The 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 fore-face 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 lower teeth and set 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 and well sprung. Level top-line.
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. Cow Hocks highly undesirable.
Feet. Round and cat-like.
Tail. Set on and carried level with back, reaching the 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 at withers: Dogs 56-61 cms (22-24 ins); Bitches 51-56 cms (20-22 ins).
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.
©The Kennel Club
Copyright The Kennel Club. Reproduced with their kind permission
