These are photos of Goldwood Michael at an obedience trial in 1944 at Hartford, Connecticut. His owner was Morgan Brainard, who was president of Aetna Life Insurance at the time.
He was from the Goldwood Kennels at White Bear Lake, Minnesota. The owners of that breeding program were Hank and Betty Christian, who were among those founded the golden retriever in North America. They were among the first people to import them to the United States.
Michael was quite typical in appearance to dogs of that time. Today, he would probably call him “field-line” or “performance-bred.” As you can see from the photos, he was quite athletic in build. The expression in his eyes in the third photo clearly show a dog that is deeply eager to please, just asking to be given another task to show how smart he is.
From the Bert Morgan book Dog Shows, got this one several years ago Morgan has a lot of field labs with owners and handlers, as well in the book.
The dog’s trainer and handler, pictured in these photos, was Capt. Schendel. (can’t remember his first name at the moment). One of the ex-military who did so much to popularize obedience back in those early days (along with Mrs Walker and Blanche Saunders, of course).
I believe it was Herman Schendel, Chief of Police, Manchester CT.
Capt Schendel’s goldwood topshot bred to goldwood michael listed here: http://www.k9data.com/pedigree.asp?ID=21891
I love this type Golden. I was at 2 Golden Specialties this weekend and was so disappointed… bone is getting too heavy and the fur seems to be held too high in importance… These breeders need to know that their pups they sell end up shaved by their pet dog owners. I can’t attend these shows any more. It makes me too depressed…. When you add that much bone and coat to a dog and keep the height the same, you end up with a basset hound in a gold fur coat. Also, what’s up with all the amber eyes?
I don’t get it. I think the eyes are also becoming too cutesy. They don’t have that same rugged, yet gentle expression.
There was a well-known flat-coated retriever authority (when goldens were flat-coats) who clearly stated that the goal in breeding one was to keep the dogs less lumbering and heavily boned.
http://books.google.com/books?id=LlxDAAAAIAAJ&dq=english%20shot%20lumbering%20retriever&pg=PA177#v=onepage&q&f=false
If I wanted a dog like that I’d just get a Newfoundland or a Clumber.
That’s not what a golden retriever is or should be.
Look at this damn thing:
http://retrieverman.wordpress.com/2011/07/03/golden-retrievers-are-not-bassets/
Oh boy, I missed that post… I find it distressing.
http://www.grca.org/history_breed/gr_firsts_hof.html
GRCA website, scroll to second from bottom…
On that same page that Jan links to, there are two photos of Ch Des Lacs Lassie. Lassie was not only a winner in the show ring, but also ran in field trials, worked as a hunting dog, and with the Fish & Game Dept. in finding ducklings in the nest to be banded. In those years, it was taken for granted that Goldens were “dual-purpose”– versatile workers that could also be shown successfully.
Absolutely love seeing these pictures!