Golden Retriever Breed Standard - A Brief Summary
Appearance & Temperament
Size, Proportion, and Substance
Size, Proportion, and Substance
- Symmetrical, powerful, and active, shown in hard working condition
- Primarily a hunting dog
- Displays kind expression and eager personality
- Alert, self-confident, friendly, reliable, and trustworthy
Size, Proportion, and Substance
Size, Proportion, and Substance
Size, Proportion, and Substance
- Males 23-24" in height at the withers and females 21½-22½"
- Length from the breastbone to point of buttocks slightly greater than height at withers
- Weight for dogs 65-75 lbs and bitches 55-65 lbs
Head
Size, Proportion, and Substance
Neck, Topline, and Body
- Broad in skull
- Eyes friendly and intelligent in expression
- Ears short with front edge attached well behind and just above the eye
- Teeth scissors bite
Neck, Topline, and Body
Neck, Topline, and Body
Neck, Topline, and Body
- Neck medium long
- Backline strong and level from withers to slightly sloping croup
- Chest between forelegs at least as wide as a man's closed hand including thumb
- Tail carried with merry action, level or with some upward curve
Forequarters
Neck, Topline, and Body
Forequarters
- Muscular and capable of free movement
- Shoulder blades long and well laid back with upper tips fairly close together at withers
- Legs straight with good bone
- Feet medium, round, compact, and well knuckled
Hindquarters
Neck, Topline, and Body
Forequarters
- Broad and strongly muscled
- Profile of croup slopes slightly
- In a natural stance, the femur joins the pelvis at ~90 degree angle
- Legs straight when viewed from rear
Coat
Color
Color
- Dense and water-repellent
- Outer coat firm and resilient
- Straight or wavy
- Feathering on back of forelegs, underbody, front of neck, back of thighs and underside of tail
Color
Color
Color
- Rich, lustrous golden of various shades
- Feathering may be lighter than rest of coat
Gait
Color
Gait
- Gait is free, smooth, powerful and well coordinated, showing good reach
- As speed increases, feet tend to converge toward center line of balance