Jim McMahon

Can you imagine trying to get 488 golden retrievers to pose for a photo? This summer, people and their dogs traveled from around the globe to the Scottish Highlands to celebrate the 155th anniversary of the breed’s creation. The gathering is held every five years at the ruins of Guisachan House, once the home of Sir Dudley Marjoribanks, who’s credited with developing the golden retriever in 1868. He wanted a rugged hunting companion with a loving disposition. Golden retrievers are one of the world’s most beloved breeds, currently the third most popular in the U.S. (behind French bulldogs and Labrador retrievers). So it’s no surprise that people were willing to travel thousands of miles—from places including Australia, Bavaria, and Croatia—to attend this year’s gathering. Deborah Robbins, who drove nine hours from England with her two dogs, told The Washington Post that the event stirred a lot of emotion. “To see them all together,” she said, “was just so special, especially in the place where the first golden retrievers were bred.”