Golden Retriever

The Golden Retriever is a balanced and friendly dog with a natural desire to work in partnership with people. Equally at home as part of an active family, in the shooting field or in a wide range of dog sports, the breed is renowned for its gentle temperament, exceptional trainability, and strong willingness to work alongside its handler.
A hallmark of the breed is its free-flowing, powerful and elegant movement, reflecting its balanced construction and natural ease of movement. Compared with some other retriever breeds, the Golden Retriever is often gentler and more sensitive in character, while remaining a dependable, resilient and willing working companion.

Breeding Requirements

Health and Genetic Testing

How to Qualify Your Dog for Breeding

Responsible Breeding

Breed Standard

	Overview of the FCI Breed Standard
Country of Origin	United Kingdom
Height	Ideal Height at the Withers: Dogs: 56–61 cm. Bitches: 51–56 cm
General Appearance	Symmetrical, balanced and active, sound with level action; kindly expression.symetrický, vyvážený a statný pes s harmonickou stavbou těla a plynulým pohybem; výraz je laskavý a inteligentní
Coat Colour	Flat or wavy with good feathering; dense, water-resistant undercoat. Any shade of gold or cream.
Gait	Powerful, with good drive. Straight and true when viewed from the front and rear.
Head	Head: Balanced and well chiselled; skull broad without coarseness; stop well defined. Facial Region: Nose preferably black, with wide nostrils. Muzzle: Powerful, broad and deep; approximately equal in length to the skull. Jaws: Strong, with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite.
Dentition	Strong, with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. the upper incisors closely overlapping the lower incisors and set square to the jaws.
Eyes	Dark brown, well set, with a friendly and intelligent expression.
Ears	Moderate in size, set on approximately level with the eyes.
Neck	Good length, clean and muscular.
Body	Back: Level topline; croup does not slope towards the tail. Loins: Strong and well coupled. Chest: Deep through the heart, with well-sprung ribs.
Tail	Set on and carried level with the back, reaching approximately to the hocks; well feathered. Carried with a smooth action, never curled over the back.
Limbs	Forequarters General Appearance: Forelegs straight from the elbows to the ground when viewed from the front or side. Shoulders: Long and well laid back, lying close to the body. Forearms: Straight, with good bone. Feet: Round and cat-like, with well-arched toes and thick pads. Hindquarters General Appearance: Strong and muscular; viewed from behind, straight and parallel. Stifles: Well bent. Hocks (Rear Pasterns): Hocks well let down; viewed from behind, straight. Cow hocks are highly undesirable. Feet: Round and cat-like, with well-arched toes and thick pads.
Temperament	Friendly, calm and even-tempered; intelligent, trainable and eager to please; naturally gifted in retrieving; a devoted and dependable companion; kind and gentle in nature, with no signs of aggression or undue shyness.
Faults	Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault, the seriousness of which should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog and on its ability to perform its traditional work.
Disqualifying Faults	Aggressive or overly shy dogs. Any dog clearly showing physical or behavioural abnormalities shall be disqualified.
Note	Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.

A Brief History

The Golden Retriever originated in Great Britain during the second half of the 19th century as a specialised gundog developed for retrieving game. Its development is closely associated with Lord Tweedmouth, who systematically bred dogs capable of working reliably in demanding terrain and water.

The breed was developed using, among others, the now-extinct Yellow Retrievers, Tweed Water Spaniels and other working breeds. The aim was to produce a retriever with a soft mouth, an excellent sense of smell, and a strong willingness to work in partnership with its handler.

Over time, the Golden Retriever became not only an outstanding working gundog but also one of the world’s most popular family companions. Thanks to its friendly temperament and intelligence, the breed today excels not only in the shooting field but also in animal-assisted therapy, search and rescue work, and a wide range of dog sports.

Breeding Requirements

	pes / fena
Ideal Height at the Withers	56 – 61 cm / 51 – 56 cm
Dentition	*Scissor bite only; teeth may be missing except for incisors and canines.
Show award obtained after 12 months of age	At least two show results are required. One of them must be obtained at a Club Show or Specialty Show with the CAC title on offer (a Regional Club Show does not fulfil this requirement), organised by Retriever Club CZ or Klub chovatelů loveckých slídičů (KCHLS). The required minimum qualification is Very Good (VD) at both shows. The second qualifying show may be obtained at any International Show, National Show, Club Show, Specialty Show or Regional Club Show.
Working Trials	Retriever Working Aptitude Trial (OVVR) or any hunting working trial or competition that includes a retrieving assessment.**
Hip and Elbow X-ray Examination (DKK + DLK)	HD A/A to C/C ED assessment mandatory, max. 1/1*

Notes
- *The bite must be a scissors bite. M3 teeth (the third molars in the lower jaw) are not considered functional teeth and are therefore not included in the total tooth count.
- *Dogs with incomplete dentition may only be bred to a partner with complete dentition.
- **Dogs with a DKK result of A/C to C/C may only be bred to dogs with a DKK result of A/A to B/B.
- *** As of 1 September 2026, the maximum permitted ED result for breeding approval is 1/1.
  Dogs that fulfilled all breeding requirements before 9. 1 September 2026 may apply for breeding approval under the previous rules until 30 October 2026.

A list of FCI Group 8 breed judges authorised to measure height at the withers and verify the bite and dentition outside the show ring for breeding approval of retrievers can be found HERE.

Recommended Health Testing for Breeding Dogs

Annual ophthalmological examination (PRA/CAT/RD)	The examination screens for inherited eye disorders. Both planned breeding partners should be examined, including dogs that are genetically clear of prcd-PRA.
OCD – Shoulder Radiographic Examination	Performed at the same time as the DKK/DLK X-rays; officially evaluated by the same specialist who assesses the DKK/DLK results.

Recommended Genetic Tests for Breeding Dogs

GR_PRA1, GR_PRA2 (Golden Retriever Progressive Retinal Atrophy)	When planning a mating, it is recommended to choose a pair where at least one of the prospective parents is GR_PRA1 and GR_PRA2 clear / N/N.
prcd-PRA (Progressive Retinal Atrophy)	When planning a mating, it is recommended to choose a pair where at least one of the prospective parents is PRA-prcd clear / N/N.
ICT1, ICT2 (Ichthyosis)	When planning a mating, it is recommended to choose a pair where at least one of the prospective parents is ICT1 and ICT2 clear / N/N.
NCL5 (Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis – a hereditary neurodegenerative disease affecting the brain and retina)	When planning a mating, it is recommended to choose a pair where at least one of the prospective parents is NCL5 clear / N/N.

Laboratories Offering Genetic Testing
- Tilila Laboratories CZ, www.tilialaboratories.cz
- Genomia (CZ), http://www.genomia.cz, sleva pro registrované chovatelské kluby 10 % https://www.genomia.cz/cz/homepage/clubs/