Characteristics
Golden Retrievers are heavily muscled, with a dense double coat and a heavily feathered tail. These highly-trainable sporting dogs have a confident, eager and alert personality. They are excellent performance dogs in many venues, including hunting, agility, obedience and tracking. Gentle and loving, Golden Retrievers make a wonderful family pet and companion.

The Breed Standard
for Golden Retrievers determined by the AKC is as follows:
http://www.grca.org/history_breed/breed_standard.html

The Code of Ethics
for Golden Retriever breeders/owners set forth by the Golden Retriever Club of America for its members is as follows:
http://www.grca.org/thegrca/code.html