TAIL:

Flows from topline. Should reach approximately to hock, carried straight on a level with topline when moving.

GAIT / MOVEMENT:

Effortless, powerful gait with good extension and drive. Parallel movement. At speed, legs tend to converge.

COAT:

Hair : Body coat a thick mass of small tight, crisp curls lying close to skin, extending from occiput to tip of tail; without undercoat or bare patches. Elsewhere smooth hair.

COLOUR:

Black or liver.

LIMBS:

FOREQUARTERS:

General appearance : Forelegs straight, set well under body. Shoulder : Well laid back and muscular.

Upper arm : Upper arm and shoulder blade approximately equal in length.

Metacarpus (Pastern) : Strong.

Forefeet : Round, tight with well-arched toes.

HINDQUARTERS:

General appearance: Strong, muscular.

Stifle: Moderate turn of stifle.

Hock: Well let down and well bent.

Hind feet: Round, tight with well-arched toes.

FCI-CLASSIFICATION:

• Group 8: Retrievers, Flushing Dogs,Water Dogs.
• Section 1: Retrievers. With working trial.

GENERAL APPEARANCE:

Strong, upstanding dog with a degree of elegance. Distinctive coat.

IMPORTANT PROPORTIONS:

Slightly longer in body, measured from point of shoulder to point of buttock, than in height from withers.

NECK:

Strong and slightly arched, of medium length, free from throatiness and flowing freely into well laid back shoulders.

BODY:

Topline : Strong and level.

Loins : Short, deep and powerful.

Chest : Deep with well sprung ribs, oval in cross section with brisket reaching elbow. Forechest visible. Ribs extend well back.

Underline and belly: Slight tuck up.

FAULTS:

Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded 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.

N.B.:

• Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.
• Only functionally and clinically healthy dogs, with breed typical conformation should be used for breeding.

BEHAVIOUR / TEMPERAMENT:

Intelligent, steady, reliable. Bold, friendly, self confident and independent. May seem aloof.

HEAD:

Wedge-shaped in both side and front profiles. In proportion to body size.

CRANIAL REGION:

Skull : Foreface and skull equal length. Planes of skull and muzzle parallel.

Stop : Slight.

FACIAL REGION:

Nose : Black in blacks and brown in livers.

Jaws/Teeth : Jaws strong, with perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to the jaws.

Eyes : Large, not prominent, oval-shaped and obliquely set. Dark brown in blacks; in livers brown tone to blend with coat colour.

Ears : Rather small, set slightly above level of eye; lying close to head, covered with small curls.

SIZE AND WEIGHT:

Ideal height at withers:

• Dogs:    67,5 cm (27 ins),
• Bitches : 62,5 cm (25 ins).

DISQUALIFYING FAULTS:

• Aggressive or overly shy.
• Any dog clearly showing physical or behavioral abnormalities shall be disqualified.