The Curly Coated Retriever

The Curly coated retriever originated in England. This breed was used to retrieve animals and for upland bird and waterfowl hunting. It almost died out during the two world wars, but was saved by a few breeders in England. This and the Flat coated retriever were the first two recognized retriever breeds. They were established around 1860.

This is a dog that needs to get socialization at an early age. It needs plenty of exercise, love, and attention from its owners. It has a very loving and loyal nature. It makes for a wonderful companion and pet, and is a perfect playmate for children, continuing to be playful well into the adult years.

It also gets along well with other animals, although it might be a little reserved around strangers. It is a very independent breed and may become bored with repetitive training. Hence, training requires a bit of patience.

This is a good watch dog, but it is not likely that he/she will really guard anything. Like all retrievers, it likes to get into the middle of any activity and participate. This is a very talented breed when it comes to activities such as swimming, biking, hiking etc. Due to its high intelligence, this dog is a fast learner.

This dog has a high energy level and loves to have fun. If the owner does not find a way to keep it well-exercised and full of games, then the dog will find or make up games to amuse itself. The thing is that, many times, such games do not amuse the owner. So make sure you give him/her something to do.

This breed is taller than the average retriever, although it is more longer than tall. The coat is made up of tightly-packed curls, which helps repel water, or even burrs, and prevents injuries that thin-coated dogs suffer. The color of the coat is black or liver.

Although some white hair is allowed, white patches are considered as a fault. The eyes should be brown or black for a black coat, and brown or amber for a liver coat. The nose should be of the same color as the coat, and should be completely pigmented.

This dog generally weighs in at 60-90 pounds. Males should normally be between 25 and 27 inches tall (64 to 69 cm) and females should be 23 to 25 inches (58 to 64 cm). For show standards, taller is more preferable to shorter for this dog. Its weight should be proportional to its height. The average lifespan for this breed is 9 to 14 years.

Grooming and maintenance of this dog is low, with brushing only necessary when it is shedding heavily; if brushed more often than necessary, the coat can become frizzy. Females are believed to shed more when they are in heat (twice a year), and this breed may also shed around spring season. This dog needs to get sufficient exercise and outdoor activity.

This breed is prone to certain health issues. Some of them are bloating, hip dysplasia, cancer, epilepsy, cardiac problems, Exercise Induced Collapse (EIC), or eye problems such as cataract, retinal dysplasia, entropion, ectropion, and some such problems.

This is a wonderful dog with a playful disposition and loving temperament. It is very loyal and makes for a good pet.