The Dog Centre - for professional dog trainers in the UK

Retriever (Golden)

General Appearance

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

  Below Average Above Key
Likelihood to wander   Medium    
Protectiveness   Medium    
Destructiveness   Medium    
Quietness   Medium    
Good with children     High  
Affinity to other dogs     High  
Size     High  
Lifespan   Medium   Below: < 10 years
Average: > 10 years
Above: > 15 years
Location   Medium   Below: Town only
Average: Town and Country
Above: Country only

Characteristics

Biddable, intelligent and possessing natural working ability

Temperament

Kindly, friendly and confident.

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 square to the jaws.

Neck

Good length, clean and muscular

Forequarters

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, well sprung. Level topline.

Hindquarters

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.

Feet

Round and cat-like.

Tail

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

Gait

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: dogs: 56-61 cms (22-24 ins); bitches: 51-56 cms (20-22 ins).

Excercise Requirements

Considerable

Grooming Needs

Moderate

Notes

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




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