GENERAL APPEARANCE: Symmetrical, balanced, active, powerful, level mover; sound with
kindly expression.
BEHAVIOUR / TEMPERAMENT: Biddable, intelligent and possessing natural working ability; kindly, friendly and confident.
HEAD: Balanced and well chiselled.
CRANIAL REGION: Skull: Broad without coarseness; well set on neck. Stop: Well defined. FACIAL REGION: Nose: Preferably black. Muzzle: Powerful, wide and deep. Length of foreface approximately equals length from stop to occiput. Jaws/Teeth: Jaws strong, with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to the jaws.
EYES: Dark brown, set well apart, dark rims.
EARS: Moderate size, set on approximate level with eyes.
NECK: Good length, clean and muscular.
BODY: Balanced. Back: Level top line.
Loin: Strong, muscular, short-coupled. Chest: Deep through heart. Ribs deep, well sprung.
TAIL: Set on and carried level with back, reaching to hocks, without curl at tip.
LIMBS
FOREQUARTERS: General appearance: Forelegs straight with good bone. Shoulder: Well laid back, long in blade.
Upper arm: Of equal length as the shoulder blade, placing legs well under body. Elbow: Close fitting.
Forefeet: Round and cat-like.
HINDQUARTERS: General appearance: Hind legs strong and muscular.
Stifle: Well bent.
Lower thigh: Good.
Hock: Well let down, straight when viewed from rear, neither turning in nor out. Cow-hocks highly undesirable.
Hind feet: Round and cat-like.
GAIT / MOVEMENT: Powerful with good drive. Straight and true in front and rear. Stride long and free with no sign of hackney action in front.
COAT Hair: Flat or wavy with good feathering, dense water-resisting undercoat.
Colour: Any shade of gold or cream, neither red nor mahogany. A few white hairs on chest only, permissible.
SIZE AND WEIGHT: Height at withers: Dogs 56 - 61 cm (22-24 ins); Bitches 51 - 56 cm (20-22 ins).