Golden Retriever
Breed Standard

GENERAL APPEARANCE - Symmetrical, balanced, active, powerful, level mover; sound with kindly expression.

CHARACTERISTICS - Biddable, intelligent and possessing natural working ability.

TEMPERAMENT - Kindly, friendly and confident.

HEAD AND SKULL - Balanced and well-chiseled, skull broad without coarseness; well set on neck, muzzle powerful, wide and deep. Length of foreface approximately equals length from well-defined stop to occiput. Nose preferably black.

EYES - Dark brown, set well apart, dark rims.

EARS - Moderate size, set on approximate level with eyes.

MOUTH - Jaws strong, with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. Upper teeth closely overlapping the lower teeth and set square to the jaws.

NECK - Good length, clean and muscular.

FOREQUARTERS - Forelegs straight with good bone, shoulders well laid back, long in blade with upper arm of equal length placing legs well under body. Elbows close fitting.

BODY - Balanced, short coupled, deep through heart. Ribs deep, well sprung. Level topline.

HINDQUARTERS - Loin and legs strong and muscular, good second thighs, well bent stifles. Hocks well let down, straight when viewed from rear, neither turning in nor out. Cowhocks highly undesirable.

FEET - Round and cat-like.

TAIL - Set on and carried level with back, reaching to hocks, without curl at tip.

GAIT/MOVEMENT - Powerful with good drive. Straight and true in front and rear. Stride long and free with no sign of hackney action in front.

COAT - Flat or wavy with good feathering, dense water-resisting undercoat.

COLOUR - Any shade of gold or cream, neither red nor mahogany. A few white hairs on chest only, permissible.

SIZE -

Height: Dogs 56-61 cms (22-24 ins) at withers

Bitches 51-56 cms (20-22 ins) at withers

FAULTS - Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree.

NOTE - Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.