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Kennel Club Standard for the Golden Retriever
A Breed Standard is the guideline which describes the ideal
characteristics, temperament and appearance of a breed and ensures that
the breed is fit for function. Absolute soundness is essential. Breeders
and judges should at all times be careful to avoid obvious conditions
or exaggerations which would be detrimental in any way to the health,
welfare or soundness of this breed. From time to time certain conditions
or exaggerations may be considered to have the potential to affect dogs
in some breeds adversely, and judges and breeders are requested to
refer to the Kennel Club website for details of any such current issues.
If a feature or quality is desirable it should only be present in the
right measure.
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General Appearance
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Symmetrical, balanced, active, powerful, level mover; sound with kindly expression.
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Characteristics
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Biddable, intelligent and possessing natural working ability.
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Temperament
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Kindly, friendly and confident.
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Head and Skull
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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.
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Eyes
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Dark brown, set well apart, dark rims.
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Mouth
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Jaws strong, with a perfect,
regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping
lower teeth and set square to the jaws.
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Neck
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Good length, clean and muscular.
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Forequarters
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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.
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Body
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Balanced, short coupled, deep through heart. Ribs deep, well sprung. Level topline.
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Hindquarters
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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.
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Feet
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Round and cat-like.
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Tail
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Set on and carried level with back, reaching to hocks, without curl at tip.
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Gait / Movement
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Powerful with good drive.
Straight and true in front and rear. Stride long and free with no sign
of hackney action in front.
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Coat
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Flat or wavy with good feathering, dense water-resisting undercoat.
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Colour
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Any shade of gold or cream,
neither red nor mahogany. A few white hairs on chest only permissible.
From 2000, only Cream, Gold or Golden will be accepted by the KC on registrations.
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Size
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Height at withers: dogs; 56-61 cms (22-24ins) bitches: 51-56cms (20-22ins).
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Faults
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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 and on the dog's
ability to perform its traditional work.
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Note
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Male animals should have two
apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.
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