I find it very good to be mentioned here, but the analysis is excellent. Genetic diversity. Breed splits. It’s all there.
The only thing I would add is the temperament also appears to be going sideways.
But because I found this blog post, there is still plenty of room for hope!
We’re in a real fezzle now aren’t we. We have a closed registry, multiple allergies and health problems, lower fecundity rates and smaller litters, fatal diseases and behavioral dysfunctions. All these problems are multiplying like rabbits and nobody knows what to do. We can’t even try to recreate the breed because the other breeds that were part of this great experiment have the same problems or worse.
We’re doomed by our own successes. I am willing to bet it will take 100 years to undo some of the damage but at what cost to the dogs and to us?
See the Skye terrier for your answer.
I’m no breeder but I would suggest the first step is to get organized, and the next is to start collecting more genetic material. One place to look might be among the unregistered, backyard bred, pet quality golden retrievers (I’m sure there are many out there descended from those dogs that were eliminated from the registered gene pool). After that, I would work to get rid of the breed devisions there is no need for them. The golden retriever is certainly not doomed.
I particularly liked the part she wrote about our obsession with neutering. I understand it is responsible; but if you’re responsible is it neccessary? It’s not like we have wolves walking around with testicular cancer because they weren’t neutered, the argument of doing it for health reasons is obserd. If neutering is a control measure I can understand that a little more. I would’t want a first time dog owner to deal with an unruly intact male.
In general, though, male goldens aren’t unruly. I’ve found them to be, if anything, a little easier to handle than bitches.
In Europe, neutering is far less common, and the dogs learn to deal with their hormones– and their owners do, too.
Yes, that part was very important.
We have to get new genetic material in this breed. We are also going to have to breed show and field dogs together, even if it makes for “ugly” show dogs and working dogs that are a bit less useful.
The Labs do have the advantage of being much more genetically diverse than goldens are.
I wonder if neutering will solve testicular cancer in the human populations? Hmmm.
Its actually a nice read and really goes back over things already brought out here in this blog. I appreciate knowing there are other sane individuals out there who aren’t running with the blinders on looking into a future driven by some outdated standards and practices.
If you have dogs like “shuttle” out there, and working Irish (either Irish, red setter or red & whites), Labradors, etc, it would seem entirely possible to increase the health, working ability and temperament of Goldens. It would take either establishing one’s own registry or working carefully by selecting from among the AKC/FCI/UK registry. What is necessary is for people to get together and start doing something. Talking about it doesn’t do anything.
It would certainly take either a very rich individual or several people working in concert, but the development of “new” breeds or “designer dogs” clearly shows that if one wants to create a “type”, it’s not impossible. It just may be impossible to do it within AKC registry or calling them “golden retrievers”.
Peggy Richter
The Gaylans blog is excellent. There ARE people in Goldens who have been saying much the same for years. There ARE a few people in Goldens who have tried to keep their breeding to the historical ideal. Unfortunately, over the past few decades the breed has lost a number of very useful bloodlines for various reasons, including the campaign to “eliminate” hip dysplasia, and then the “popular sire syndrome” in both show and field lines. And even more unfortunately, the relentless human urge to “win” whatever the cost, has proved extremely detrimental. “Good enough” isn’t, anymore.
And yes, there is a lot of potential out there, if one takes the time and effort to find it. But of course that means that one needs to have the knowledge to recognize true quality,what will truly benefit the breed, and the wisdom to use that well. Alas, few breeders even make the effort in that regard…
Lots of hope for the golden retriever.
BTW, I want to thank you for all you’ve done for golden retrievers.
Your book is still one of my favorite resources.