Flat Coated Retriever

The Flat-Coated Retriever combines gracefulness in looks with grace of character. This is a loving, playful dog that needs a strong personal relationship with his owner and daily exercise. Most are so good-natured that they would rather make friends than anything else. He is intelligent and adapts well to changes around him.

Information you should know before owning a Flat Coated Retriever

As a pet, the Flat-Coated Retriever adapts easily to city life, but requires considerable amounts of exercise and activity. Since the Flat-Coat is a working hunting retriever, he should be kept in good physical condition.

The Flat-Coated Retriever loves to play. Because he is a strong dog, supervision is needed around small children.

The Flat-Coat arrived out of the desire to create a selectively-bred bird dog. The breed cites in its ancestry the Retriever Proper, a cross-breed emerging from the Large Newfoundland, setter, sheepdog, and spaniel-like water dogs, in addition to various other breeds that have contributed the Flat-Coat’s unique stature and appearance. Retrievers were invaluable to fishermen and were the subjects of trade between Britain and North America, particularly with the cod fishery off Newfoundland during the 19th century, when the term "Labrador" dog came into use and was indiscriminately applied to a number of small dogs in the area. Eventually, a breed known as the Wavy-Coated (subsequently Flat-Coated) Retriever - not to be confused with today’s Labrador Retriever - came onto the scene in America.

The first British dog show was held in 1859, but classification for Retrievers, comprising both Curly-and Wavy- or Smooth-Coated, was not available until the following year. Accurate records do not appear until 1874, but it is known that from 1864 on, two bitches of a working strain of retrievers belonging to J. Hull, a gamekeeper, figured in the awards of the British shows of that time. It was this stock that produced an important nucleus to the development of the breed, though the greatest credit for integration of these retrievers into a stable type goes to S.E. Shirley, founder of the Kennel Club in 1873.

Subsequently, the breed gained enormously in popularity and numerous important breeders made their contribution to the quality and elegance of the Flat-Coated Retriever as ell as to his excellent working abilities. The breed’s most famous patron was H.R. Cooke, who for over 70 years kept the breed in his unparalleled "Riverside" kennel. Though considerably popular when admitted to the AKC in 1915, the Flat-Coat began to steadily drop in popularity until its levels reached a new low following the World Wars. Thankfully, Stanley O’Neill, one of the greatest authorities on the breed, took it upon himself to revive the breed. Finally, the mid-1960’s showed a new interest in the Flat-Coat and a flourishing on both sides of the Atlantic.

Is this a vulnerable breed? Yes, No	No
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	Short
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	Either
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 A bright, active dog of medium size with an intelligent expression, showing power without lumber, and raciness without weediness.
	Characteristics Generously endowed with natural gundog ability, optimism and friendliness demonstrated by enthusiastic tail action.
	Temperament Confident and kindly.
	Eyes Medium size, dark brown or hazel, with a very intelligent expression (a round prominent eye highly undesirable). Not obliquely placed.
	Mouth Jaws strong with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to the jaws. Teeth sound and strong.
	Neck Head well set in neck, the latter reasonably long and free from throatiness, symmetrically set and obliquely placed in shoulders, running well into the back to allow for easy seeking of trail.
	Forequarters Chest deep and fairly broad, with well defined brisket, on which elbows should move cleanly and evenly. Forelegs straight, with bone of good quality throughout.
	Body Foreribs fairly flat. Body well ribbed up showing a gradual spring and well arched in centre but rather lighter towards quarters. Loin short and square. Open couplings highly undesirable.
	Hindquarters Muscular. Moderate bend of stifle and hock, latter well let down. Should stand true all round. Cowhocks highly undesirable.
	Feet Round and strong with toes close and well arched. Soles thick and strong.
	Tail Short, straight and well set on, gaily carried, but never much above level of back.
	Gait / Movement A bright, active dog of medium size with an intelligent expression, showing power without lumber, and raciness without weediness.
	Coat Dense, of fine to medium texture and good quality, as flat as possible. Legs and tail well feathered. Full furnishings on maturity complete the elegance of a good dog.
	Colour Black or liver only.
	Size Preferred height: dogs: 58-61 cms (23-24 ins); bitches: 56-58 cms (22-23 ins). Preferred weight in hard condition: dogs: 27-36 kgs (60-80 lbs); bitches: 25-32 kgs (55-70 lbs).