Oh NO, Not Color Again....

Here's a QUIZ for you--Which of the following statements is TRUE?

(1) ALL Golden Retrievers are born SOME SHADE of gold, because the breed possesses a GOLD master gene for color. Thus red and/or cream are simply SHADES of gold.
(2) ALL Golden Retrievers possess the RED master gene for color; the red or gold or cream coats are the result of other genetic influences interacting with this red gene PRIOR to birth. And each of these THREE are distinct birth COLORS, NOT merely SHADES of color. 

   This is the central issue of coat color in the Golden Retriever breed. If you believe (1) is correct, how do you then justify the belief that cream coats or red coats are "undesirable" and that they should be penalized in the conformation ring? After all they are each an expression of this gold master gene. All possess the same DNA, the same genetic makeup.


   If you believe (2) to be correct,  and you  hold to the opinion that a TRUE Golden Retriever MUST be truly GOLD in color, then it may be easier for you to separate the "undesirable" pups from the truly gold-- without having to check their ear color or having to wait a  sufficient amount of time until their adult color develops fully. It takes the guesswork out of judging younger dogs in the conformation ring as well.

   Problem is that you may have born- light- GOLD pups in the same litter as true cream pups. Even the well-trained eye may not be able to separate one from the other. The best way to deal with that possibility is to breed ONLY GOLD studs and bitches which are at least three or more generations of PURE GOLD background.
   The same might be said in order to avoid producing red Golden Retrievers. ONLY breed GOLD to GOLD without exception.
   Another problem: What to do with the "undesirable" ends of the color spectrum. Should breeders be encouraged not to breed to either red or cream Golden Retrievers? Should the dogs and bitches deemed "undesirable" be spayed and/or neutered in order to be registered by the AKC? Is euthanasia a desirable option?
   And what should these NON-Golden Retrievers be called? Should fanciers of these extreme and undesirable coat colors be permitted to create a separate breed? Or perhaps a separate class-- as long as owners promised not to breed such "undesirable" dogs to GOLD-coated Golden Retrievers?