Bubbatd/Golden retriever people, in your opinion what should a Golden's ...

head look like?

I don't want this to sound like a stupid question but it's really been bugging me. I've just been looking at Golden breeders in the UK and figured I would ask you guys. Here is the list of breeders:

http://www.dogclub.co.uk/dogs/profile-gret.php

I don't really know the correct terminology for this so I will say it like I see it. Some of the Goldens seem to have smaller, more triangular shaped heads with triangle shaped ears. Where as others I see tend to have larger, dome shaped heads with longer, floppy ears.

My question is which type of head is correct? Does it differ between working and show Goldens. This site has both show and working dogs, can you see a difference?

http://www.abnalls.com/index.html

So your thinking of getting another Golden instead of an ACD?

I have no idea what the head is suppose to look like, sorry.

In the second link, my dogs looked more like the show dogs rather than the field dogs in build and especially the heads and ear sets.....except in color. The English breeding went very light . Mine were more of the honey color with some of the field breeding showing with darker coats. Some of the broader heads today have too short a snout and lack of a good stop.Bubba ( in my siggy ) was not that red....more the color of Chip ...next to me, EliN and Hunter. Actually Hunter and he are the same color.

Aus, whilst I'm still living here I will hopefully get another Golden but when I move to Canada an ACD is on the top of my list .

Grammy I prefer the darker Goldens . If you look at Casey in my sig is that what you mean by snout being too short? She has a wide, flat head with a small snout.

One more question, In your opinion would you go for UK working lines or UK showing lines?

One more thing, out of these 2 dogs which one do you prefer?

Hi, Kase. I don't think Grammy's on here right now, but my 2 cents is the first one. Maybe because I'm partial to the redder/darker goldens. You may not want to use me as your sounding board, though, because my Eli was a very DARK red and quite large and long nosed with a big head! I love the bigger, taller, darker field goldens, myself. And you can often find them with the big broad heads you're referring to. It seems that the standards have shifted to very short, squat, white goldens. Which I'm not partial to. Have you thought about rescue and getting that look you want?

I like the first one also.

Thanks EiNHunter, it's great to have you back .

I really prefer the darker Goldens, I don't even know where to start when looking at breeders.

To cut a long stroy short, I would love another friend for Casey. My parents have said no but I'm working on it. I really wanted a shelter dog of any breed however my mum is a childminder. I know you can get gorgeous shelter dogs but I couldn't take the risk that it may not be great with kids. I need it to be 100% with kids no matter what the staff say, I don't want it to end in heartbreak. With my mums job, she is at home with the kids all day and the dog MUST be great with them.

Also the reason why I decided on a Golden other than the fact that I love them is that people tend to be stereotypical, they can see a fluffy Golden and believe that their kids will be ok. I hope you understand what I'm saying.

As a result I decided upon another Golden, I'd love to do agiltiy too . So my choice is get a puppy or go with a rescue. I've looked on the net and have rescue numbers and have also looked at breeders. My parents haven't agreed to another dog but if I did end up getting one it would be up to them. The plus of a puppy is that it can be socialised with the kids, my cats and other animals. However most Goldens should be ok right? even if they are a resue.

Aus, I prefer the first one too .

I think you can't go too wrong with a golden no matter what way you go! Keep us posted!!!

I will .

Honstly Kase,

I know nothing about Goldens, but I like the second ones structure better.
The first dog seemed VERY long in the body and high in the rear, where as the second one has better angulation in the back end and is more proportioned.
BUT.. i'm also looking at them from a "Belgian owner" point of view lmao

I do like the colour of the first better though.
The first dog does have a nicer head IMO though.

Summer you know more than me, I know nothing about conformation. Thanks for your input .

I liked the second better, too. I wasn't too worried about the color though, so keep that in mind.
It's a good question... I very often see Golden's with "mastiffy" heads.
Keep us posted

I'm back !!! I definately like #1 better.... looks just like Bubba's Dad ( AKC best of breed ) and Bubba at a young age. EliN loved our 1st Golden, Rufus, and her Eli ... both dark. No, Kase, I don't think the snout is too short. Females do tend to have a shorter nose and I love her head !! I've always called Chip my " girly dog " ...really looks more " fem-in-nine " I've got pictures of Champions going back 60 years. My 1st Golden was of " Golden Rip " line.... Rip was dark ( Point was lighter ) Rip was the first golden in the 40s in the halls of fame... Show/field and tracking. I've stated before, I was not into showing , but into breed temperment and health issues. With a good breeder who understands, you'll be fine !!!!

Summer... check again. The 2nd dog's head does not match up to the body.... also the 1st face is more " true Golden " ....it has to do with the look and the eye.

Yuppers for sure, thats why I said in the last bit that I like the head of the first Golden better I like those "boxy" heads more

Glad we agree !!! I'm really not into " breed standards " today.... It's changed so in the ring !! I really hate it when the breeding changes when the Judges favor one type over another. I remember one of our specialty shows ( conformation )when a darker ( TRUE Golden ) won over the " white " ones.... the gallery exploded with applause. Our Indiana specialty show runs for 3 days.... ( spring ). Tracking in the fall. The difference between Confirmation, Obedience and Field work is amazing !!

Thanks bubbatd, I don't want a 'white' one. As far as I'm concerned a Golden should be golden, there are soooooo many breeders who seem to be breeding the white ones. I never even noticed it before.

Put the first dog's head on the second dog's body and you'd have my ideal Golden.

Such a gorgeous breed. A close friend of ours recently got a new Golden puppy, I'll have to post pictures of her soon.

I still like #1 .... deeper chest .