BREED STANDARD OF THE 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 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.

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

                                                Bitches 51 - 56 cm (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