The British Breed Standard

General Appearence

Symmetrical, balanced, active, powerful, level mover; sound with kindly expression.

Characteristics

Biddable, intelligent and possessing natural working ability

Temperament

Kindly, friendly and confident.

Head and Skull

Balanced and well chiseled, skull broad without coarseness; well set on neck, muzzle powerful, wide and deep. Length of foreface approximately equals length from well defined stop to occiput. Nose preferably black.

Eyes

Dark brown, set well apart, dark rims.

Mouth

Jaws strong, with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to the jaws.

Neck

Good length, clean and muscular.

Forequarters

Forelegs straight with good bone, shoulders well laid back, long in blade with upper arm of equal length placing legs well under body. Elbows close fitting.

Body

Balanced, short coupled, deep through heart. Ribs deep, well sprung. Level topline.

Hindquarters

Loin and legs strong and muscular, good second thighs, well bent stifles. Hocks well let down, straight when viewed from rear, neither turning in nor out. Cow-hocks highly undesirable.

Feet

Round and cat-like.

Tail

Set on and carried level with back, reaching to hocks, without curl at tip.

Gait / Movement

Powerful with good drive. Straight and true in front and rear. Stride long and free with no sign of hackney action in front.

Coat

Flat or wavy with good feathering, dense water-resisting undercoat.

Colour

Any shade of gold or cream, neither red nor mahogany. A few white hairs on chest only permissible. From 2000, only Cream, Gold or Golden will be accepted by the KC on registrations.

Size

Height at withers: dogs; 56-61 cms (22-24ins) bitches: 51-56cms (20-22ins).

Faults

Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the faults should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree.

Note

Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.