Breed Standard

GENERAL APPEARANCE- A symmetrical, powerful, active dog, sound and well put together, not clumsy nor long in the leg, displaying a kindly expression and prosessing a personality that is eager, alert and selfconfident.

SIZE, PROPORTION, SUBSTANCE- Males 23-24 inches in height at withers; females 21 1/2-22 1/2 inches. 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 arches 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 that at tip. No heaviness in flews.

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.
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 shold just cover the eye.
NOSE- Black or brownish black
TEETH- Scissor bite, in which the outer side of the lower incisors touches the inner side of the upper incisors.

NECK, TOPLINE, BODY

NECK- Medium long, merging gradually into well laid back shoulders, giving sturdy, muscular appearance. Untrimmed natural ruff. No throatiness.
TOPLINE- Strong and level from withers to slightly sloping croup, whether standing or moving.
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 hindquaters. Loin short, muscular, wide and deep, with very little tuck-up.
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.

FOREQUATERS- Muscular, well co-ordinated with hindquarters and capable of free of 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 slightyly with no 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.

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. Legs straight when viewed from rear.

COAT- Dense and water repellent with good undercoat. Outer coat firm and resilent, neither coarse nor silky, lying close to body; may be straight of wavy. Untrimmed natural ruff; moderate feathering on back of forelegs and under-body; heavier feathering on front of neck, back of thighs and underside of tail.

COLOR- Rich, lustorous golden of various shades. Feathering may be lighter than rest of coat.

GAIT- When trotting, gait is free, smooth, powerful and well co-ordinated, showing good reach.

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.