February 3rd marks an important day for dog lovers all across America– especially owners of golden retrievers. National Golden Retriever Day, created in 2012, celebrates an iconic dog breed that has been around since the late 1800s.
Kristen Shroyer was inspired to start National Golden Retriever Day after the death of her Golden, Quincy, at age 7. This day marks Quincy’s birthday and continues to honor her more than a decade since her passing.
When asked whether she had heard about this day before, Sophia Wheeler, a senior at Champaign Central High School, said she had not, but would now celebrate her golden doodle, Cash, through treats and pets. She also mentioned “light[ing] a candle in honor” of her grandparents’ golden, Halo, who has since passed.
“One of my favorite memories of my dog is how he’s always so sweet and likes to lay in my bed. I love it, it’s like a warm weighted blanket,” Wheeler said.
Cuddles aren’t the only good trait golden retrievers have, though. Kenzie Martinsen, a sophomore at Central, remarked on the fun she has playing with her two golden retrievers. Martinsen’s fondest memories with her goldens are “playing with them in [her] yard” and “chasing them.” She also enjoys “play[ing] fetch.”
Aside from their large amounts of energy and bubbly personalities, golden retrievers are also known for their high levels of intelligence.
An article published by Bark goes into depth about the intelligence levels of golden retrievers and highlights them as “one of the most intelligent dog breeds” due to their “higher percentage” of brain mass in relation to their body.
The high intelligence levels of goldens definitely show outside of scientific research. In fact, Martinsen’s favorite trait of golden retrievers is that they’re “very bright.”
This trait, along with an amenable personality and heavy sense of devotion, is a large reason many golden retrievers become service dogs.
As an article by The American Kennel Club puts it, “the breed’s intelligence and eagerness to please means they are easy to train for specific tasks,” and, therefore, “a popular choice as service dogs.”
Whether as a family dog or a working one, golden retrievers help bring light into their owner’s lives, which is especially good to celebrate during these trying times. They are, as Wheeler put it, “‘America’s Dog’” which “represent a type of positivity and hope that other dogs [aren’t] known for.”