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Dogs are and will always be man’s best friend. And not without reason. They are always there for us, are faithful and loyal and never let us down.
As the saying goes: “That the dog is the dearest thing to me, you say, O man, is sin? The dog remained faithful to me in the storm, the man not even in the wind.” Yes, and this is especially true of the faithful and friendly retrievers.
Are you thinking about buying a dog? In the following article, you’ll learn all about the Curly-Coated Retriever, the oldest retriever. It will not only be about how big and heavy this breed gets, it will also be about its breeding background and its character and temperament.
So you will be well informed, so at the end of this article you can decide if this dog suits you and your lifestyle.
Breed Description
The Curly-Coated Retriever belongs to group 8 in the FCI classification: retrieving, poking, water dogs. He is listed in the subcategory section 1 retrieving dogs.
With its sometimes almost 70 cm shoulder height, it belongs to the large dog breeds.
Origin And Breed History
The Curly-Coated Retriever is one of the oldest, and also one of the largest retriever breeds. It is believed that he descended from the old English Waterdog, which was crossed with the Greenland Dog.
This is also known as St. John’s Newfoundland and is also believed to be the ancestor of the Labrador Retriever. Later, the Pointers, Setters and Poodles were also crossed in.
Exactly in what order this occurred is not clear. He probably inherited his characteristic coat from the English Waterdog. The Curly-Coated Retriever existed already in the 18th century in its present appearance.
The only difference is that he was much smaller and lighter than today. As early as 1860, he was exhibited as part of a mixed class of all retrievers. A breed club was founded in 1890.
The Curly-Coated Retriever has now existed for a good 100 years, already in 1621 a dog was described by Gervase Markham, which is very similar to today’s Curly-Coated Retriever. He described a dog that was black or liver-colored, could swim well and whose coat had a characteristic texture.
The Curly-Coated Retriever is a hunting dog and is used for water hunting. For this reason, he is born with a love of water and is an outstanding swimmer.
Curly-coated retrievers are primarily used for duck hunting, preferably after the shot. In other countries – such as Australia – they are also used for kangaroo hunting. Since they learn very quickly, they can also be trained to be guide dogs or sled dogs.
Appearance Of The Curly Coated Retriever
As the name clearly indicates, the Curly Coated Retriever has a curly coat. This is probably the most characteristic feature. The curls are small, dense and tight and lie close to the skin, from the back of the head to the tip of the tail.
He has in the sense no undercoat and no bald patches. His body should be strong and level in the back line, the neck also strong, medium length and flowing into the sloping shoulders.
The Curly-Coated Retriever should be able to move effortlessly and powerfully, and develop sufficient thrust.
Character And Temperament
The Curly-Coated Retriever is a very friendly, playful, and outgoing dog that likes to adapt. Compared to the other retriever breeds, he is probably the most distrustful retriever, being reserved with strangers and also retaining his guarding and protective instincts.
Nevertheless, he brings a lot of humor, so living with him is never boring. Towards children the Curly is gentle and tolerant. One could think that he instinctively treats them more carefully, even if they touch him a little more roughly in their childish clumsiness.
He is very affectionate and absolutely needs family connection. Under no circumstances should he be kept outside alone in a kennel. The Curly-Coated Retriever is a loyal and reliable companion.
He is one of those dogs that develop later and does not mature until he is three years old. He is up for any fun, you could almost think he has a sense of humor. Friendly and in a good mood, he likes to cooperate with his family or with his master.
He is an absolute water rat and needs plenty of opportunities to go swimming. He is very intelligent, sometimes stubborn. When training, this should always be considered, because it requires a lot of time, patience and consistency to understand him in his whole nature.
If this is successful, working with the Curly-Coated Retriever is a lot of fun, because he does excellent search work, is tireless and full of ambition at work and never gives up. With his excellent nose he is able to mark shot game and cooperates outstandingly.
Husbandry And Nutrition
Attitude
The Curly-Coated Retriever is an absolute family dog who wants to live indoors with his family and be close to his people. His urge to exercise is high, he loves long walks, but also likes to sleep in peace and quiet and can learn well to be alone for a while.
Nutrition
He needs a high quality food, which is exactly adapted to him. However, he can also be barfed. Since he can have skin problems in some cases, it is especially important with the Curly-Coated Retriever to offer a perfectly matched diet.
Even apart from that, a high-quality food is essential for the dog’s health and general well-being. Since these dogs – like the other retrievers – tend to be overweight, it is essential to keep an eye on the Curly’s daily ration.
Education And Care
Education
The Curly-Coated Retriever belongs to the easy to handle breeds. He is very willing to work and wants to be cooperative beyond measure. Nevertheless, he needs a consistent person who will train him and give him the opportunity to follow.
Nevertheless, a hard hand is absolutely fatal. Since he is a late developer, brings a lot of temperament and also wants to be cognitively challenged, he needs an active person who is willing to take this time and especially the patience.
Thus, especially dog beginners can quickly reach their limits. Fingertip feeling, consistency and above all the background knowledge in relation to this breed, are required.
Care
In a Curly-Coated Retriever bred according to today’s standards, the entire body is covered with fine, dense curls. The only exceptions are the mask, and parts of the front and hind legs.
For this reason, it is a very low-maintenance dog that does not require combing. It is enough if the coat is searched for dead hair with the fingers every now and then, especially in the period of coat change. The dog also takes care of its coat by bathing sufficiently and licking itself with its tongue.
Health And Typical Diseases
The Curly-Coated Retriever, unlike the Golden and Labrador Retrievers, is not a fashionable dog. This has the advantage that he has no diseases worth mentioning.
Rather, it is a robust dog that has retained its characteristic and quaint appearance. Many retrievers suffer from elbow and hip dysplasia (ED, HD), or may struggle with eye problems.
These diseases are not a problem in the Curly-Coated Retriever and occur very rarely. The best known and most common disease is a skin disease.
In these cases, bald patches may appear on the skin in the neck or shoulder area, and less frequently on the back. Female dogs are affected more often than male dogs.
The exact cause is not yet clearly understood. Experts assume that it is due to hereditary factors. But also environmental influences, wrong nutrition or also a disturbed hormone balance can favor the formation of these bald spots.
In breeding, therefore, meticulous care is taken not to admit dogs with this disease and to examine their pedigree carefully for this defect. In some lines malocclusions of the jaw in the form of under- or overbite appear.
Life Expectancy Of The Curly Coated Retriever
The Curly-Coated Retriever has a life expectancy of 12-14 years.
Buying A Dog Breed Curly Coated Retriever
Are you considering buying a Curly-Coated Retriever? Before you make that decision, be sure to ask yourself the following questions:
- Am I capable of handling a hunting dog physically, as well as cognitively?
- Do I not mind long walks in any weather, snow or ice?
- Do I have the financial means to pay for food, veterinary and other costs?
- Do I have a detailed knowledge of the breed?
- Am I willing to be active with him in dog sports or can he be used according to his breeding purpose?
The decision has been made and a puppy is to move in? Then it is time to think about the right initial equipment, such as dog basket or dog leash.
Decision support
The Curly Coated Retriever is a hunting dog that was bred, among other things, for tracking and especially for duck hunting. This should always be kept in mind.
It is a true bundle of energy that wants to be outside in all weathers and also work. It is not a dog that can stay indoors for long periods of time if the weather is too rainy after all. This must be clear to one, if one wants to acquire this dog.
In addition, he needs to be kept busy, especially cognitively. Accordingly, it is advisable to devote himself to dog sports. Dummy work is particularly suitable for this. If you do not do justice to him, he suffers and cares.
These dogs are very playful and mature very slowly, so that only at the age of three years he has also grown up mentally. This means that the owner has to be very patient with him and should leave some peculiarities uncommented with a wink.
If you take these aspects into account, you have a great companion with the Curly, who is fundamentally open-minded and friendly. Because of his playful and sometimes hyper nature, there will always be moments when you can’t help but smile.
He is also wonderful as a family dog, playful and good-natured, and eager to please his people.
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