Range of colour within the breed standard
GENERAL
APPEARANCE: Symmetrical, balanced, active, powerful, level mover:
sound with kindly expression.
CHARACTERISTICS: Biddable, intelligent and possessing natural
working ability.
TEMPERAMENT: Kind, 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 scissors bite, i.e.
upper teeth closely overlapping 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 top-line.
Outline and Bone Structure of a Golden Retriever
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 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
of chest only, permissible.
SIZE:
Height at withers: Dogs 56-61cms (22-24 inches); Bitches 51-56 cms
(20-22 inches).
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.
