Curly Coated Retriever: Breed Characteristics, Care & Exercise Needs

Group: Gun Dog, AKC Sporting Group

AKC Ranking: 137

Also Known As: Curly, CCR, Gamekeeper's Dog

About Curly Coated Retriever

Origin of the Breed The Curly-Coated Retriever is an old breed probably created with a dash of Irish Water Spaniel, another of Poodle and possibly a bit of Newfoundland. The Curly Coat first appeared in the show ring in England in 1860.

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Description of the Breed

The Curly-Coated Retriever is a large, hardy, athletic retriever with a distinctive crisp, thick, black coat of tight curls. Only the face, hocks and front of the legs are smooth.

The ideal Curly should be agile, graceful, and strong, yet elegant. The body is slightly longer than the height at the withers. The back is strong and level. The limbs are muscular. The head is wedge-shaped - longer than it is wide. In black dogs the nose is black and in liver dogs the nose is amber or brown. The smallish ears are pendant. The eyes are either black or chestnut. The tail reaches approximately to the hock and is carried straight.

Height: 25-27 inches (63-69 cm.)

Weight: 65-80 pounds (29-36 kg.)

Personality

The Curly-Coated Retriever is easy to get along with, loyal, proud, mischievous, sensitive, very intelligent, independent, confident and eager to please. The Curly-Coated Retriever is affectionate, loving, and excellent with children. This breed tends to be reserved and even timid with strangers if not properly socialized. They make good therapy dogs.

Curly-Coated Retrievers make an ideal partner for an active, outdoor-oriented person, a loyal family companion and a good, protective watchdog. This breed does not fully mature until it is about three years old.

Living Conditions

The Curly-Coated Retriever is not recommended for apartment life. They do best with at least a large yard. If kept as a pet, Curlies need to be part of the family and not left alone outside in the yard all day.

Exercise & Training

The Curly Coated Retriever likes exercise as it was bred for athleticism and endurance in the field. They should be taken out fir daily walks or jogs. A Curly is an intelligent dog and is happiest when it has adequate exercise, mental stimulation and play.

Curlies are great dogs for active sports such as hunt tests, flyball, and dog agility trials as they love the outdoors, working with people, and activities of any kind. They are excellent swimmers and retrievers. They need early, gentle, but firm obedience training. They can do well in competitive obedience and agility but are not too predictable.

Grooming

The curly coat of the Curly-Coated Retriever is easy to care for. It should be washed to keep it free of mats but brushing and combing will make the coat frizzy. The coat should be wetted after grooming to resume the curls. Some minimal scissoring may be desirable to tidy up scraggly hairs. It does need regular brushing during its shedding seasons, especially in the Spring. This breed is an average shedder.

Health Issues

· Hip dysplasia
· Eye problems such as cataracts, corneal dystrophy, distichiasis, entropion, ectropion, or retinal dysplasia
· Cardiac problems
· Epilepsy
· Bloat
· Glycogen Storage Disease (GSD)

Life Expectancy: 8-12 yrs.

Breeder Club: www.ccrca.org

Rescue Link: http://www.ccrca.org/resQ1.htm