GOLDEN RETRIEVER NEWS Is OLD News

   Now that it's almost Memorial Day I received my copy of the March-April 2014 Golden Retriever News, There it was on page 33-- an article on "Color!" Perhaps something new? No such luck, since the entry was a repeat of an essay which first appeared in 1999-- by my count, that's fifteen years ago. I guess the more things change, the more they stay the same.
   To the novice, five of the photos which accompanied the article pictured what appeared to be RED Golden Retrievers. But lest you get your panties tied in a knot, the author assures the reader that the dogs pictured represent an "acceptable deep red gold." Elsewhere she describes acceptable "red " Goldens  as "more of the chestnut or red-golden shade."   That's a new one on me. Kind of pushing the envelop quite a bit, is it not? Especially when ALL world Golden Retriever standards consider red coats beyond the pale (pun intended).
   The author offers a rather novel argument. "One problem with nearly white dogs...is that they have a tendency to readily show dirt. and often look grubby without frequent bathing....and such a dog could carry white markings that could not be detected. Very light dogs often lack the beautiful gloss and sparkle of TRULY GOLDEN coats, simply because they reflect the light differently."  This from one who claims that coat color is the last thing a judge should consider.
   And I especially like the part about SUPER SMART DUCKS. You see, the overly light dogs are "too conspicuous in the duck blind," and the ever-vigilant ducks-- seeing them hiding there --will fly off unmolested and still very much alive.
   However, if you are hunting for this same flock of ducks with Novia Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers, it's an entirely different story. The writer claims that, "some white flash on the NSDTR is characteristic, as part of THEIR FUNCTION is to be visible to the ducks and lure them in with their antics. Bottom line: ducks are attracted by some white but alerted and repelled by too much white. Sort of like applying the Goldilocks concept to duck-hunting dogs. I'm not making this up folks! I'm really not.
   The author also proclaims that, "If the dog from a distance can be taken for a 'white' dog, it is too pale. If the first glance sees a dog that could enter the Irish Setter ring, it is too dark." So much for the notion that judges should largely ignore coat color-- or does that not apply to far-sighted judges? For those of you who wear rose-colored glasses and choose to believe that your cream-coated Goldens would get a fair chance in the AKC/GRCA conformation ring under these circumstances, I suggest that you provide gold-colored glasses to all judges who enter that ring, And, would you like to buy a bridge? Or perhaps oceanfront property in Arizona?