Folks who fly the Maple Leaf flag have it RIGHT

   In the Illustrated Breed Standard of the Canadian Golden Retriever Club this description of our Goldens appears. It is to educate the judges and the public in general. This is how the colour clause of their Breed Standard should be applied.  This range of colour properly falls within the parameters of the phrase,
                            "COLOUR LUSTROUS GOLDEN OF VARIOUS SHADES...."  
   The GRCA Judges' Education Committee developed a document, approved by the AKC as required, which said virtually the same thing. When that handout-- developed for judges in the AKC show ring --was questioned, as if by magic, the color cream was expunged from the document. Restoring that single word would not require a change in the GRCA/AKC Golden Retriever Breed Standard. But I believe it would satisfy the complaints of nearly all owners of cream-coated Goldens who demand equal treatment in the conformation ring. Our Goldens are not "undesirable" in any way whatsoever.
   The GRCA/AKC Breed Standard's color clause should be changed. But failing that, altering the document cited above would be an important first step. And if judges chose to read it, and apply it, that might well solve the problem without any need to go through the amendment process..