golden retriever

A gentle, people-friendly breed of working dog originally bred in 1867 from a Yellow Labrador and a Tweed Water Spaniel, with that offspring later combined with the Irish Setter and Bloodhound. With hair color ranging from light blonde to deep red, the Golden Retriever can be most easily distinguished by its puffy tail plummage, altogether different from the thick, powerful tail of the Yellow Lab (the breed with which it is most often confused). Golden Retrievers may have a physique ranging from spindly and athletic to the familiar fat, furry beer keg with the wagging hindquarters and the green tennis ball hanging out of its mouth. They're house dogs (don't keep them in kennels!) and live an average of 10-12 years.