Most of these dogs are from Samuel Magoffin’s Rockhaven line, but the last two on the right are Speedwell Pluto and Wilderness Tangerine. Pluto was an import from the UK and the first AKC champion.
These dogs were centered at Samuel Magoffin’s residence in North Vancouver, British Columbia. His Rockhaven line combined with the Bert Armstrong’s earlier Gilnockie strain, which was situated in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
These dogs are (from left to right): Canadian Champions Rockhaven Lempi, Rockhaven Lassie (daughter of Speedwell Pluto), American and Canadian Ch. Rockhaven Harold, Rockhaven Amber, Rockhaven Maihi, and American and Canadian Champions Speedwell Pluto and Wilderness Tangerine (mother of Lassie).
Wilderness Tangerine was imported from England, as was Pluto of course. The others were born in North America. The Gilnockie kennel name was transferred to Magoffin after Bart Armstrong’s death, and used for the Magoffin kennel in Colorado, managed by Sam’s brother John.
These dogs and others of similar background were the basis for the Golden breed in the Central and Western USA well into the 1960s– dogs that both worked and showed.
When I think of Goldens these are the kind of dogs I think of. Not those fluffy ones.
Do you have a date for the pic?
Sometime in the mid-30’s.
I am the proud owner of the first Tracking Champion in Canada- a (now 14 yrs old) Golden that looks quite like Tangerine above. Not at all typey of the current Goldens.
I traced her pedigree and lo and behold 16 generations back is Speedwell Pluto. So thrilled! Then I traced my young Golden and all my friends’ Goldens and they all go back to Pluto. Of course!