Most Goldens are natural retrievers, meaning that they are born knowing how to pick up things in their mouths and carry them. Some Goldens, however, are not genetically gifted when it comes to retrieving things, or they have the desire to pick up things but don't bring them back. Refining a talent for retrieving takes some training, but having a dog that you can teach to fetch his own leash or put away his toys is worth the effort it takes to polish this ability.