The Golden Retriever Breed Standard
FCI-Standard N° 111 / 29. 01. 1999/ GB
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.
SKULL: Broad without coarseness; well set on neck.
STOP : Well defined.
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.
STIFLE: Well bent.
SECOND TIGH: 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.
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.