Dogs

Likely the best known retriever is the labrador retriever. Retrievers were bred primarily to retrieve birds or other prey and return them to the hunter without damage. They are bred and trained to hold their retrieved game with a "soft mouth", the willingness of the dog to carry game without damaging it. "Hard mouth" is a serious fault in a hunting dog and is one that is very difficult to correct. A hard-mouthed dog renders game unpresentable or at worst inedible.

Although spaniels and some pointing breeds routinely retrieve game, and many retrievers are skilled in finding game, retrievers are distinguished in that non-slip retrieval is their primary function. As a result, retriever breeds are bred for soft mouths and a great willingness to please, learn, and obey.

The retriever's willingness to please and trainability have made retrievers such as the Labrador Retriever and Golden Retriever popular as assistance dogs.

Retrievers include:

American Water Spaniel
Barbet
Boykin Spaniel
Chesapeake Bay Retriever
Corded Poodle
Curly-Coated Retriever
Flat-Coated Retriever
Golden Retriever
Golden Doodle * not yet a recognised breed
Irish Water Spaniel
Labrador Retriever
Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever
Poodle
Portuguese Water Dog

Other Dogs with retrieving skill:

American Cocker Spaniel
Blackmouth Cur
Drentse Patrijshond (Dutch Partridge Dog)
English Cocker Spaniel
English Springer Spaniel
Epagneul Pont-Audemer
German Longhaired Pointer
German Shorthaired Pointer
German Wirehaired Pointer
Spinone Italiano
Vizsla, short-haired and wire-haired
Weimaraner
Welsh Springer Spaniel