English Cream Golden Retriever: 5 Things You Didn’t Know
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Most people are already familiar with the Golden Retriever – you know, the small gorgeous dog adorned in a long, shiny coat? Well, there are actually several types of golden retrievers, each varying in coat color. One of the rarer variations is the English Cream Golden Retriever. It is so rare that, in fact, it is only recognized by British and Canadian authorities. This means that the dog does not meet the American Kennel Club standards, and your dog may not be official in the States. Surprised? Read on to discover more about your dog. Here are five things you didn’t know about the English Cream Golden Retriever.
1. Cream color does not signify superiority
Some people consider the cream color of a golden retriever to be generally more attractive. However, this does not necessarily mean that a lighter-coated puppy is any way superior or well-bred. In fact, it is advisable to pay particular attention to the breeding program if it concentrates mainly on color. If the breeder claims that the light creams are healthier or more valuable than darker colored Golden Retrievers, chances are they are just looking to attract more buyers.
2. They are not actually from England
Although the name suggests that this dog breed originates from England, all Golden retrievers can actually trace their roots to Scotland. Most of the current light coated Golden Retrievers are actually bred in North America, while others are descendants of dogs imported from various European countries, Australia, New Zealand, and Scandinavia.
3. They are slightly different from American Golden Retrievers
American Golden Retrievers were bred from English variants imported to the U.S through Canada, but they developed and evolved differently from their English counterparts. This is particularly because they were bred according to the AKC standards as opposed to the UK standards. The English Cream Golden Retriever comes with:
- A straighter top line
- A more protruding chest
- A darker nose
- Rounder eyes
- A broader head
- A heavier, stockier build
- And of course, a generally lighter coat color
The American Golden Retriever features a sloping back end, more lightweight appearance, and generally darker eyes.
4. They have a long history
According to the Golden Retriever Club of Canada, the cream color was introduced to the English Standard back in 1936. However, it was only after years of selective breeding that the lighter specimens were baptized “English Cream Golden Retrievers”. These light-colored specimens go by several other different names today. These include White Golden Retrievers, Platinum Blond Goldens, White Goldens, Light Golden Retrievers, Blond Golden Retrievers, European Golden Retrievers, and English Golden Retrievers. While the American Kennel Club recognizes that there are various shades of of Golden Retrievers, it strongly discourages predominant body colors that are either too dark or too pale, such as is the case with English Cream Golden Retrievers.
5. They are slightly healthier than American Golden Retrievers
A certain study showed that American Golden Retrievers were more susceptible to various cancers than the English Cream Golden Retriever. These cancers include osteosarcoma, mast-cell tumors, lymphosarcomas, and hemangiosarcomas. American Goldens had a 61.8 percent chance of acquiring the cancers while the English bloodlines were only 38.8 percent susceptible. The studies also revealed that the English Cream Goldens had an average life expectancy of 12 years while their counterpart American goldens averaged 10 years and 8 months. However, this does not mean that the English Cream is immune to cancer and will live up to its prime age. It all depends on good breeding. The secret is essentially a combination of nature and nurture, meaning good genes and optimal care by a responsible owner.
