be more attentive to his human hunting companion than the setters and spaniels used at the time for retrieving. He also wanted the dog to be loyal and even-tempered in the home.

He began with a yellow dog named Nous, who Tweedmouth bought from a cobbler near Brighton in 1865. Tweedmouth favored yellow dogs, and Nous--whose name means wisdom--was the only yellow puppy in a litter of black Wavy-Coated Retrievers.

Tweedmouth took Nous home to Scotland, and in 1868 and 1871, bred him to Belle, a Tweed Water Spaniel. Tweed Water Spaniels (now extinct) were known for being eager retrievers in the hunting field, and exceptionally calm and loyal in the home--characteristics you'll find in today's Golden Retrievers.

Nous and Belle's descendants were bred with Wavy- and Flat-coated retrievers, another Tweed Water Spaniel, and a red setter. Tweedmouth kept mostly the yellow puppies to continue his breeding program, and gave others away to friends and relatives.

Not surprisingly, Tweedmouth's breed first attracted attention for their skills in the hunting field. One of the most well-known was Don of Gerwyn, a liver-coated descendent of one of Tweedmouth's dogs, who won the International Gundog League trial in 1904.

The Kennel Club in England officially recognized the Golden Retriever as a distinct breed in 1911. At that time, they were classified as "Retriever--Yellow or Golden." In 1920, the breed name was officially changed to Golden Retriever.

The American Kennel Club recognized the breed in 1932. Today, the Golden Retriever is the second most popular breed in the U.S.

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