Golden Retriever Colors Guide

The most common colors of Golden Retrievers are Golden, Dark Golden, and Light Golden, which are all variations of the breed's signature coat color.

Golden Retrievers can also come in a rare color called White, which is caused by a genetic mutation that affects the production of melanin in their coats.

A Golden Retriever's coat color can affect its overall appearance, but it's essential to remember that a dog's personality and temperament are not determined by its coat color.

A unique perspective: Golden Retriever Red Coat

When it comes to the breed standard colors of Golden Retrievers, it's essential to understand what they are and why they're important. The breed standard colors are the traditional and well-known colors that are accepted within the breed standard.

These colors include Cream, Gold, and Golden.

The breed standard colors are not just aesthetically pleasing, but they also play a significant role in determining the authenticity of a Golden Retriever.

Curious to learn more? Check out: Standard Poodle Color

The recognition of Golden Retrievers with certain coat colors has a fascinating history. In 1936, the United Kennel Club added white/cream as an acceptable coloration, marking a significant shift in their stance.

This change allowed English-bloodline White Golden Retrievers to be officially recognized. However, American Golden Retrievers with cream or white coats remain unaccepted.

To get a kennel-club accepted White Golden, you need to get a puppy from a litter of English-bloodline White Golden Retrievers. This is a crucial distinction to make when selecting a breeder.

The lack of recognition for American Golden Retrievers with cream or white coats is a notable aspect of the breed's history. Experienced Golden breeders should be aware of this and inform potential buyers.

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English Cream Retrievers are a rare sight, mostly because only English-blooded Goldens can have white coats.

They were first formed in the 19th century in Scotland by crossing current types of gun dogs, Retrievers, and spaniels.

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Golden Retrievers were created as the 'perfect gun dog' for duck and fowl hunting, but the original gun dogs weren't great for both land and water.

This posed an issue with hunters as Scotland is full of random marshes and bodies of water.

The first real sighting of a white Golden Retriever is unknown, but they most likely started showing up in litters around the 1900s.

After being accepted as a coat color in 1936, the white Golden Retriever's popularity started to rise.

The United Kennel Club initially viewed white coats as a fault and banned them as an official color.

However, in 1936, they added white/cream as an acceptable coloration.

Today, the only way to get a kennel-club accepted White Golden is to get a puppy from a litter of English-bloodline White Golden Retrievers.

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