Curly-Coated Retriever

The Curly-Coated Retriever, probably one of the oldest retriever breeds, is not simply a Labrador with curly hair. He is a distinct breed with his own personality--sensitive, intelligent, curious, and family-loving. Like all retrievers, he loves his daily exercise, especially running and swimming. The Curly behaves like an energetic puppy and may settle down as late as four years of age, though he's a puppy at heart forever.

Curly Coated Retriever breed facts

The Curly-Coated Retriever is one of the oldest breeds classified as retrievers.

The breed is believed to have been descended from the 16th century English Water Spaniel, Retrieving Setter and possibly the Irish Water Spaniel.

The first breed club for the Curly-Coated Retriever was formed in England in 1896.

Information you should know before owning a Curly Coated Retriever

The Curly-Coated Retriever has an easy to care for coat. It's curls stay in place with little to no attention.

The Curly-Coated Retriever's curious nature may lead him to many amusing escapades that call for an owner with a sense of humor.

The Curly-Coated Retriever learns rapidly and performs willingly almost any task.

Though the correct origin of the Curly-Coated Retriever is unclear, there appears little doubt that he is one of the oldest of all breeds now classified as Retrievers. He is popularly believed to be descended from the 16th century English Water Spaniel, the St. John’s Newfoundland, the retrieving setter, and, in the late 19th century, the Poodle. The popular gun dog following the Old English Water Spaniel, the Curly was first exhibited in the mid-19th century at England’s Birmingham show. In 1889, specimens were exported to New Zealand, where they have long been used for retrieving duck and California quail. They are also very popular in Australia, where they are used in the swamps and lagoons of the Murray River on duck.

The Curly is admired as a steady and tender-mouthed retriever, quite unsurpassed in the water. The first breed club was established in England in 1896, and the breed was introduced to the US in 1907. The first AKC registered Curly-Coat appeared in 1924.

Is this a vulnerable breed? Yes, No	Yes
What size is this dog? Small, Medium, Large	Large
How much excercise is required? 30 mins a day, 1 hour a day, Over 2 hours a day	Over 2 hours a day
How long is this dog's coat? Short, Medium, Long	Medium
How much grooming is required? Once a week, More than once a week, Every day	More than once a week
Does this dog shed? Does shed, Does not shed	Does shed
What area is this dog best suited to? Town, Country, Either	Country
What size house is required for this breed? Flat/Apartment, Small House, Large House	Small House
What size of garden is required? Small Garden, Large Garden, No Garden	Large garden

	General Appearance Strong, upstanding dog with a degree of elegance. Distinctive coat.
	Characteristics Intelligent, steady, reliable.
	Temperament Bold, friendly self confident and independent. May seem aloof.
	Eyes Large, not prominent, oval-shaped, obliquely set. Dark brown in blacks, in livers brown tone to blend with coat colour.
	Mouth Jaws strong, with perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to the jaws.
	Neck Strong and slightly arched, of medium length, free from throatiness and flowing freely into well laid back shoulders.
	Forequarters Shoulders well laid back and muscular. Upper arm and shoulder blade approximately equal length. Forelegs straight with strong pasterns and set well under body.
	Body Chest deep with well sprung ribs, oval in cross section with brisket reaching elbow. Forechest visible. Ribs extend well back into short, deep and powerful loin. Slight tuck up to flank. Topline strong and level. The dog should be slightly longer in body measured from point of shoulder to point of buttock than in height from withers to ground.
	Hindquarters Strong, muscular. Moderate turn of stifle. Hocks well let down and well bent.
	Feet Round, tight with well-arched toes.
	Tail Flows from topline. Should reach approximately to hock; carried straight on a level with topline when moving.
	Gait / Movement Strong, upstanding dog with a degree of elegance. Distinctive coat.
	Coat Body coat a thick mass of small tight, crisp curls lying close to skin, extending from occiput to tip of tail; without undercoat or bare patches. Elsewhere hair smooth.
	Colour Black or liver.
	Size Ideal height at withers: dogs: 69 cms (27 ins); bitches: 64 cms (25 ins).