This is really fascinating. I asked GPT for the history of the golden retriever:

The Origin of the Golden Retriever

The golden retriever has one of the most carefully documented origin stories in the dog world - and yes, it's a textbook example of deliberate genetic modification through selective breeding.

Time and Place:
Scotland, mid to late 1800s.

The Problem:
Scottish noblemen wanted a dog that could retrieve game on both land and water. It needed a soft mouth, good stamina, a friendly personality, a strong nose, and a coat that could handle the elements. No existing breed checked all the boxes.

Enter Lord Tweedmouth:
Dudley Marjoribanks - yes, really - also known as Lord Tweedmouth, set out to engineer the ideal gun dog. He kept meticulous breeding records, which is why we know this story so well.

The Foundation Cross:
In 1868, he bred a yellow wavy-coated retriever named Nous (the only yellow pup in a litter of black retrievers) with a Tweed Water Spaniel named Belle. That breed is now extinct, but was known for calm temperament and excellent swimming skills.

Building the Bloodline:
Over the next few decades, Tweedmouth added:

* More wavy and flat-coated retrievers
* Bloodhounds (for scent-tracking)
* Irish setters (for energy and grace)
* Some black Lab lines (for reliability)

The Result:
By the early 1900s, the golden retriever had become its own distinct breed - intelligent, trainable, friendly, and great in the field. It was officially recognized by The Kennel Club in 1911, and by the American Kennel Club in 1925.

Why "Golden"?
They were originally called "Yellow Retrievers." The name "Golden Retriever" came later, once the coat color became more consistent and breeders wanted a name with a little more marketing appeal.

So that friendly, loyal golden at your feet? It's not just nature. It's careful, intentional design - genetically modified for function and friendliness, with a bit of aristocratic flair.

And of course, then I had to ask to compare and contrast to Black Labs. I have two of those...

Black Labs vs. Golden Retrievers: A Quick Look at Two Classic Breeds

Both Black Labs and Golden Retrievers come from the same general family tree. They're retrievers, bred to work closely with people, especially in waterfowl hunting. But despite their similarities, they've got some notable differences.

Origins
Labrador Retrievers were originally bred in Newfoundland from sturdy water dogs used by fishermen. They were later refined in England to become the Labs we know today. Golden Retrievers, on the other hand, were developed in Scotland. A guy named Lord Tweedmouth started the breed by crossing a yellow retriever with a now-extinct Tweed Water Spaniel, eventually mixing in some Lab, bloodhound, and setter to round them out.

Looks and Coat
Black Labs have short, dense coats that repel water and are super easy to maintain. Goldens have longer, feathered coats that shed more and need regular brushing. Labs are more blocky and muscular. Goldens are a little leaner and more elegant-looking.

Temperament
Both breeds are famously friendly, smart, and eager to please. Labs tend to be a little more high-energy and goofy. Goldens are often a bit gentler and more sensitive. Either one makes a great family dog, service animal, or adventure buddy.

Popularity
Labs and Goldens are consistently at the top of the charts when it comes to popularity. They're well-loved for a reason - trainable, lovable, loyal, and just happy to be part of the pack.

In short, if you want a playful, low-maintenance goofball who's always ready to fetch, go Black Lab. If you prefer a gentle, loyal companion who turns heads at the dog park, Golden Retriever might be more your speed. You can't go wrong with either.

^ My boys. Carter (back) and Cooper.

You missed one of the my most valued traits.  If they escape, they are capable of returning home.  I have a great Pyrenees and had an Alaskan Malamute.  They are roamers by nature and neither has ever returned home on their own.  They are striking looking breeds but its a whole different kind of dog.

Oh yeah, Labs are follow-you-everywhere dogs. They don't roam*. They're not curious. They follow my wife and me around the house constantly. Even if we leave the front door or the yard gates wide open, they don't leave the yard. All they want is to be where we are.

* but I have location tags on their collars, just in case. :)

I have a fair number of stories about homeopathic medicine. Back in Michigan there was a clinical where the doc would give injections of “natural” metals (like zinc, nickel) to “rebalance” the patient. He got run out of town when his “treatments” didn’t help a guy with chest pains… Yep, died from a heart attack. But bc ppl don’t learn, the doc’s daughter set up shop a few years later!

SMH

My favorite example, carbon and oxygen, necessary for life, right?
But put one of each together, and you have a natural killer.
I then have to go on to explain that although one particular atom may be toxic, like mercury, when combined with other atoms, it becomes an effective preservative, for example in vaccines, that won't harm you as the single unbound atom would.
How about chlorine and sodium? Both are very toxic to humans, unless combined in a shaker on your table.

Michael There was one such quack in my town that was well known because he tried to cure a pregnancy (the patient went in with abdominal pains, but didn't know her condition) with a spinal alignment.