Breeding Dogs That Meet The Golden Retriever Standard
The American Kennel Club has identified the Golden Retriever as a certain breed that fits within the sporting group of dog breeds. A mid-size dog, they tend to be eager to please and very friendly with people and other dogs. The American Kennel Club has specific qualifications for the standard of the Golden Retriever. These items include many aspects of the physical appearance of the dog including the head, neck, topline, body; forequarters, hindquarters color, coat, gait, temperament, size, proportion, substance and, of course, general appearance. Each of these categories is measured against very specifically definitions of the Golden Retriever standard, which is the model of the perfect Golden Retriever.
Defined within each category are also things that are considered faults. Beyond these faults, there are a couple of things that will automatically disqualify the dog from being a Golden Retriever standard. These things are a deviation in height of more than one inch from the standard, either too high or too small, and also if there is an undershot or overshot bite. These are the only two automatic disqualifiers.
The American Kennel Club has specific standards for dogs to meet the category of the perfect dog. For specific information, one should consult the AKC website. Some of the things included in the standard are that the eyes should be dark brown, but medium brown is considered okay. They should have a lot of expression in them, and be friendly and intelligent looking. They should have short ears, where when pulled forward the tip of the ear just covers the eye.
The coat of the Golden Retriever should be smooth and rich. There are various golden shades that are acceptable, but the mid-gold range is best, avoiding the lightest and darkest. The fur should be dense and water-repellent. The fur should lie close to the body, and can be wavy or smooth. The natural look of the coat should be left, and it should not be cut or clipped unnecessarily, though it is appropriate to trip the feet and some stray hairs.
A Golden Retriever should meet the American Kennel Club standards if at all possible. These standards can be found at the AKC website, and include many items such as coat, gait, head, eyes, tail, forequarters, hindquarters, etc. The dogs that meet the American Kennel Club standards will have some certain things in common. They will be beautiful dogs, with lustrous coats, usually in the mid-gold range. Their coats will be dense, with feathering on the forelegs and underbelly, and tail and back legs. They will muscular, and have a lot of energy, as they are hunting dogs and like to stay active.
They will be eager and self-confident. Their tail should be held out, and their eyes will be friendly, alert and intelligent-looking. They will be eager to interact with people, and love to please. Dogs that meet the American Kennel Club standards are dogs that any owner would be proud to show off and enjoy owning.
Written by Carol Matthews
