General
Appearance
A symmetrical,
powerful, active
dog, sound and well
put together, not
clumsy nor long in
the leg, displaying
a kindly expression
and possessing a
personality that is
eager, alert and
self-confident.
Primarily a hunting
dog, he should be
shown in hard
working condition.
Overall appearance,
balance, gait and
purpose to be given
more emphasis than
any of his component
parts.
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.
Size,
Proportion,
Substance
Males 23-24 inches
in height at
withers; females 21½
- 22½ inches. Dogs
up to one inch above
or below standard
size should be
proportionately
penalized.
Deviation in height
of more than one
inch from the
standard shall
disqualify.
Length from
breastbone to point
of buttocks slightly
greater than height
at withers 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 defined
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
functional
abnormality of
eyelids or eyelashes
(such as, but not
limited to,
trichiasis,
entropion, ectropion,
or distichiasis) are
to be excused from
the ring.
Ears rather short
with front edge
attached well behind
and just above the
eye and falling
close to cheek.
When pulled forward,
tip of ear should
just cover the eye.
Low, hound-like ear
set to be faulted.
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.
Teeth: scissor bit,
in which the outer
side of the lower
incisors touches the
inner side of the
upper incisors.
Undershot or
overshot bite is a
disqualification.
Misalignment of
teeth (irregular
placement of
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.
Neck, Topline,
Body
Neck medium long,
merging gradually
into well laid back
shoulders, giving
sturdy, muscular
appearance. No
throatiness.
Back line strong and
level from withers
to slightly sloping
croup, whether
standing or moving.
Sloping back line,
roach or sway back,
flat or steep croup
to be faulted.
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
tuck-up.
Slab-sidedness,
narrow chest, lack
of depth in brisket,
excessive tuck-up 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 nor
between legs.
Forequarters
Muscular, well
coordinated with
hindquarters and
capable of free
movement. Shoulder
blades long and well
laid back with upper
tips 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 not
suggestion of
weakness. Dewclaws
on forelegs may be
removed, but are
normally left on.
Feet medium size,
round, compact, and
well knuckled, with
thick pads. Excess
hair may be trimmed
to show natural size
and contour.
Splayed or hare feet
to be faulted.
Hindquarters
Broad and strongly
muscled. Profile 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. Feet
as in front. Legs
straight when viewed
from rear. Cow
hocks, spread hocks,
and sickle hocks to
be faulted.
Coat
Dense and
water-repellent with
good undercoat.
Outer coat firm and
resilient, neither
coarse nor silky,
lying close to body;
may be straight or
wavy. Untrimmed
natural ruff;
moderate feathering
on back of forelegs
and on underbody;
heavier feathering
on front of neck,
back of thighs and
underside of tail.
Coat on head, paws
and front of legs is
short and even.
Excessive length,
open coats, and
limp, soft coats are
very undesirable.
Feet may be trimmed
and stray hairs
neatened, but the
natural appearance
of coat or outline
should not be
altered by cutting
or clipping.
Color
Rich, lustrous
golden of various
shades. Feathering
may be lighter than
rest of coat. With
the exception of
graying or whitening
of face or body due
to age, any white
marking, 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
pail or extremely
dark is
undesirable. Some
latitude should be
given to the light
puppy whose coloring
shows promise of
deepening with
maturity. Any
noticeable area of
black or other
off-color hair is a
serious fault.
Gait
When trotting, gait
is free, smooth,
powerful and
well-coordinated,
showing good reach.
Viewed from any
position legs turn
neither in nor out,
nor do feet cross or
interfere with each
other. As speed
increases, feet tend
to converge toward
the center line of
balance. It is
recommended that
dogs be shown on a
loose lead to
reflect true gait.
Temperament
Friendly, reliable,
and trustworthy.
Quarrelsomeness or
hostility towards
other dogs or people
in normal situations
or an unwarranted
show of timidity or
nervousness, is not
in keeping with
golden Retriever
character. Such
actions should be
penalized according
to their
significance.
Disqualifications
1. Deviation in
height of more
than one inch
from standard
either way.
2. Undershot or
overshot bite.
