English Cream Golden Retriever: Breed Info, Pictures, Facts & Traits

English Cream Golden Retrievers are very similar to other Golden Retrievers. However, some slight coloration differences set them apart. Furthermore, English Golden Retrievers are slightly different from the dogs found in the United States.

However, no matter what type of Golden Retriever we’re talking about, all of these dogs share the same history and general traits. A darker Golden Retriever will act very similar to an English Cream Golden Retriever. A dog’s personality and temperament traits are not controlled by its appearance.

Before we jump into the history of this breed, it is important to know that an English Cream Golden Retriever is different from an Albino Golden Retriever. Albino dogs can occur randomly due to a genetic mishap. However, English Cream Golden Retrievers are purposefully bred.

The Earliest Records of the English Cream Golden Retriever

The Golden Retriever was originally developed in Scotland in the 1800s. Mostly, the whole breed was developed by Sir Dudley Marjoribanks. The breed was purposefully developed by mixing a few different breeds together, including the Tweed Water Spaniel and the Flat-Coated Retriever.

Originally, there were many theories as to how this breed developed. However, a studbook was published in 1952 that laid out how the breed was created. Therefore, we know much more about this breed’s origins than others.

Marjoribanks wanted to create the “ultimate” breed of retriever for his Scottish estate. He originally acquired a Flat-coated Retriever, who was the only yellow puppy in the litter. While yellow was an uncommon coloration for these dogs, it did happen.

Later, this dog was mated to a Tweed Water Spaniel. This litter resulted in four different yellow puppies, which represented the basis for the Golden Retriever breed. These dogs were then mated with other Tweed Water Retrievers and some Red Setters.

From there, puppies were mated to a wide variety of English breeds, such as Labrador Retrievers and many more Flat-coated Retrievers. Even a Bloodhound was used in the breeding program.

How the English Cream Golden Retriever Gained Popularity

In the early years, the Golden Retriever was called the “Flat-coated Retriever, Golden”. However, this was a bit of a mouthful and didn’t help set the breed apart from the Flat-coated retriever. Therefore, the name was eventually changed.

That said, it was a long time until the Kennel Club or anyone else began recording them as a separate breed. In 1903, when the Kennel Club first began keeping track of this breed, they were included with the other Flat-coated Retrievers.

In 1911, a breed club was formed to promote the breed in Britain. This club gave the breed its new name “Yellow or Golden Retriever.” From there, they sought to change the name of the breed and establish it as separate from other retrievers.

Formal Recognition of the English Cream Golden Retriever

In the beginning, this dog wasn’t exceedingly popular. There were other retrieving breeds around, and the Golden Retriever was not known outside of small circles.

However, in the years after the First World War, that began to change. In the 1920s and 1930s, the breed spread around the Western world pretty quickly. The Canadian Kennel Club recognized the breed in 1927, and the American Kennel Club recognized the breed in 1932.

Because the breed was popular worldwide, they did not see a huge decline during the Second World War like so many other British breeds. There was plenty of good breeding stock globally. Therefore, the breed could withstand both wars without taking a huge hit.

3 Unique Facts About the English Cream Golden Retriever

1. They aren’t all that rare.

Many breeders present lighter-colored Golden Retrievers as extremely rare. However, this isn’t necessarily the case. Golden Retriever standards have always counted the whole “cream” gradient as part of this breed. Therefore, the lighter color has likely been around since the breed’s early years.

2. They aren’t necessarily better.

To increase the popularity of these dogs, some breeders have also claimed that this coloration makes the dog “better,” whether that means a better temperament, longevity, or other traits. However, this isn’t the truth. The English Cream Golden Retriever is like any other Golden Retriever in these cases. They are in the same breed, recognized by kennel clubs worldwide.

3. Owners shouldn’t purchase a puppy just because of its color.

There are many reasons why you may not want to adopt a puppy just because of the color. While lighter-colored Golden Retrievers can be attractive to buyers, breeders that focus only on these colors unnecessarily narrow the gene pool. Therefore, purchasing from breeders that only sell lighter-colored dogs could mean that their puppies are more prone to genetic problems.

Therefore, we recommend purchasing a puppy because it is well-bred and from an ethical breeder.

Do English Cream Golden Retrievers Make a Good Pet?

Yes, English Cream Golden Retrievers can make great pets if you understand they are just Golden Retrievers. Despite some breeder angling over the past few years, these dogs are not any different from your average Golden Retriever.

Therefore, when you adopt a puppy, you will potentially deal with the same health issues and temperament problems that other Golden Retrievers experience. You will need to be prepared and properly take care of your dog to ensure it stays as healthy as possible.

Golden Retrievers are best for dog owners that want to do things with their dogs. These canines need both physical and mental stimulation daily. Therefore, they work well for those that want to join canine agility competitions, obedience trials, and similar canine sports. Of course, they can be very good for dog owners that simply want someone to play frisbee with, too.

These dogs are extremely trustworthy, loyal pets. However, this also means that they are prone to separation anxiety. Crate training at an early age is vital. Otherwise, these dogs may have a hard time being alone.

Because they are a working breed, they can be extremely active and they need quite a bit of exercise compared to other breeds. For this reason, we recommend them for individuals that are more active, as well. An under-stimulated Golden Retriever can be destructive.

Final Thoughts

English Cream Golden Retrievers are simply Golden Retrievers with lighter coats. They are not their own breed or better than dogs of a darker color. Instead, the difference is purely aesthetic. Therefore, we don’t recommend only choosing a dog based on the coat color, as there are several other more important factors to consider.

The lighter spectrum of the Golden Retriever coat color has always been a recognized part of the breed and this coloration has been around since the early days of the breed.

Featured Image Credit: LightField Studios, Shutterstock