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#1: English Cream Golden Retrievers Are Not From England

No, English Cream goldens are not from England.  Just like French fries are not from France. All golden retrievers originated from Scotland in the mid-1800s when Lord Tweedmouth bred a Tweed water spaniel and a yellow wavy-coated retriever.

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Most American breeders of these goldens either breed dogs from here in the States or import their dogs from all over the world, including:

• Denmark

• France

• Ukraine

• Hungary

• Spain

• New Zealand

• Australia

• The Netherlands

 

So how did English Cream goldens get their misleading name?

According to Bev Brown, the Kennel Club and the Golden Retriever Club (UK’s version of the AKC and Golden Retriever Club of America), were the first ones to write up the breed standard. And in the early 1900s, all dog shows in Britain were held in England. So in America, we called the champions of those dog shows, “English Champions.”

The “English” seems to have stuck with goldens that look like the English champions in those days, so 100 years later we’re calling them “English” Cream Golden Retrievers.

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#2: English Cream Golden Retrievers Are Just Like Other Goldens

According to the Golden Retriever Club of America, there is only one recognized breed of golden retriever.

American, Canadian, English, cream, gold, red, stocky, athletic golden retrievers are all golden retrievers.

Yes, there may be some variability in appearance, but they’re all golden retrievers.

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#3: English Cream Golden Retrievers Are Not Actually "White"

English Cream goldens come in a variety of light colors. They’re typically cream or a very light shade of gold, but not actually white - although some definitely look white!

And here’s another interesting fact here: within any litter, there may be different shades of light gold and cream, with some puppies being lighter and some being a bit darker. 

***The puppy's outer ear color is pretty good representation of their eventual adult coloring.**

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#4: English Cream Golden Retrievers Have A Wonderful Temperament

Many people think that English Cream golden retrievers are more good-natured than their American counterparts. This depends on the individual dog, their pedigree, and how they’re raised. If you want a sweet, well-mannered dog, look at the parents, not the color. Remember, there’s technically only one type of golden retriever, and goldens are typically friendly and good-natured, so talk to the breeder about their dogs, what they breed them for, and what the temperaments of their dogs typically are like. If a breeder consistently produces sweet-tempered puppies, then no matter what the color, if you get a puppy from them they’re likely to be sweet-tempered as well.

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#5: The AKC DOES Recognize Cream-Colored Golden Retrievers

Many people think that the AKC doesn’t recognize English Cream golden retrievers. English Cream goldens are still golden retrievers, just with a fancy name and typically light coloring. If you have an English Cream golden, they can still be registered with the AKC as a golden retriever (assuming the breeder has proper registration). And, yes, most English Creams do have blocky heads. They also typically have wavy coats, wider muzzles and stockier bodies.

Other golden retrievers can have these physical characteristics, too, but they may also have slimmer, more athletic bodies, a range of coat lengths and color, and narrow or wide muzzles.

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#6: English Cream Golden Retrievers Are More Expensive

The chances of your neighborhood breeder breeding English Cream goldens are less than the chance they’re breeding darker golden retrievers. And since the neighborhood breeders are typically pricing their dogs on the lower end, while quality breeders are typically charging on the higher end, it’s safe to assume that, yes, you will pay more for an English Cream.

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#7: English Cream Golden Retrievers Are Great Family Dogs

Absolutely—Golden retrievers are sweet, loving dogs that make great family pets. They’re usually wonderful with children and love nothing more than being with their families. Since they have so much energy, they do especially well with active families.

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#8: English Cream Golden Retrievers Make Good Therapy & Service Dogs

Because golden retrievers have such good temperaments and are so smart, they are one of the most common breeds for service and therapy dogs. They’re patient, loving, and friendly, plus they’re big and strong enough for many tasks required of service dogs. In addition to being therapy and service dogs, goldens also make great search and rescue dogs and hunting dogs, which is what they were initially bred for.

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#9: English Cream Golden Retrievers Are Smart

According to canine psychologist, Stanley Coren, and his book, The Intelligence of Dogs, golden retrievers are the fourth smartest breed, behind border collies (#1), poodles (#2), and German shepherds (#3). This means they are easy to train and highly intuitive. However, because they’re so smart they can also be mischievous, especially if they’re not kept occupied. It is important to mentally (and physically) stimulate them, which includes training, giving them "jobs," keeping them busy with puzzle/interactive toys, and making sure they have a consistent exercise schedule.

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#10: English Cream Golden Retrievers Are Easy To Train

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Because they’re so smart and love pleasing people, golden retrievers are easy to train. They’re sensitive and loving, so the best way to train them is through positive reinforcement, like rewarding them with a treat, toy, play or praise when they do something good. And not only are they easy to train, but they love it. What could be better than a Golden?!

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