The original 1868 cross that became the foundation for the breed was between an undetermined breed of yellow retriever stud named Nous and a Tweed Water Spaniel bitch named Belle. (dogs.lovetoknow.com)
The first dogs of the breed were called yellow retrievers; since the 1930s, the standard has only allowed yellow or cream dogs, never red. (reference.com)
In the mid-1800s, Lord Tweedmouth of Guisachan bought his first yellow retriever, a male, whom he bred to a Tweed Water Spaniel in hopes of developing an even better bird dog. (dogbreedstandards.com)