The Lady (or Gent) Doth Protest Too Much, Methinks

   When discussing the English type Golden Retriever, why not cite William Shakespeare's Hamlet, Act III, Scene II to add a little class.
   If you advertise that you are offering the English or British type Golden Retriever, and the breeding stock that you have chosen are nearly all cream or light gold in color, cannot it be said correctly that you are breeding for color? After all, you could have chosen to import dogs with moderate to dark coat color. They are certainly available in large numbers. But you opted instead for the lighter- colored dogs. Was your decision coincidental? An unintended consequence? Was color the last thing on your mind when you made your selections?
   The breeder who makes such decisions is linking the so-called British type to the color rightly or wrongly called "English cream." If it turns out that the Goldens he/she produces have a lower incidence of hip dysplasia or cancer, if the resulting Goldens have a more desirable temperament than others in the breed, can we summarily dismiss coat color as a possible factor in these results? After all the desired results (to the extent that they exist) cannot be due to the introduction of dark-coated  English-type Goldens into one's line. They weren't used. (Though I believe that the hoped for results would be the same.) Why insist that color had absolutely nothing to do with it? There is always the possibility that there might be some sort of genetic linkage  (the blue merle color gene and its relationship to health issues in some breeds comes to mind).
   Coat color is an intrinsic element in the makeup of a Golden Retriever. Personal preferences will always COLOR our choices; and COLOR will always to some degree determine those choices.
   Like it or not, there has been a preponderance of cream and light gold dogs among the stud dogs of note which have been imported by Canadian breeders. Can anyone question the quality of dogs such as Mjaerumhogda's Kyon Flying Surprise, Dewmist Davenport, Majik Mr Darcy, Giltedge Traveller, Dream Max Jorgen Brink, Zampanzar Jungle Joy, Linirgor Must Be Love, Remington Rupert Bear, Raynox Heart of Gold?
   Other imports of high quality may have had somewhat darker hues. Cheek To Cheek Steve MacQueen, Trewater Secret Romance, Fantango Johnny Walker, Sundowner de Ria Vela come most immediately to mind. But it is no secret that the cream coats have left their mark on the Canadian Golden Retriever.
   And there is no reason to downplay the role of cream-coated dogs in the breed history north of the 49th parallel. Yet it appears to be happening.
   One renowned Canadian breeder says that, "we don't breed for color," and goes on to say that, "more laid back than American retrievers, our English Golden Retrievers are larger boned and have bigger, blockier heads." Is this to suggest that temperament is tied to type?
   Another advertises the fact that they are the "home of British- type Golden Retrievers." The breeder says, "colour of a Golden's coat does not dictate whether he might be English or American in style. English -style Goldens range in colour from cream to dark gold! As a breeder and judge of Golden Retrievers: colour is the LAST thing I would consider. LET US IGNORE THE COLOUR of the coat and appreciate the innate temperament and the conformation." This website, like others, features mostly cream- coated dogs.
   A third breeder admits that while the kennel," has been known for our cream English- type Golden Retrievers,...rest assured that COLOUR IS INSIGNIFICANT to us and ALWAYS SECONDARY to the temperament, hunting desire and high trainability, health and longevity of our puppies."
   The breeding program is based upon "the very best of British, Scandanavian and North American English-type blood lines." And once again, the breeding stock appears to have been largely cream or light gold in color. All three--top Canadian breeders; all heavily committed to the British type-- usually but not always cream or light gold in color.