The first thing to say is that American lines are NOT bred in Spain. We, the only breeder, have exceptionally crossed them with one of the best dogs from the USA (Am.Gr.Ch. Tamarack the Likes It). No other breeder sells them. They are all European lines. In Europe, the only country with any American line breeders is Italy.

An American Golden Retriever is not a golden retriever with a lot of hair, that's also a European Golden Retriever, the differences don't lie there.

 

You read around here that the European Golden Retriever weighs less, that it has a finer bone and head, which is absurd to say the least. Also, that the American Golden Retriever has a better temperament... nothing could be further from the truth. Some websites have created such confusion that we receive dozens of calls asking for an American Golden Retriever because they've seen them on our website.

 

Okay, let's look at the differences. The American type is somewhat more homogeneous than the European type, so saying one is stronger than the other isn't possible. There are stronger European lines than the American type, and thinner European lines than the American type. Europeans have squarer heads, and Europeans have more elongated heads. Therefore, in these aspects, the type can't be categorized. Let's talk about what generally differs:

 

The American Mantle has a lot of undercoat with a very soft texture that usually gives it a more glamorous appearance, but remember that in Europe breeders cut the hair of their specimens so in professional photos they do not look natural, they actually have more hair and longer locks and as your specimen will be a pet if you do not trim it it will look hairier.

 

The head expression is different; the American Golden Retriever's eyes are usually smaller and set in a more serious manner. The European Golden Retriever tends to have a gentler expression, but again, this depends greatly on the bloodline and type.

American Goldens meet what the standard calls cat feet, feet with short, well-tucked toes that give a round shape like a cat's feet. In Europe there are lines with good feet, but it is a fairly common defect for the feet to not be straight, with long and/or open toes.

The front end is another distinguishing feature. The European line has maintained a functional construction for its work, with a good humerus-scapula inclination to achieve efficient movement with long strides and little effort. In contrast, the American line tends to be more elevated due to the straighter and shorter humerus muscles. It's worth noting that this is compensated for by very solid hindquarters that forcefully propel the body, resulting in truly showy movements.

The tail tends to be raised higher in the American line, whereas here in Europe we consider this a fault and select and reward specimens that carry it strictly level, in a straight line with the topline.

 

The ears tend to be somewhat smaller in the American and sometimes set a little higher.

 

Regarding temperament, the fact that in many European countries, they are subject to sometimes mandatory working tests has led to selection based on their instincts and their qualities as retrievers, so their sociability, confidence, patience, and motivation are of utmost importance. In America, selection has perhaps focused more on beauty shows, so there may be some differences in temperament. Once again, each bloodline can have significant differences within the same type.

 

Let's look at some examples, first or American on the left and second or European on the right, remembering that Europeans have their neck hair cut.