History of the golden retriever

To read about the history of the golden retriever please click here this information comes from the United Kingdom Kennel Club. I believe that you will find this information very interesting. When you are finished reading please just x out of the window and you will automatically return to my website. For future reference all of the links on my website are set up this way for your convenience.

I have been asked many times if I am a member of the GRCA Golden Retriever Club of America and the answer is no. My reason for never joining is simply because of their views and standards towards the lighter colored goldens. Click here to read the standard from the GRCA website which clearly states extremely pale coloring is undesirable. For now these lighter colored goldens are not accepted in the AKC show ring but we hope that one day this will change. I do however adhere to the UK Golden Retriever by-laws and light cream has been a standard color since 1936. Click here to read more about the UK Golden Retriever Club. Many times I have heard that since I live in the US I should adhere to the US GRCA. However, how can I do this when they clearly do not accept the pale coloring. I love all golden retrievers but I do prefer the lines that I import from Europe.

Our dogs health
All of our dogs are health tested for eyes, heart, hips, elbows and now I have included PRA-1 and ichthyosis test to my health schemes. PRA-1 and ichthyosis are DNA test that or done by a company here in the states called Optigen. A research team at the Animal Health Trust in the UK and the Swedish University in Upsaala have recently identified a mutation GR_PRA-1 that causes Progressive Retinal Atrophy. By having 1 parent normal/clear of PRA-1  none of the offspring will be affected. Our stud dog Hemingway is normal/clear and his clearance number is 11-5278. As for ichthyosis this is a common inherited dermatosis in the Golden Retriever. Dogs affected with ichythosis develop white scales on the skin soon after birth and as they get older it may turn blackish and cause dry flaky skin.  I will be adding a health page to my website soon that explains these health schemes in more detail but for now you may click on any of the links shown in blue to learn more about the health test schemes that I use.

There are also cancer studies that have been done by the GRCA (Golden Retriever Club of America) and the UK Kennel Club in England. Please just click on the links which are underlined above. According to these studies the cancer rate is lower in the European type dogs.

Click here to visit Goldfeather Run Golden Retrievers

Puppy training and what to expect when your puppy comes home: I am currently working on a booklet that will go home with each puppy.
Recommended foods and natural healing
I am often asked what I feed my dogs and I am a firm believer in a holistic dog food. Here is a list of dog foods that I believe are of good quality. I mention several in case you are not able to find certain brands in your area.

Buffalo Blue (we use this dog food)
Solid Gold
California Naturals
Honest Kitchen
Orijen
Holistic Select
Canidae
 Evangers
Wellness
I am also in the beginning stages of researching natural remedies and here is the link for more information on natural healing.
Natural Rearing

Click here for an abundance of information from the Whole Dog Journal.
Contact Kelly Spivey 334-794-9766       email