popular breed of sporting dog known for its quick reflexes as a hunting and retrieving dog, for its trusting expression, and for its animated demeanor and its trainability; lustrous golden coat is dense, feathery, wavy, and water-repellent; ears are relatively short, flop forward, and lie close to the cheek; long tail is thick, muscular, and fringed; intelligent eyes are deep-set and quite dark; adult stands 21–24 in. (53–61 cm) tall at shoulders and weighs 60–75 lbs (27–34 kg); once also called Russian retriever or Russian tracker because of the legend that Russian sheepdogs from a traveling circus were ancestors of this breed; very affectionate and reliable; Dudley Majoribanks, Lord Tweedmouth, is largely credited with developing the modern breed in late 19th century in Great Britain,