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Curly-Coated Retrievers comprise a breed of medium-large
sized dog that originated in Great Britain in
the 1800s, making them one of the oldest retriever
breeds. They were initially bred to function as
gun dogs, retrieving water fowl and upland birds.
While Curly-Coated Retrievers are still used in
many countries for this purpose, they have come
over time to be valued greatly as family pets.
They are especially popular in Australia and New
Zealand.
The Curly-Coated Retriever is a robust, agile
breed. They have long, muscular bodies and the
appearance of long legs. Although height standards
for the breed vary by country, Curly-Coated Retrievers
generally fall between 23 and 27 inches in height.
Because of this, the average weight of Curly-Coated
Retrievers also varies, but should usually be
between 50 and 80 pounds.
As one might expect, Curly-Coated Retrievers
derive their name from their coats of tight, springy
curls. These coats cover their bodies but not
their faces, which instead sport a layer of smooth
hair. They shed moderately. As retrievers bred
to fetch water fowl, Curly-Coated Retrievers have
water-resistant coats. In color, they are either
solid black or solid liver. Each dog's nose should
match the color of their coat.
In the typical manner of retrievers, Curly-Coated
Retrievers are lively, fun, loyal, and loving.
Despite their energy, they can be quite relaxed
in home environments as long as they receive adequate
exercise. They can be distant toward strangers,
but they are generally friendly and are known
to be affectionate toward their humans. Curly-Coated
Retrievers are very intelligent, but may take
longer to train than one would expect, as they
tire easily of repetitive training.
While they can be quite calm inside the home,
Curly-Coated Retrievers need a fair amount of
space when they are exercising, and are therefore
not well suited to life in an apartment. They
fare best with at least a large yard available
to them. Curly-Coated Retrievers should not be
kept as outdoor dogs, as they need to spend ample
time with their families to be happy.
With respect to grooming, Curly-Coated Retrievers
are a fairly low-maintenance breed. Their coat
should not normally be brushed or combed, as it
can make the coat frizzy. Instead, Curly-Coated
Retrievers should be bathed when necessary, and
can have any messy, tangled hairs trimmed if necessary.
The exception to this rule falls during the breed's
shedding seasons, when it requires regular brushing.
Curly-Coated Retrievers, however, demand more
maintenance when it comes to both physical and
mental exercise. A Curly-Coated Retriever requires
a long walk, jog, or run each day, and should
also get exercise from other activities such as
swimming and games of fetch. Various toys and
games should also be used to stimulate the dog
mentally.
Curly-Coated Retrievers are prone to hip dysplasia,
a variety of eye problems, and epilepsy. On average,
they live for eight-14 years, although several
have lived to be as old as 17.
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