General Apperance-- A symmetrical,powerful,active dog, sound and well put together, not clumsy or 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. Over-all appearance, balance, gait and purpose to be given more emphasis than any of this component parts.
Faults: Any departure from the described ideal shall be considered faulty to the degrtee to which it interfers with the breed's purpose or is contrary to breed character
Size,Proportion, Substance -- Males 23-24 inches in height at withers;females 21 1/2 - 22 1/2 inches. Dogs up to one inch above or below satndard size should be proportionately penalized. Deviations 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 reation of 12:11. Weight for dogs 65-75 pounds:bitches 55-65 pounds
Head -- broad in skull, slightly arched laterally and longitudinaly 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 inprofile, blening smoothly and strongly into skull; when viewed in profile or from above, slightly ahead. Dogsshowing evidence of functional abnormality of eyelids or eyelashes (such as but not limited to, trichiasis,entropion,ectropian, or distichiasis) are to be excused from the ring.
Ears --rather short with fron edges attached well behind and just above the eye falling close to cheek.. When pulled forward, tip of ear should just cover the eye. Low, hound like ear set should be faulted.
Nose--black or brownish clack, though fading to a lighter shade in cool weather not serious. Pink nose or one seriously lacking pigmentations to be faulted.
Teeth -- scissors bute, in which the outer side of the lower incisors touches the inner side of the upper incisors. Undershot or overshot bute is a disqualification. Misalighment of teeth undersiderable, but not to be confussed with undershot or overshot. Full dentition, obvious gaps are serious faults.
Neck,Topline,Body
Neck--mediuim long, merging gradually into well laid back shoulders, giving sturdy muscular appearance. Untrimmed natural ruff. No throatiness
Back Line -- strong and elvelfrom withers to slightly sloping croup, whether standing or moving. Sloping back line, roach or sway back 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 hinidquarters, Loin short muscular, wide and deep with very little tuck-up. Slabsidedness, narrow chest, lack of depth in brisket, excessive tuck-up flat or steep croup to be faulted Tail -- well set on, thick and muscular at the base, following the natural line of 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 co-ordianted with hindquarters and capable of free movement. Shoulder blades long and well laid back with upper tips failryclose together at withers. Upper arms appear about the same length as the blades, setting the elbows close back beneth the upper tip fo 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 srtrong aloping slightly with no suggestions of weakness. Dew clasws on forelegs may be removed but are normally left on.
Feet -- medium size, round,compact and well knucled with thick pads. Excessive 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 the hozontal). In a natural stance, the femur joins the pelvi at approximiately a 90 degree angle; stiffles wel bent;hocks well let down with short;strong rearpasterns. Legs straight when viewed from the 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 corse 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 short an 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 various shades. Feathering may be lighter than rest of coat. WIth the execption 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 extemly pale or extremely dark is undesirable. Some latitude should be givien to the light puppy whose coloring shows promise odf deeping with maturity. Any noticable area of black or to other off-color hair is a serious fault.
Gait -- when trotting gait is free smooth powerful and wellcordinated showing good reach Viewed from any position legs turn neither in nor out nor do feet cross or interferer with each other. As speed increases, feet tend to converege towrad center line of balance. It is recommended that dogs be shown on loose lead to reflect true gait.
Temperament -- friendly, reliable and trustworthy, Quarrelsomness or hostility towards other dogs or people innomral situations or unwarranted show of timidility or nervousness is not keepiong 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.
