English Breed Standard
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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 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 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 topline.
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 cm (22-24"). Bitches 51-56 cm (20-22").
Faults: Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be in exact proportion to its degree.
* Note: Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.
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 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 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 topline.
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 cm (22-24"). Bitches 51-56 cm (20-22").
Faults: Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be in exact proportion to its degree.
* Note: Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.
The Range of Color in the British/English Breed Standard
Photo Credit: The Golden Retriever Breed Standard Illustrated by Wendy Andrews, Catcombe Golden Retrievers
