Page 48 - ShowSight Presents The Golden Retriever
P. 48
golden retriever Q&A
two entries whose chest came way below the elbow due to lack of proper leg. I personally don’t want to see more than the width of my hand in the loin length. With a lon- ger loin and back, the dog will usually have a soft topline. Proper proportions serve the function better.
GK: I think we see dogs in the ring that are out of propor- tion being either too long, often in the loin, or too short in leg. This needs to be addressed by breeders. Many feel that finishing their championship should be sooner than later, I think this is one of the problems with our dogs maturing too early and making them out of proportion.
KL: Too many are far too short in leg and long in body—
or both. It never was a drag on the breed, the original Goldens had lovely proportion and leg length. Breeders have purposefully shortened legs and lengthened bodies in order to produce longer stride from the side; which mostly is incorrect as it becomes all lift and kick,
very inefficient.
DM: The drag of the breed is length to height. I do see better
length of rib cage compared to loin.
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 (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.
BP: I think you would not be asking this question if it wasn’t a problem for our breed and many others. Low and long is a drag on our breed and breeding a long rib rather than a long loin is a challenge. Remember, this is all about function in the field. Yes, dog shows are beauty contests, but breeders need to be breeding pretty dogs who could also do a days work.
JP: Too many dogs I see in the ring today present a rectangu- lar outline rather than the desired off-square proportions delineated in the standard. In too many of the dogs, the extra body length is the result of a long loin rather than the desired long ribcage. Short legs by definition create
a body that is long in proportion to height. If the body length is the same on a short legged dog as a dog with correct leg length (approximately 50% of the height of the dog should be from elbow to ground) the proportion of height to length will create a body that is noticeably longer than it’s height at the withers. Breeders need to concentrate on producing dogs with correct length of leg. I very rarely, if ever, see a dog that is too short in back or loin.
MS: There are very few correct 11:12 proportion dogs
seen in the ring. Indeed, some approach the Clumber
in over-all proportions, including a relatively short leg. Although we see short rib cages (and shallow, slabby ones) more often than the capacious body that a retriever should have. Long loins are not uncommon, although toplines are generally decent. Not as many sloping ones as at one time past.
9. What is the state of Golden Retriever heads today? What do you look for? What can be improved?
BA: Heads can be a problem. There is nothing that can make your heart beat faster than a beautiful Golden face with correct eyes, ears and muzzle. There are many, mostly in the classes, that are very narrow with incorrect eyes and very narrow muzzles.
PD: Overall Golden heads are good and reflect the function they perform with strong jaws and broad back skull that can support the weight of game birds. One exception is the size and shape of the eyes that in a number of exhib- its are too small and triangular giving the dog a very different look from what is desired.
LH: Heads are better today than they have been in a long time. I see better proportion and chiseling. I don’t think they need to worry about improving heads and dentition. That has been done. You aren’t going to find a cookie cutter headpiece on each entry. Soft expression should be included.
GK: Golden heads are sometimes hard in expression, with not enough stop, slanted eyes set to the side, without that very special soft expression that makes you smile when you look at them. I think we have been improving on this over the past few years, but we still need to work on it, keeping in mind their wedge-shaped head with enough muzzle to carry a bird.
KL: There are few really proper, noble Golden heads today. Heads with width and depth, long, deep fore faces, good under jaw, forward placed eyes of correct shape that offer kindly, intelligent expression. Instead we see trian- gular shaped heads with little or no stop, oriental eyes with vapid expressions.
DM: The heads are very good in today’s Goldens. I like what I’m seeing in the expressions and temperaments.
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.
BP: In many of our lines we seem to have lost what for me are hallmark looks. Soft expression, correct muzzles and heads of correct proportions are often missing. Harsh expressions, little eyes, overdone skulls with too much dome and muzzles that lack depth and breadth are seen way too often.
JP: There are way too many head styles today, many of them not in conformity to the breed standard. Wedge-shaped, one piece heads (no or not enough stop) are way too common and are undesirable.
MS: Too many American heads are just “plain” (and some British-style are too overdone and coarse), lacking strength in muzzle and the correct blending of muzzle into skull. Close-set small eyes, as well as the round, loose-lidded sort, are contrary to breed type and to function. My conception of a good head is like a cleanly detailed sculpture, strong without being coarse, with
