The Golden Retriever is a medium-large gun dog that was bred to retrieve shot waterfowl, such as ducks and upland game birds, during hunting and shooting parties. The name 'retriever' refers to the breed's ability to retrieve shot game undamaged due to their soft mouth. Golden retrievers are well suited to residency in suburban or country environments. In addition, they are trained to be a hunting dog, a detection dog, and a search and rescue participant. The American standard also makes requirements about the proportion, substance, head and skull, neck, body, topline, forequarters, and hindquarters; in these respects, the American-type Retriever is the same as Golden Retrievers that conform to other national standards. American breeders of Golden Retrievers sometimes import their dogs from Britain to take advantage of the temperament and appearance of the British types.