Golden Retriever Dog Breed
British type Golden Retrievers are prevalent throughout Europe and Australia,and are distinguished from the North American lines by the official breed standards. The muzzle of the British dog is wider and shorter, and its forehead is blockier. Its legs are shorter, its chest is deeper, and its tail is slightly shorter. Due to these features, a British type usually weighs more than an American or Canadian. Males will be between 56 and 61 cm (22 and 24 in) at the withers; females will be slightly shorter, at between 51 and 56 cm (20 and 22 in). Acceptable or expected weights are not specified in the UK standard, but the KC standard calls for a level topline and straight hindquarters without the slight rear angulation found in American lines.The eyes of the European type are noted for their roundness and darkness, which is in contrast to the triangular or slanted composition of their American counterparts. A Golden Retriever of British breeding can have a coat colour of any shade of gold or cream; red or mahogany are not permitted colours of coat. Originally, cream was an unacceptable colour in the UK standard, but the standard was revised in 1936 to include cream. At the time of this revision, it was agreed the exclusion of cream as a colour was a mistake, as the original "yellow" retrievers of the 19th century were actually lighter in colour than was permitted by the standards that were used before 1936. As with American lines, white is an unacceptable colour in the show ring.The British KC standard is used in all countries except the USA and Canada.Golden Retrievers have muscular bodies with great endurance, owing to their origins as hunting and gundogs.
American Goldens are lankier and less stocky than British types. Males will stand between 22 and 24 in (56 and 61 cm) in height at the shoulders, and females should be 20–22 in (51–56 cm). Their coat is dense and water-repellent, and comes in various shades of lustrous gold with moderate feathering. The gait will be free, smooth, powerful, and well-coordinated.American breeders of Golden Retrievers sometimes import their dogs from Britain, in order to take advantage of the temperament and appearance of the British types.
As indicated by their name, their coats come in light golden to dark golden colours. The topcoat is water-resistant and slightly wavy, and sheds in small amounts throughout the year. The undercoat is soft and keeps the retriever cool in summer and warm in winter; it sheds in the spring and fall.[15] It usually lies flat against the belly. The Golden's coat should never be too long, as this may prove to be a disservice to it in the field, especially when retrieving game.Golden Retrievers have mild feathering on the backs of their forelegs and heaver feathering on the fronts of their necks, backs of their thighs and the bottoms of their tails.
The American Kennel Club (AKC) standard states the coat is a "rich, lustrous golden of various shades", disallowing coats that are extremely light or extremely dark. This leaves the outer ranges of coat colour up to a judge's discretion when competing in conformation shows. Therefore, "pure white" and "red" are unacceptable colours, as is black.The Kennel Club (UK) also permits cream as an acceptable coat colour.Judges may also disallow Goldens with pink noses, or those lacking pigment. The Golden's coat can also be of a mahogany colour, referred to as "redheads", although this is not accepted in the British show ring.As a Golden grows older, its coat can become darker or lighter, along with a noticeable whitening of the fur on and around the muzzle. Puppy coats are usually much lighter than their adult coats, but a puppy with a darker colouration at the tips of the ears may indicate a darker adult colour.
Data refer: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Retriever
