With their loveable looks, gentle demeanor, and eagerness to please, golden retrievers are among the world's most charming dogs. Easily trained, loyal, and friendly almost to a fault, they are pets and companions beyond compare, as easygoing as they are alert to every possibility for a frolic. Gifted retrievers (of course!) and trackers, they are as likely to distinguish themselves on the obedience course or in the show ring as in the field or family room.In this delightful book, all that is golden gets its due, as writers who are as keen about their dogs as they are about their craft tell stories about golden retrievers at their most winsome, mischievous, touching, brave, and, always, memorable. Celebrated storytellers such as James Herriot, Dean Koontz, Bill Tarrant, and Roger Welsch tell shaggy dog tales that give ample, endlessly entertaining evidence of why the golden retriever is probably the world's most beloved pet. Accompanied by irresistible photographs, their stories of spirited puppies and tireless retrievers and boon companions constitute a moving - and fitting - tribute to a dog that is truly mankind's best friend.