General Appearance:A symmetrical, powerful, active dog, sound and well put together, not clumsy or long in the leg, displaying a kindly expression and possession a personality that is eager, alert and self confident. Primarily a hunting dog, he should be shown in hard working condition. Overall appearance, balance, gait and purpose to be given more emphasis than any of his component parts.

Head Broad in skull, slightly arched . Good stop. Foreface deep and wide, nearly as long as the skull. Muzzle when viewed in profile, slightly deeper at stop than at tip, when viewed from abnove, slightly wider at stop than at tip. No heaviness in flews. Eyes: Friendly and intelligent, medium large with dark rims, set well apart and reasonably deep in sockets. Colour preferably dark brown, never lighter than colour of coat. No white or haw visible when look straight ahead.Teeth: Scissors bite with lower incisors touching inside of upper incisors. Nose: Black or dark brown, though lighter shade in cold weather not serious. Dudley nose (pink without pigmentation) to be faulted. Rather short, hanging well behind and just above eye with rear edge slightly below eye. Low, houndlike ear set to be faulted.

Neck: Medium long, sloping well back into shoulders, giving sturdy muscular appearance with untrimmed natural ruff. No throatiness.

Body: Well balanced, short coupled, deep through the heart. Chest at least as wide as a man's hand, including thumb. Brisket extends to elbows. Ribs long and well sprung but not barrel shaped, extending well to rear of the body. Loin shsort, muscular, wide and deep, with very little tuck-up. Topline level from withers to croup, whether standing or moving. Croup slopes gently.

Forequarters:Forequarters well co-ordinated with hindquarters and capable of free movement. Shoulderblades wide, long and muscular, showing angulation with upper arm of approximately 90 degrees. Legs straight with good bone. Pastern short and strong, sloping slightly forward with no suggestion of weakness.

Hindquarers: Well bent stifles - with hocks well let down. Legs straight when viewed from rear.

Feet: Medium size, round and compact with thick pads. Excess hair may be trimmed to show naltural size and contour.

Tail: Well set on, neither too high nor too low, following natural line of the croup, length extends to hock. Carried with merry action with some upward curve but never curled over back nor between legs.

Coat and Colour: Dense and water repellent with good undercoat. Texture not as hard as that of a shorthaired dog, nor silky as that of a setter. Lies flat against body and may be straight or wavy. Moderate feathering on back of forelegs and heavier feathering on front of neck, back or thighs and underside of tail. Feathering may be lighter than rest of coat. Colour lustrous golden or various shades. A a few white hairs on chest permissible but not desirable.

Gait: When trotting, gait is free, smooth, powerful and well co-ordinated. Viewed from front or rear, legs turn neither in nor out, not do feet cross or interfere with each other, increased speed causes tendency of feet to converge toward center line of gravity.