CURLY-COATED RETRIEVER
APPEARANCE
The Curly-Coated Retriever is an active, well-muscled dog bred for upland bird and waterfowl hunting. Dog is balanced and agile with a significant air of endurance, strength, and grace. Its distinct head is clean cut and wedge shaped with a shallow stop, topped with small, close lying ears. Eyes are large and almond shaped, and vary in color from black to amber, depending on coat color. Coat colours for the Curly Coated Retriever are solid black and solid liver (brown). The Curly coated Retriever weighs in at 60-95 pounds. Females are around 23-25 inches, and males around 25-27 inches.
PERSONALITY
The Curly-Coated Retriever is a very happy, energetic, and easy going breed. These dogs are very emotional and will tap into their owners moods, so a gentle attitude and manner towards this dog is always a must. They are highly intelligent and very eager to please. The Curly coated Retriever is a very loving and loyal dog and makes a great companion and pet. Playful and a little immature even as an adult, the Curly coated Retriever is fun to be around.
TRAINING
Curlies are extremely intelligent in general, but training can sometimes be difficult as they can easily get bored with repetitive training. The Curly-Coated Retriever is perhaps the most independent and least tractable of the retrievers, which can make training a chore at times. This is a sensitive breed, and should be trained with patience and compassion – never harshness. Training must be done with firmness, fairness, and consistency.
EXERCISE
The Curly-Coated Retriever is a breed that is highly adaptable to exercise; owners must set aside at least an hour everyday for its exercise. They love to swim and water retrieve. This makes them excellent dogs for the family who goes to the lake or lives near the water. They enjoy and excel at swimming, tracking, retrieving, agility, as watchdogs, and competitive obedience.
SOCIALIZATION
Early socialization and obedience training is crucial. The Curly coated Retriever gets along well with children, and also tends to get along with other animals and pets, although he may be wary around strangers. They can be very standoffish with strangers and therefore should be put into new environments and around new people from a young age.
LIVING CONDITIONS
Curly Coated Retriever’s are not recommended for apartment living. They thrive on outdoor activity but must be indoor companions. They do best in a rural setting. The dog is quite resistant to cold and moderately resistant to heat, but should nevertheless be allowed to sleep inside since closeness to its family is so important.
GROOMING
Never use a brush or a comb on a Curly as this will flatten the curls. Nails on the retriever need to be trimmed when necessary, but some never need to be trimmed at all. Bathing should happen about two or three times a year. They should be allowed to just air dry or a towel placed over them and gently patted down. Brushing the Curly-Coat Retriever should be done only when the dog is bathed. The Curly coated Retriever is a medium shedder, and therefore not ideal for allergy sufferers.
HEALTH ISSUES
Average life expectancy is 9-14 years. This breed is prone to eye problems, epilepsy, and hip dysplasia. Other health issues include bloat, seizures, baldness, autoimmune problems, and thyroid problems.
HISTORY
The Curly Coated Retriever originated in England and was bred to retrieve game either on land or in lakes and rivers. The breed was registered with the AKC in 1924.
