Hundreds of golden retrievers compete in regional SA

Nearly 300 golden retrievers have gathered in Tanunda, South Australia, for the 13th Golden Retriever National, a competition held every three years. The event, which primarily focuses on beauty rather than brains, brought together dogs and breeders from across the country. The competition featured 60 dogs in obedience categories and nearly 280 in confirmation rounds, showcasing the breed's beauty.

Janelle Salvestrin from Sydney, who traveled 1,300 kilometers, brought six golden retrievers, one of which, four-year-old Brew, won second place in the open dog class. Sherry Jewell from Queensland, representing her team of four-legged champions, including 10-year-old Bruce, who took the Winner of Winners category. The Golden Retriever Club of SA, the event's host, prepared their nine dogs for show day over two days, noting that entries in the confirmation category typically outnumber those in obedience.

Judging the competition, which assesses factors such as the dog's head, expression, construction, movement, and temperament, was a challenging task. Marjo Jaakkola, a 26-year veteran dog judge from Finland, praised the quality of the dogs at the Tanunda competition, stating it was a joy to see such lovely and high-quality golden retrievers.