Beyond the Standard--Beyond Reason?

      The expected genetics of the Golden Retriever do not allow for any hair color other than the "extension yellow" series, which can produce color ranging from a very pale cream that appears almost white, to the deepest red. There will not be any black or liver pigment in the hair....Examples of the whole range from deepest red to palest cream, as well as truly golden, may be found throughout the Golden's history. A wide part of this range of color is acceptable for show purposes, but dogs appearing either extremely dark  or pale are less desirable in this country. Whatever the depth of color, it should always have a brilliance that is definitely golden  (yellow or yellow- orange). In sunlight, the topcoat should reflect a glint as the metal gold does.
   The allowable lighter shadings may vary a great deal. All are acceptable as long as the predominant body color is truly golden....( Marcia Schlehr, page 142, The New Golden Retriever )

   The quote cited above represents not only the thoughts of the author-- who is GRCA Historian, chairperson of the GRCA Standard Committee and member of the GRCA Judges' Education Committee --but the opinions find expression in the American Breed Standard issued by the GRCA and sanctioned by the AKC governing body.
   Permit me to consider these opinions.
   The author admits that both cream and red are natural birth colors which appear in the breed, and have done so throughout history.
   But the author claims that deepest red and palest cream are not TRULY golden.
   She states further that for SHOW purposes certain birth colors are NOT acceptable. While this may be true universally for the color RED, it is most certainly NOT true for the color cream. Only in the AKC/GRCA conformation ring is the latter deemed unacceptable. Everywhere throughout Great Britain, Continental Europe, Canada and Australia/New Zealand cream-coated Goldens are shown without penalty.
   To say that red and cream Goldens are LESS DESIRABLE in this country ignores the fact that the internet is replete with kennels who specialize in and advertise these colors for sale. And the pups are sold in untold numbers. Can anyone deny that?
   The author states that a Golden Retriever must reflect a GLINT as the METAL GOLD does. But the jewelry made of yellow gold OR ROSE gold OR WHITE gold all possess this glint. Do they not? And the last time I looked the typical Golden Retriever was not made of metal.
   Finally, the writer provides a definition of the color GOLD. It may be EITHER YELLOW or perhaps YELLOW-ORANGE. That, according to her, is what makes a dog TRULY GOLDEN. Perhaps, in order to clarify things once and for all we should rename our breed the YELLOW-ORANGE RETRIEVER.
   The author offers as fact an opinion, an interpretation, a personal preference and then declares this to be the correct and only acceptable definition of what TRULY GOLDEN is.
   Never are we told WHY we should accept her definition of golden. Never does she explain WHY the other colors (red/cream) are free to participate in all other venues-- just not the conformation ring. Nor does she offer any reason WHY the Breed Standard should be written for a specific form of competition but not all others enjoyed by those who own and fancy our breed. Especially when the author writes of the NEW Golden Retriever-- a dog now bred to perform multiple tasks well beyond the sport of hunting.