Standard

GOLDEN RETRIEVER

F.C.I. Standard No. 111 / 29.01.1999 / GB

DATE OF PUBLICATION OF THE ORIGINAL VALID STANDARD: 24.06.1987

UTILIZATION: Gundog.

CLASSIFICATION F.C.I.:           

Group 8 - Retrievers, Flushing Dogs, Water Dogs.

Section 1 - Retrievers.

With working trial.

GENERAL APPEARANCE

Symmetrical, balanced, active, powerful, level mover; sound with kindly expression.

BEHAVIOUR / TEMPERAMENT

Biddable, intelligent and possessing natural working ability; kindly, friendly and confident.

HEAD

Balanced and well chiselled.

Cranial region

Skull: Broad without coarseness; well set on neck.

Stop: Well defined.

Facial region

Nose: Preferably black.

Muzzle: Powerful, wide and deep.  Length of foreface approximately equals length from stop to occiput.

Jaws/Teeth: Jaws strong, with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to the jaws.

Eyes: Dark brown, set well apart, dark rims.

Ears: Moderate size, set on approximate level with eyes.

NECK

Good length, clean and muscular.

BODY 

Balanced.

Back: Level topline.

Loins: Strong, muscular, short-coupled.

Chest: Deep through heart.  Ribs deep, well sprung.

TAIL

Set on and carried level with back, reaching to hocks, without curl at tip.

LIMBS

Forequarters: Forelegs straight with good bone.

Shoulders: Well laid back, long in blade.

Upper arm: Of equal length as the shoulder blade, placing legs well under body.

Elbows: Close fitting.

Hindquarters: Hindlegs strong and muscular.

Stifles: Well bent.

Second thigh: Good.

Hocks: Well let down, straight when viewed from rear, neither turning in nor out.  Cow-hocks highly undesirable.

Feet: Round and cat-like.

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 / HAIR

Flat or wavy with good feathering, dense water-resisting undercoat.

HAIR 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 ins)

Bitches 51-56 cm (20-22 ins)

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 and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog. Any dog clearly showing physical or behavioural abnormalities shall be disqualified.

N.B.

Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.