A Golden Retriever that is being evaluated for whether it meets the American Kennel Club standards has many categories for evaluation. There are a couple of things that are automatic disqualifications, but most deviations are considered faults. The specific standards for the Golden Retriever can be found at the American Kennel Club's website. They include things such as the dog's gait, the angle the legs are attached at, and the density of the coat. The American Kennel Club has specific requirements for their Golden Retriever standards, and they can be found at the AKC website. Dogs that meet these requirements are beautiful, healthy, active, engaging dogs, and any owner can be proud to have a Golden Retriever like that in his life.

The Golden Retriever is a beautiful dog. It makes a wonderful family dog, as it is eager to please people and very friendly. For those who want their dog to meet the Golden Retriever standard set by the American Kennel Club, the expectations are clear. The Golden Retriever standard has very specific qualifications. There are many aspects of the physical characteristics the dog must meet, and each are clearly defined. They are broken down into many categories such as general appearance, coat, color, forequarters, hindquarters, head, neck, topline, body, gait, temperament, size, proportion and substance. Other than meeting the specifics of each category, there are also a couple of things that will automatically disqualify a particular Golden Retriever. The first is if it deviates by more than an inch from the standard height either way. The second is if it has an undershot or overshot bite. Other than that, there are no automatic disqualifiers, just things that, if not met, are considered faults.

The American Kennel Club has specific standards for dogs to meet the category of the perfect dog. For specific information, one should consult the AKC website. Some of the things included in the standard are that the eyes should be dark brown, but medium brown is considered okay. They should have a lot of expression in them, and be friendly and intelligent looking. They should have short ears, where when pulled forward the tip of the ear just covers the eye.

The coat of the Golden Retriever should be smooth and rich. There are various golden shades that are acceptable, but the mid-gold range is best, avoiding the lightest and darkest. The fur should be dense and water-repellant. The fur should lie close to the body, and can be wavy or smooth. The natural look of the coat should be left, and it should not be cut or clipped unnecessarily, though it is appropriate to trip the feet and some stray hairs.

The American Kennel Club has set out the specifics of the Golden Retriever standards. All breeders are aware of the standards and should be selling dogs that meet these standards. All Golden Retrievers that do meet the AKC standards will have some things in common. They will be active, alert dogs that stay involved in the world around them. As typical of a hunting dog, they will be hard workers, and not content to just lie around. They will be muscular, friendly, and love to interact with people. The coat will be a beautiful mid-gold color, with a firm and resilient outer coat, either straight or wavy. The tail will be held proudly, and the eyes will be intelligent and friendly. A dog that meets the Golden Retriever standard will be a dog that anyone could be proud to own and show. To get the specifics of the American Kennel Club Golden Retriever Standards, one should check the AKC website.