More than 2,000 golden retrievers and their owners descended on Buenos Aires on December 8, in what organisers say is the largest assembly of the breed ever recorded in a single location.

The event, dubbed "Golden Wave" – a play on the popular breed's name – drew 2,397 dogs to Bosques de Palermo, the Argentine capital's main park, surpassing the previous unofficial record of 1,685 golden retrievers set in Vancouver last year.

The gathering was organised by Fausto Duperré, a 28-year-old Argentine actor and social media content creator, who was inspired after attending a meeting of 150 golden retrievers in Barcelona, where he had lived for two years.

"This is a historic event," said Duperré, who regularly posts content about his 10-year-old golden retriever, Oli. "I'm truly grateful and happy, proud, excited and overjoyed all at once."

The campaign began on social media and quickly gained momentum, with the number of volunteers growing from 700 to 3,300 within a week, according to Duperré. Originally scheduled for November 30, the event was postponed due to rain.

Ten volunteers wearing yellow vests spent hours meticulously counting each golden retriever in attendance, using clipboards to register the dogs. The final tally confirmed that Argentina had broken the informal world record.

The park's grassy expanse was transformed into what attendees described as a vibrant sea of bright yellow fur. Dogs bounded after tennis balls, many sporting costumes ranging from Argentine football jerseys and national flags to tutus and Star Wars bandanas.

Retriever enthusiasts of all ages settled onto picnic blankets with their pets, sipping Argentina's traditional yerba mate drink whilst swapping stories about their retrievers' abilities to comfort them through life's challenges. Some discussed the breed's renowned capacity to detect low blood sugar and cancer.

Despite initial concerns about potential chaos, many attendees reported the event exceeded expectations.

Plans for a group photograph of the dogs alone on the field were quickly abandoned, as organisers realised that neither owners nor dogs would tolerate separation, particularly given concerns about animals becoming lost amongst thousands of nearly identical-looking canines.

Duperré initially sought certification from Guinness World Records but abandoned the idea after learning he would need to pay substantial fees in dollars to cover judges and associated expenses.

"I'm telling you right now that the record is Argentinian," he declared during the event.

Attendees were asked to bring leashes, identification collars, and bags to collect canine waste. Those able to do so were encouraged to bring food donations for dog rescue centres.

The golden retriever was developed in 19th-century Scotland by Sir Dudley Marjoribanks, later Lord Tweedmouth, as a gundog to retrieve shot waterfowl and upland game such as pheasants. Bred for their soft mouths, keen noses and love of water, the dogs proved excellent hunting companions. Their intelligence, gentle temperament and devotion to humans have since made them the world's third-most popular breed according to the American Kennel Club.