Page 235 - ShowSight - September 2020

HOW TO JUDGE GOLDEN RETRIEVERS LIKE A BREEDER-JUDGE
coat is an extremely important feature of breed type and must be given serious consideration.
Variation in coloring, with lighter feathering on the back of the legs, thighs and tail, is one of the endearing features of this breed. The breed does appear in a range from cream to darkest gold, often in the same litter, and the coat darkens as the dog ages. Puppies will have deeper color on their ears, which is indicative of how the coat will darken with each year.
The AKC standard states: Predominant body color which is either extremely pale or extremely dark is undesirable. “Undesirable” is not a disqualification, a major fault or fault, and there are many struc- tural and type issues which should be considered more seriously than color. Greying of the face and body due to age is not to be faulted, but any noticeable area of black or other off-color hair is a serious fault. Most breeder-judges rarely make a decision on their winners based on color when there are more concerning issues to address in the breed.
Some of the current concerns are straight shoulders, lack of forechest, lack of length and return of upper arm, slanted, round or small eyes, soft, silky coats, and lack of rib spring. There have been tendencies for the breed to become low on leg and long in loin. Lack of convergence when moving leads to wide moving fronts that are inefficient and are often reflected in rolling or dipping toplines, which should remain level, standing or moving.
The breed standard is clear, but what is often appearing and being rewarded in the ring is not in keeping with the requirements of the standard. Length from breastbone to point of buttocks slightly greater than height at withers in ratio of 12:11. This is only slightly off-square. The measurement of withers to elbow and elbow to ground should be approximately equal. The underline should be relatively short. The Golden needs sufficient leg to scramble out of the water and over some tough terrain in its native Scotland. Often, excessive body length comes from length through the loin, which is not the short, muscular, wide, deep loin called for in the standard.
Golden Retrievers have a disqualification for size. Please note that puppies are NOT exempt from the size requirements. Judges should always be aware of the size standard of the Golden Retriever and its importance to the breed’s function. The Golden Retriever
is a moderately-sized, athletic hunting dog that may be required at times to work out of a small boat and have the stamina to perform a full day in the field. We encourage judges to measure any Golden Retriever in competition whose size creates uncertainty, whether at the upper or lower limit of the allowable size range. Currently, it is often in the Junior Puppy class where females, especially, may appear to be below the standard height—so be prepared to mea- sure. Dogs that are outside of the desirable size range, but within the extra one-inch allowance either way, should be proportionately penalized. Dogs and bitches that fall within the stated acceptable size range should be regarded as having equal merit, whether they are at the upper or lower end of the desirable range.
The versatile Golden Retriever can fulfill many roles in today’s society, and the qualities that made it a keen hunting dog and fire- side companion are those that endear the breed to so many today. It is possible that the best Golden in your ring may have never appeared in a dog magazine. Please, judges, understand the impor- tance of correct proportion, coat texture, head properties, gait, and temperament in your assessments to ensure the breed remains true to type and true to its heritage.
For more information: https://grca.org/about-the-breed/judges- education/.
THE VERSATILE GOLDEN RETRIEVER CAN FULFILL MANY ROLES IN TODAY’S SOCIETY, AND THE QUALITIES THAT MADE IT A KEEN HUNTING DOG AND FIRESIDE COMPANION ARE THOSE THAT ENDEAR THE BREED TO SO MANY TODAY.
SHOWSIGHT MAGAZINE, SEPTEMBER 2020 | 233