NEW Standard
Undercoat pale honey to bright apricot. Coat on back, flanks, head and tail sufficiently tipped with black to enhance a golden appearance. Legs and end of tail may be shaded with tipping. Chin, ear tufts, chest and stomach, consistent DILUTE color, much lighter in tone than the undercoat color. The general effect is lighter than a shaded golden due to less tipping. Rims of eyes, lips and nose are outlined with black. Nose leather: Rose. Paw Pads: Black. Eye color: Green or blue-green. Disqualify for incorrect eye color, incorrect eye color being copper, yellow, golden, amber or any color other than green or blue-green.
Rationale
The current color standard for the goldens does not cover the broad color spectrum or description that goldens exhibit. This can be very discouraging for both exhibitor and judge, especially since there are so few exhibiting the goldens. Few judges have ever bred or shown a golden; therefore, the written color standard may be their only guideline. With a more detailed description, judges will be more able to recognize a "good" golden when seen in the show ring. The color "cream" is a dilute or red and not a genetically appropriate color description for the goldens. Both exhibitor and judge will benefit from a more useable guideline that more clearly defines the "ideal" which is the objective of a color standard. These proposals are a means of clarifying the current standard.