Golden Retriever

Developed in the Scottish Highlands in the mid-1800s to fetch shot game from land and water, the Golden owes part of its swimming urge to the Tweed Water Spaniel in its founding pair. It is the gentlest family choice on this list, happy to paddle beside children at the shore, but the feathered coat and heavy ears hold water, so rinse off lake weed, towel thoroughly and check ears for redness or smell. Ask breeders about cancer in their lines: around half of Golden Retrievers in one American study died of it.