Because of its origins and its main role, a Golden Retriever must be shown with a good muscle structure.
A too skinny or an overweight dog will be faulty, as well as a dog that will not have developed or strengthened its musculature through regular exercise. Those dogs often show top line weaknesses and have difficulties to get balanced statics.
The standard doesn't mention anything about Height / Length proportions.
However its length must be slightly superior to its height, with a 11/12 ratio.
The following sketch shows how this proportion should be estimated.
We have chosen the picture of a Golden Retriever having the almost perfect 11/12 ratio. .
Keep this outline in mind.
To show the respect of proportions we've used an old picture of a National breed Show where you can see the podium of the champion category.
These three dogs are almost in the 11/12 ratio.
The dog on the left was used to modify the three following photos so as to prove
how proportions are important.
Too long dog with a 11/13 ratio.
Fashionable trend nowadays.
Golden Retriever the closest to the 11/12 ratio in its conformation.
Too short or too tall dog, the body fits in a square, 11/11 ratio.
