STANDARD

GENERAL APPARANCE : symmetrical, balanced, active, powerful, level mover, sound with kindly expression.

CHARACTERISTICS : biddable, intelligent and possessing natural working ability. The golden must not be nor too slender nor too heavy, his bones must be strong, his limbs not too long, his shoulders must be inclined with shoulder blade and forearm with the same length, they perform an important role in the retrieving; the back, too, must be strong to perform its function while running.

TEMPERAMENT : kindly, friendly and confident. Temperament is important in selection: a subject which is aggressive or too shy should not be used in breeding.

HEAD AND SKULL : balanced and well-chiselled, 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.

EYES : dark brown, set well apart, dark rims.

EARS : moderate size, set on approximate level with eyes.

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

NECK : good length, clean and muscular.

FOREQUARTES : 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.

BODY : balanced, short coupled, deep through heart. Ribs deep and well sprung. Level topline.

HINDQUARTES : 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. Cowhocks highly undesirable.

FEET : Round and cat-like.

TAIL : Set on and carried level with back, reaching the hocks, without curl at tip.

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 : 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: Males 56-61 cm (22-24 ins); Females 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.

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