Official ICCF Breed Description
Brief Historical Summary
The Golden Retriever was developed in the 19th century in Scotland as a reliable gun dog capable of gently retrieving wounded game on land and in water. The foundation of the breed was the yellow retriever Nous and a Tweed Water Spaniel female, and later breeding included the Irish Setter and bloodline retrievers, which fixed the soft mouth, excellent scenting ability, and confident swimming. By the late 19th century, the breed gained wide recognition among British hunters for its endurance, obedience, and stable working temperament. In the 20th century, the Golden Retriever became popular worldwide as a versatile companion dog, successfully working in rescue services, therapy, search-and-rescue operations, and assistance roles.
General Appearance
The Golden Retriever is a harmonious, powerful, yet elegant dog of medium to large size, giving an impression of balance, strength, and friendliness. The format is slightly elongated, the body strong with a deep chest, firm topline, and well-developed musculature. The head is broad but not coarse, with a soft expression and characteristic gentleness of gaze. Limbs are straight and strong, providing confident, free movement and stability. The tail is straight, carried level with the back. The coat is medium-length, dense, water-repellent, with decorative feathering on the chest, hind legs, and tail. The overall type emphasizes the combination of working qualities and adaptability to active, versatile tasks.
Important Proportions
The Golden Retriever must maintain balanced proportions reflecting its working type and functionality. Height at the withers is approximately equal to body length from shoulder to ischial tuberosity, forming a slightly elongated format. The chest is deep, reaching the elbows, ensuring lung capacity and endurance. The muzzle and skull are approximately equal in length, with smooth transitions and no heaviness. The neck is long enough for free head carriage during movement and water work. Shoulder blades are well laid back, and angulation of front and rear limbs is coordinated, ensuring free, effortless stride. The tail continues the topline, maintaining harmony of outline.
Behaviour and Temperament
The Golden Retriever has a stable, gentle, and friendly temperament, which is a key breed hallmark. It is people-oriented, willing to work, easy to train, and maintains high motivation for interaction. Stress resistance and absence of aggression make it a reliable companion for families, children, and elderly people. The breed demonstrates strong social orientation, eagerness to please, and readiness for obedience. Thanks to innate confidence and balance, it excels in rescue services, therapy, canine assistance, and search-and-rescue tasks. Nervousness, shyness, viciousness, or aggressive reactions are unacceptable.
Head
The head of the Golden Retriever must be proportional, clean in lines, and harmonious, expressing the breed’s softness and friendliness. The skull is broad but not massive, slightly arched between the ears, without coarseness or heaviness. The stop is moderate and smooth. Cheeks are not prominent; contours are rounded and soft. The muzzle is strong, straight, of sufficient length, neither pointed nor shortened, ensuring correct game carrying. Lips are tight, not loose. Jaws are strong with healthy, even teeth. Expression is always kind, calm, attentive, reflecting the balanced character.
Facial Region
The facial region must be functional, clean, and proportional, without heaviness. The muzzle is straight, deep, and sufficiently broad for a soft, precise grip. The nasal bridge is straight. Lips are dry, well-fitting. The nose is large with well-opened nostrils, preferably black, with seasonal lightening allowed. Jaws are strong, with a scissor bite mandatory for controlled mouth use. Cheeks are smooth; general impression is intelligent, calm, and attentive.
Eyes
Eyes must be medium-sized, well-set, producing a soft, attentive, friendly expression. Shape is oval. Color is preferably dark brown; lighter shades are permissible if harmonious. Eyelids are dry and close-fitting. Eye rims are dark, enhancing expression. The gaze is lively, calm, and intelligent. Round eyes, harsh expression, or excessively light irises are unacceptable.
Ears
Ears are pendant, medium-length, set at or slightly above eye level, lying close to the cheeks and enhancing the soft expression. They are slightly rounded at the tips, without heaviness. When attentive, ears may move slightly forward. Coat on the ears is soft and moderate in length. Size must match the head; overly long or small ears disrupt breed type. Loose, heavy, or poorly fitting ears are unacceptable.
Neck
The neck must be of sufficient length, dry, and muscular, allowing free head carriage during movement and swimming. The topline of the neck flows smoothly into the withers. The placement of the head is natural and confident. The neck is oval in section, not short or overly long. Skin is tight, without dewlap. Strong musculature supports endurance and correct positioning. Short, coarse, weak, or overly thick necks are unacceptable.
Body
The body of the Golden Retriever is strong, balanced, and functional, reflecting its working purpose. The topline is straight and firm from withers to croup. The withers are well defined. The back is strong, muscled, of moderate length. The loin is short, wide, elastic, supporting stability and power. The chest is deep, reaching the elbows, well-developed in length, with well-sprung but not barrel ribs. The sternum is long, providing lung capacity. The croup is wide, slightly sloping, and powerful. Narrow body, soft back, or weak loin are unacceptable.
Tail
The tail continues the topline and must appear natural and harmonious, without kinks or excessive elevation. Set on level with the back, thick at the base and tapering toward the end. At rest it is lowered; in motion carried level or slightly above, never curled or raised over the back. Coat on the tail is dense with characteristic feathering. Length reaches the hock. Kinked, curled, shortened, or poorly feathered tails are unacceptable.
Forequarters
Forequarters are straight, parallel, and strong, supporting correct balance and free movement. Shoulder blades long and well laid back. The upper arm approximately equals the scapula in length. Elbows tight and directed backward. Forearms straight, strong, with good bone. Pasterns firm, slightly sloping. Feet round, tight, with strong pads and nails. Weak pasterns, turned-out elbows, narrow fronts, or insufficient bone are faults.
Hindquarters
Hindquarters are powerful, well-angulated, and muscular, providing strong propulsion. Thighs broad with well-developed muscles. Stifles well-defined, forming correct angles. Lower thighs strong, equal in length to the thigh. Hocks strong, low-set. Metatarsi short and vertical. Feet compact and rounded. Straight stifles, cow-hocks, barrel hocks, or weak joints are unacceptable.
Gait and Movement
Movement is free, smooth, and energetic. Limbs move straight and parallel. Shoulders and upper arms coordinate for good reach. Hindquarters provide strong, even drive transmitted through a firm back and elastic loin. The topline remains stable. Long stride, free extension, and confident movement are essential. Short steps, stiffness, lack of coordination, or irregular rhythm are faults.
Coat
The coat must be dense, firm, and adapted for water work. Outer coat medium-length, straight or slightly wavy, close-lying. Undercoat dense and water-repellent. Feathering forms on chest, back of limbs, and tail. Head and ears have shorter, smoother coat. Soft, overly long, cottony, or curly hair, or lack of undercoat, are unacceptable.
Permissible Colours
Colour ranges from light cream to rich gold. Shades must be clear and even. Lighter feathering is permitted. Extremely pale or excessively dark reddish tones are undesirable. Minimal white is allowed only on the chest. Pigmentation of nose, eye rims, and lips should be dark. Seasonal pigment fading is acceptable.
Size
Height at withers for males: 56–61 cm; females: 51–56 cm. Harmony of height, length, and weight must be preserved. Dogs must be strong and functional, not heavy or overly light. Correct bone and musculature are required.
Faults
Faults include deviations in appearance, movement, or behaviour that reduce breed type: weak topline, insufficient chest depth, round or light eyes, loose ears, soft or overly wavy coat, weak drive, low tail set, minor pigment issues, slight stiffness of movement. Any deviation from friendly, stable temperament is a behavioural fault.
Disqualifications
Aggression, viciousness, shyness, severe nervousness. Incorrect bite, significant tooth loss, serious eye defects, movement-impairing limb faults. Curly coat, lack of undercoat, excessive white markings, tail deformities, albinism, lack of nasal or eyelid pigment.
Important Notes
The Golden Retriever is oriented toward work and human interaction; therefore mental stability, friendliness, and balanced temperament are essential. Breeding prioritizes dogs combining functionality, health, and stable character. Excessive ornamentation, overly long coat, weak bone, or deviation from working type are undesirable. Age, condition, and seasonal coat changes must be considered in evaluation.
Conclusion
The Golden Retriever combines working qualities, balanced character, and expressive appearance, making it one of the most universal and reliable breeds. It functions successfully as a hunting, therapeutic, search-and-rescue, and family dog. The standard emphasizes harmony of proportions, coat quality, mental stability, and correct movement. Health, functionality, and behaviour remain key evaluation criteria.
