Spangold Retriever

The Spaniel was used to flush out small fowl prior to the invention of the gun. However, even after the gun was invented and widely used, the Spaniel was still lauded for his ability to flush prey out into the open. He was used through the nineteenth century as a hunting companion throughout Europe. In 1913, the first English Springer Spaniel was exported to Canada. By 1923, the American Kennel Club had registered its first English Springer Spaniel. The Golden Retriever as we know it was developed in Scotland on the estate of a man known as Lord Tweedmouth . 

Lord Tweedmouth raised a variety of animals, and he kept detailed records regarding his breeding program. A waterfowl hunter himself, Tweedmouth described in his breeding notes that he was hoping to breed  a superior retrieving dog. He wanted the retriever to have a superb nose, but he also desired a dog that would be more connected to the actions of his human hunting partner than many other hunting breeds available at the time.  He  wanted this superb hunting and retrieving dog to be loyal and to have a good disposition away from the hunt. Lord Tweedmouth bred his hunting dog, Nous, to the now-extinct Tweed Water Spaniel. The Tweed Water Spaniel was known for being extremely calm and loyal, but also an excellent retriever, characteristics the Golden Retriever inherited. He bred the resulting puppies to both wavy and flat-coated Retrievers and a Red Setter. The result was the Golden Retriever we know today.