Page 16 - ShowSight Presents The Golden Retriever

golden retriever Q&A
WITH CONNIE GERSTNER-MILLER & NANCY TALBOTT
breed, but it is not long in the same vein as a Clumber or Sussex or German Shepherd is indicated to be in their standards. Whether the proportion error is in legs that are too short from ground to elbow, or in a long loin (or any other piece being incorrect), there is no wavering from the required balance and symmetry. Granted, a long dog may move with ease, but it is very important to give preference to the dog with proper proportion.
7. How do you prioritize key Golden breed type elements when judging the breed? What is most important to you? Least important?
CGM: My priority is moderation in all areas. The least impor- tant would be color.
NT: 1) Balance and proportion standing and moving.
2) Proper coat. 3) Front assembly and topline. 4) Head; one should know that a Golden is a Golden simply by looking at the head. A correct Golden head is a treasure. Of least importance to me is color, as long as the dog
is within the wide range of “various shades of lustrous gold”—yes, that includes a cream color with the caveat that there must be some color in the dog’s ears or hock joints, two areas that often darken over several years.
8. How would you characterize current outline and proportion? Are breeders doing a good job with length to height; or is this still a drag on the breed? What areas should breeders concentrate on?
CGM: The Golden is supposed to be only slightly longer than he is tall, including the forechest. We are seeing dogs low on leg and very long in body. Length of body should not come from the loin. The loin is to be short, while the ribs are long and well sprung. The breed is losing rib-spring
“ONE SHOULD KNOW THAT A GOLDEN IS A GOLDEN SIMPLY BY LOOKING AT THE HEAD.
A CORRECT GOLDEN HEAD IS A TREASURE.”
(roundness of ribs) and becoming very similar to a Set- ter’s ribs. The backline is to be “strong and level from withers to croup”. Overall, sloping toplines have become the norm, when they should be faulted.
9. What is the state of Golden Retriever heads today? What do you look for? What can be improved?
CGM: Heads are lacking proper length of back skull to fore skull, which should be close to the same length. Ears should thick and when pulled forward, the tip should reach the front corner of the eye, not beyond. We are also seeing narrowing of muzzle and lack of under jaw. Lack of stop is also of concern, as we are losing the beautiful, soft face.
NT: The Golden head must show retriever character, mean- ing good depth and width of jaw (slightly wider at stop than tip, as the standard requires) for gripping game; moderate stop (not a “slow down”, but an actual stop); broad skull with slight arch; ear of proper size and place- ment; and that irreplaceable Golden eye with soft expres- sion. These are key elements of the Golden head. Are they in a poor state now? In some parts of the country, more than others, the heads have shown great improve- ment. A narrow head without stop is less common than a decade ago, with the caution that we need to be wary
of overcorrection.
10. It seems that many dogs being shown today are moved at a fast pace. How do you assess adequate reach & drive versus effortless/efficient movement?
CGM: Handlers are definitely moving Goldens too fast, often at breakneck speeds with the dog well out in front at the end of a tight, strung up lead. It is written in the stan- dard that dogs “be shown on a loose lead to reflect true gait” and a judge should always request for the handler
to be move his dog at a moderate speed. When reach-
ing in the front, the front foot should reach as far as the muzzle. The back foot should slide in to replace where the front foot left and feet should be kept close to the ground. There should be no over-kicking in the rear, or lifting in the front. The strung up lead forces the dog’s neck back into the shoulder and completely destroys fluid movement. This is the only way to see how the dog truly moves. And yes, straight fronts and short upper arms are an issue and getting worse. Very frequently you will even see advertising that depicts dogs over-reaching in front and kicking up in the rear.
NT: A description of correct movement in a Golden: clean coming at you, elbows held close to the body, single track as speed increases. Clean going away, hip to ground forming a “V”, single track as speed increases. Smooth and effortless from the side, with feet just rising above the level of the ground, reach and drive not extreme but equal front and rear. Sound stifle and hock joints which open completely, giving powerful drive (essential in a dog that trots and runs for hours at a time in the field). Head and tail carried just above the level of the topline, not lifted high. Minimum footsteps to get around the ring, no grabbing or pounding, no quick-stepping.
372 • SHOWSIGHT MAGAZINE, SEPTEMBER 2018