Golden Retriever (Detailed Introduction)

　　The origin of Golden Retrievers is in England, where they were bred mainly for work purposes. Therefore, English Golden Retrievers tend to have a sturdy skeleton, broad heads, coarse and stiff fur, and sometimes a curly appearance. Americans, however, do not emphasize work capability as much as the English do; instead, they focus more on the external appearance of Golden Retrievers. As a result, American Golden Retrievers have softer, silkier fur, a less robust frame than the English type, and less demand for deep chests. Due to differing breeding goals, the standards used during judging also vary.

　　American Golden Retrievers rarely win in English judging standards, but English Golden Retrievers often win more easily under the American AKC judging standards. The key to winning lies in the English type's body structure being more in line with the breed’s defining characteristics.

　　Below are detailed comparisons:

　　English type: Original form
　　American type: Modified form
　　Temperament
　　Almost no difference; both are very gentle, intelligent, have no aggression toward people, and have high obedience. There is little distinction.
　　Facial expression features
　　English: Expression is honest and simple, often making them seem like little children who always need their owner's care.
　　American: Confident gaze; adult American Golden Retrievers look more like big kids, yet their eyes still reflect a childlike longing for companionship.
　　Body shape features
　　English: Slightly larger, taller, with a more full and prominent chest
　　American: Slightly smaller, a bit shorter, chest is less full than the English type
　　Coat amount
　　No significant difference
　　Coat texture
　　English: Harsh
　　American: Soft
　　Bone mass
　　English: No difference when young, slightly finer in adulthood
　　American: No difference when young, slightly coarser in adulthood
　　Head - Muzzle
　　English: Muzzle thicker, width similar, gap between eyes extending to the forehead, gap is short (no gap is also normal)
　　American: Muzzle average thickness, similar width, no gap
　　Forehead shape
　　English: Oval or egg-shaped
　　American: Heavy, very full, no prominent skull
　　Coat color
　　English: Light color (pure white not accepted)
　　American: Dark color
　　Show grooming differences
　　English: Emphasizes working ability, so the fullness of the chest, strong neck, and overall skeletal coordination must be highlighted
　　American: Emphasizes appearance
　　Pigmentation
　　English: Pigmentation deposits around the eyes
　　American: Also around the eyes; less obvious due to darker coat color
　　Selecting well-pigmented Golden Retrievers
　　Eye circles, nose, lips edges, paws, nails, and belly color—the darker the better. Small pink spots on the nose and paws are not a concern and usually darken over time. This standard applies to both types of Golden Retrievers.