General aspect |
A harmonious dog, well proportioned, active, powerful, harmonious in the way he/ she walks or runs, of a sturdy constitution and gentle expression. |
Characteristics |
Docile, intelligent, naturally gifted for work |
Temper |
Gentle, friendly and self confident |
Head and skull |
A well proportioned and chiselled head. Large but not heavy skull. Head nicely attached to the neck. Large and high powerful muzzle.
The length of the nose is about the same as the one of the skull. The back of the head is well delimited. The nose is black. |
Eyes |
Dark brown – set far apart – dark rimmed eyelids |
Ears |
Of an average size, they are attached at about the same level as the eyes. |
Jaws |
They are strong and show a perfect, regular and complete scissors- like articulation which means that the upper incisors overlap the lower ones in a perfect contact. They are implanted at a right angle from the jaws. |
Neck |
Of a good length, distinct and muscular. |
Forequarters |
The fore legs are straight. They have a good bone structure. Oblique shoulders. Long shoulder blades and an even length of the arms make the fore limbs, from the elbow to the ground, well set under the body. The elbows are close to the body. |
Body |
A well balanced body with a short waist – the chest is nicely set down into the sternum area. The ribs are nicely curved downward. The back is horizontal.
Hindquarters |
Hindquarters |
The waist and the hind legs are strong and muscular. The legs are solid and the stifles are angular. The hocks are angular too. The metatarsal bones, seen from behind, are straight. The hocks don’t have any inward or outward movement. “Cow like” hocks are prohibited. |
Feet |
Round, cat-like feet |
Tail |
Attached and level with the back. It reaches the hocks. It doesn’t roll up at the end.. |
Ways – Movement |
Energetic ways with a lot of impulses. The fore legs and hind legs move in planes parallel to the axis of the body. Long and clear stride without raising the fore legs. |
Hairs |
The hairs are flat or wavy with long fringes. The inner hairs are tight and waterproof. |
Colour |
Any golden or cream shade. It mustn’t be either red or auburn. |
Height and weight |
Ground to the withers height for a 18-month or older dog is 56 to 61 cm for males and 51 to 56 cm for females. There is a more or less 2 cm tolerance.
The weight for a healthy grown up dog is : 32 to 37 kg for males and 27 to 32 kg for females. |
In 1865, Lord Tweedmouth, a Scotsman, bought “Nous”, the first yellow Retriever of the Wavy coated Retriever breed from a shoemaker. This particular retriever had been fathered by two black dogs. In 1868, the Lord mated the dog with “Belle”, a female Tweed Water Spaniel. Four puppies were born: “Crocus”, “Cowslip”, “Ada” and “Primrose”. The breed of the Golden Retriever was then born with these four puppies.