National Golden Retriever Day Date in the current year: February 3, 2024

The Golden Retriever is a British dog breed that was created by Sir Dudley Marjoribanks in the late 19th century. A retriever is a type of gun dog whose main task is to retrieve game for a hunter, hence the name. Retriever breeds are bred for their obedience and willingness to please. They are highly trainable and patient.

Marjoribanks created a new breed by cross-breeding Flat-coated Retrievers with now extinct Tweed Water Spaniels, with some further infusions of Labrador Retriever, Red Setter and Bloodhound. The Kennel Club recognized the Golden Retriever in 1913. The Canadian Kennel Club followed suit in 1927, the American Kennel Club in 1932, and the International Canine Federation (FCI) in 1954.

Although today Golden Retrievers are still occasionally used as gun dogs, they are most commonly kept as companion dogs due to their temperament. Golden Retrievers are intelligent, playful, gentle natured, affectionate, clam and eager to please. They are generally very tolerant of other pets and children, which makes them great family dogs.

Due to being highly trainable, Golden Retrievers are often trained as therapy dogs and service dogs. They are among the most popular guide dog breeds, alongside Labrador Retrievers, German Shepherds, and Standard Poodles. Golden Retrievers also frequently compete in obedience trials and dog shows, although they rarely win major dog shows despite being a very popular breed in a number of Western countries.

National Golden Retriever Day was created by Kristen Shroyer, a proud owner of a Golden Retriever named Quincy. One day, she was drinking coffee and watching the news with her loyal golden coated companion at her feet. Listening to a report on Eat Cherry Pie Day, she thought that if there was a date to celebrate cherry pie, Golden Retrievers surely had their own holiday, too.

It turned out that Shroyer was wrong, so she decided to create one. She picked Quincy’s birthday (February 3) as the date to celebrate her furry friend. The inaugural National Golden Retriever Day was celebrated on February 3, 2012. Sadly, Quincy died from cancer in 2015, but thanks to National Golden Retriever Day, he will remembered for a long time.

Proud owners of Golden Retrievers celebrate the holiday by buying their pups new toys and treats, taking them on long walks or playing indoors if the weather isn’t particularly nice, and sharing pictures of their pets on social media.

For those who’ve wanted to adopt a Golden Retriever for a long time, National Golden Retriever Day is the perfect push to finally do it. And people who love Golden Retrievers but can’t adopt a dog for one reason or another often celebrate the holiday by supporting local animal shelters and spreading the word.