The American Kennel Club Official Standard for the Golden Retriever
See website (as cited by interviewee) for complete standards
CHARACTERISTIC
GENERAL APPEARANCE:
SIZE, PROPORTION, SUBSTANCE HEAD
NECK, TOPLINE, BODY
FOREQUARTERS
HINDQUARTERS
COAT
COLOR
GAIT TEMPERAMENT IDEAL
•Symmetrical, powerful, active • Sound and well put together • Kindly expression; eager, alert and self-confident personality • Emphasis is on overall appearance, balance, gait, and purpose
• Males 23 to 24 inches in height at withers; females 21½ to 22½ inches. • Length from breastbone to point of buttocks slightly greater than height at withers in ratio of 12:11. • Weight for dogs 65 to 75 pounds; bitches 55 to 65 pounds.
• Muzzle straight in profile, blending smooth and strongly into skull • Eyes (preferably dark brown) friendly and intelligent in expression, medium large with dark, close-fitting rims, set well apart and reasonably deep in sockets. • 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. • Nose black or brownish black • Teeth: scissors bite
• Neck: medium long, merging gradually into well laid back shoulders, giving sturdy, muscular appearance. • Body well balanced, short coupled, deep through the chest. • Tail well set on, thick and muscular at the base, following the natural line of the croup.
• Muscular, well coordinated with hindquarters • Shoulder blades long and well laid back with upper tips fairly close together at withers. • Legs, viewed from the front, straight with good bone • Feet medium size, round, compact, and well knuckled, with thick pads.
• Broad and strongly muscled. • In a natural stance, femur joins pelvis at approximately a 90-degree angle; stifles well bent; hocks well let down • Legs straight when viewed from rear.
• Dense and water-repellent with good undercoat. • Outer coat firm and resilient, lying close to body • Coat on head, paws, and front of legs short and even.
• Rich, lustrous golden of various shades. • Allowable light shadings are not to be confused with undesirable white markings.
• 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.
• Friendly, reliable, and trustworthy. FAULT
• Not clumsy nor long in the leg
• 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.
• Slant eyes and narrow, triangular eyes • Low, hound-like ear • Pink nose or one seriously lacking in pigmentation • Undershot or overshot bite; misalignment of teeth or a level bite are both undesirable but not the same as an undershot or overshot.
• Roach or sway back • Flat or steep croup • Barrel-shaped ribs • Slab-sidedness • Narrow chest • Lack of depth in brisket • Excessive tuck-up
• Splayed or hare feet
• Cow-hocks • Spread hocks • Sickle hocks
• Excessive length • Open coats • Limp, soft coats
• Predominant body color which is either extremely pale or extremely dark. • Any noticeable area of black or other offcolor.
• Quarrelsomeness • Hostility towards other dogs or people in normal situations • Unwarranted shows of timidity or nervousness