General Apperance: A symmetrical, powerful, active dog, sound and well
put together, not clumsy not long in the leg, displaying a kindly expression and possesing a personality that is eager, alert
and self-confident. Primarily a hunting dog, he should be shown hard working condition. Overall apperance, balance,
galt, and purpose to be given more emphasis than any of his component parts.
Temperament: Friendly, reliable, and trustworthy. Quarrelsome or
hostility towards other dogs or people in normal situations, or an unwarranted show of timidity or nervousness, is not
in keeping with the Golden Retriever character. Such actions should be penilized according to their significance.
Size: Males-23 to 24 inches in height at withers; Females-21 1/2 to 22
1/2 inches. Dogs up to one inch above or below standard size should be proportionately penalized. Deviation in
height of more than one inch of the standard shall disqualify. Length from the breastbone to point of buttocks slightly
greater than height at whithers in ratio of 12:11. Weight for dogs 65-75 pounds; bitches 55-65 pounds.
Head: Broad in skull, slightly arched laterally and longitudinally without
prominence of frontal bones (forehead) or occipital bones. Stop well difined but not abrupt. Foreface deep and
wide, nearly as long as skull. Muzzle straight in profile, blending smoothly and strongly into skull; when viewed in
profile or from above, slightly deeper and wider at stop than at tip. No heaviness in flews. Removal of whiskers
is permitted, but not preferred.
Eyes: Friendly and intelligent in expression, medium large with dark, close
fitting rims, set well apart and reasonably deep in sockets. Color preferably dark brown; medium brown acceptable.
Slant eyes and narrow triangular eyes detract from correct expression and are to be faulted. No white or haw visible
when looking straight ahead. Dogs showing evidence of funtional and abnormality of eyelids or eyelashes (such as, but
not limited to, trichiasis, entropion, or distichiasis) are to be excused from the ring.
Teeth: Scissors bite, in which the outer side of the lower incisors.
Undershot or overshot bit is a disqualification. Misalignment of teeth (irregular placement or incisors) or a level
bite (incisors meet each other edge to edge) is undesirable, but not to be confused with undershot or overshot. Full
dentition. Obvious gaps are serious faults.
Nose: Black or brownish black, though fading to a lighter shade in cold
weather not serious. Pink nose or one seriously lacking in pigmentation to be faulted.
Ears: Rather short with edge attached well behind and just above the eye
and falling close to cheek. When pulled foward, tip of ear should just cover the eye. Low, hound-like ear set
to be faulted.
Neck: Medium long, merging gradually into well laid back shoulders, giving
sturdy, muscular apperance. Untrimmed natural ruff. No throatiness.
Body: Well-balanced, short coupled, deep through the chest. Chest
between forelegs at least as wide as a man's closed hand including thumb with well-developed forechest. Brisket extends
to elbow. Ribs long and well sprung but not barrel shaped, extending well towards hindquarters. Loin short, muscular,
wide and deep, with very little tuckup. Back line strong and level from withers to slightly sloping croup, whether standing
or moving. Slabsideness, narrow chest, lack of depth in brisket, sloping back line, roach or sway back, excessive tuck-up,
flat or steep croup to be faulted.
Forequarters: Muscular, well coordinated with hindquarters and capable
of free movement. Shoulder blades long and well laid back with upper lips fairly close together at withers. Upper
arms appear about the same length as the blades, setting the elbows back beneath the upper tip of the blades, close to the
ribs without looseness. Legs, viewed from the front, straight with good bone, but not to the point of coarseness.
Pasterns short and strong, sloping slightly with no suggestion of weakness.
Hindquarters: Broad and strongly muscled. Profiles of croup slopes
slightly; the pelvic bone slopes at a slightly greater angle (approximately 30 degrees from horizontal). In a natural
stance, the femur joins the pelvis at approximately a 90 degree angle; stifles well bent; hocks well let down with short,
strong rear pasterns. Legs straight when viewed from rear. Cow hocks, spread hocks, and single hocks to be faulted.
Feet: Medium size, round, compact, and well-knuckled, with thick pads.
Excess hair may be trimmed to show natural size and contour. Dewclaws on forelegs may be removed, but are normally
left on. Splayed or hare feet to be faulted.
Tail: Well set on, thick and muscular at the base, following the natural
line of the croup. Tail bones extend to, but not below, the point of hock. Carried with merry action, level or
with some moderate upward curve; never curled over back or between legs.
Coat: Dense and water repellent with good undercoat. Outer coat firm
and resilient, neither coarse not silky, lying close to body; may be straight or wavy.
Color: Rich, lustrous golden of various shades. Feathering may be
lighter than rest of coat. With the exception of greying or whitening of face or body due to age, any white markings,
other than a few white hairs on the chest, should be penalized according to its extent. Allowable light shadings are
not to be confused with white markings. Predominant body color which is either extremely pale or extremely dark is undesirable.
Some latitude should be given to converge toward center line of balance. It is recommened that dogs be shown on a loose
lead to reflect true gait.
Faults: Any departure from the described ideal shall be considered faulty
to the degree to which it interferes with the breed's purpose or is contrary to breed character.
Disqualifications: (1) Deviation in height of more than one inch
from standard either way. (2) Undershot or overshot bite.
