BREED STANDARD
GOLDEN RETRIEVER
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-chiselled, 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.
