The Physical Appearance And Attributes Of Golden Retrievers

Overview

A golden retriever’s appearance should show an evenly proportioned dog, which has no predominant features. Golden retrievers are strong, energetic, self assured dogs; golden retrievers are very agile, any awkwardness is undesired. They should always have a friendly expression, and seem eager to do what you want them to; aggressiveness to any person or dog is not in keeping with the character of a golden retriever.

Differences In Size For Males And Females

Golden retrievers reach their full height at around one year; male golden retrievers are generally larger than females; for showing purposes a male should reach an adult height of 22-24 inches at the withers, and females for the same purpose should be 20-22 inches at the withers. Withers are another name for the top of the dog’s shoulder blades, just below the neck; this measurement is often used in dealing with show animals. The weight that is acceptable for show dogs is 29-34 pounds for males, and 60-70 pounds for females.

The appearance of your pet will likely differ from the AKC standard which is fine if your intent was a pet or hunting companion; if you are intent on showing the dog, research into the breeder and the pups’ parents will give you insight into what you can expect from your puppy.

The Appearance Of The Golden Retrievers Coat

The texture of your dog’s coat is as important as the color; the AKC has strict showing qualifications. Some of these qualifications include the exact color, the exact texture, and how straight or wavy the fur is; they only qualify dogs with a buttery to blond colored fir, which is sturdy and waterproof, though both wavy and straight are acceptable, the degree of either is what may disqualify the dog.

For a pet, the appearance of your golden retriever is largely up to your preference; maybe you like the red tones or the nearly white. All golden retrievers should have healthy looking, shiny coats; golden retrievers require moderate grooming and among purebred dogs are considered to be relatively low maintenance. A golden retrievers coat should not be hard or fuzzy, and should lie flat against the body.

The Face And Body

The foundations for golden retrievers and dogs in general have strict guidelines regarding the appearance of golden retrievers; and very specific measurements for each factor they judge. For the intent of acquiring a quality pet or working dog the following are a good set of guidelines to follow.

The head should be balanced and well defined, evenly set upon its neck. The muzzle should look strong and broad; and the nose should look even from tip to bridge and bridge to “eyebrows”. Their eyes should always be dark brown with dark rims. Their mouth should have strong jaws with an exact scissor bite.

In the body as with the rest of the dog balance is the golden retrievers’ most obvious attribute, if it appears to be long legged or have a head too small for its body you won’t be able to enter it in shows; however it doesn’t effect how much you’ll love it. A golden retriever should be lean and muscular throughout, with a broad chest and long ribs that give an athletic image. Their loin area is short and the tail should look like it sits easily off of its back but shouldn’t curl.

Again, for a pet or a hunting companion, one doesn’t have to live by the letter of the law when selecting a golden retriever by appearance, but these guidelines will insure a quality well bred dog. What will matter most to you is the personality of the golden retriever; how the animal makes us feel is usually the real reason we choose to take one into our homes.

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