The golden touch

• The golden retriever is the seventh most popular breed in the UK and the second most popular retriever behind the labrador—in 2020, there were 8,653 goldens registered and 39,905 labradors

• Three of the 29 dogs to receive the PDSA gold medal for bravery—the nonmilitary counterpart to the PDSA Dickin medal—have been golden retrievers

• Among the rescue dogs used during 9/11 was golden retriever Bretagne.

The bitch later participated in the rescue efforts after Hurricanes

Rita, Katrina and Ivan and, on retiring, she continued her service as a reading dog at a local elementary school

• Two US presidents had golden retrievers when in office—presidents Ford and Reagan

• A long-time Hollywood favourite, goldens have recently captured hearts on the small screen, taking lead roles in the Marvel Studio series Hawkeye (2021) and the Channel 5 hit All Creatures Great and Small (2020)