A flat Coated Retriever Resting With A Lab
If you are looking for an dog breed than can be both the ideal hunting companion and the perfect family pet, then you may have found everything you are looking for in the Flat Coated Retriever.
Originally developed from the St. John’s Dog, Water Spaniels, Setters and Labrador Retrievers, this breed has become a favorite for many sportsmen (or women) that is looking for a breed to work with in the field.
They are easy to train and have a happy approach to the world around them. They are often referred to as the “Peter Pan” of the dog world and they will happily approach their work with the exuberance of a puppy, even into their senior years.
Pro’s and con’s of owning a Flat Coated Retriever.
The Flat Coated Retriever is an active breed that is full of life, spirit and has a good natured temperament. They are the quintessential puppy that enjoys playing around at home as much as they enjoy working in the field. While this breed is energetic and has been ranked as an ideal field dog, it is not for everyone. They have a variety of pros and cons and it is important to weigh each one before you choose whether a Flat Coated Retriever is the right breed for you.
The Pro’s
There are many good points about the Flat Coated Retriever breed and at one time they were the preferred breed for field work and conformation. If you are looking for an energetic gundog that enjoys his work and remains the eternal puppy, then this is definitely the breed for you.
• They are intelligent and easy to train if you use positive reinforcement.
• They get along with other pets and do well in multi-dog homes.
• They are great with kids, although they are better suited for older children since they can knock down younger children with their antics.
• They generally love people and are very friendly.
• They work well as retrieving dogs and can work on both sparse and thick foliage and in water.
• They are a versatile breed and do well as both hunting dogs and pets
• They are sweet tempered and can be very funny.
The Con’s
As with all dog breeds, there are a number of cons that should be taken into consideration before you purchase a Flat Coated Retriever. The breed has a number of serious health issues, listed in the section below, and they have an active and bouncy personality that does not work for everyone.
• They are average to heavy shedders
• Although they are known for their eager to please personality, some Flat Coated Retrievers can be very stubborn.
• They have high energy levels, which make them unsuitable for apartment living.
• They require large amounts of exercise on a daily basis, usually requiring about 90 minutes each day.
• Flat Coated Retrievers are very sensitive and while this can be a wonderful quality in some ways, it can also be difficult when it comes to training and other areas. They are more likely to shut down and refuse to train if any type of training is used except positive reinforcement.
• They are the “Peter Pan” of the dog world and you can expect to have a happy, bouncy and exuberant puppy until your dog reaches old age.
• If they are left alone for long periods of time they can suffer from separation anxiety. This can lead to barking problems and destructive behavior.
• They are mouthy. This equates to a dog that may nip at hands, carrying objects away and chewing items around the house.
• They are prone to Coprophagy, which is eating their own feces.
Health Issues:
Flat Coated Retrievers can have a number of hereditary health issues so it is important to research the breeder that you are purchasing a puppy from. Make sure that all health checks have been done on the parents and that the breeder is using healthy breeding stock. If you doubt at any time that they are, look for a new breeder.
• Hip Dysplasia
• Elbow Dysplasia
• Osteochondrosis Dissecans
• Epilepsy
• Many types of cancers and tumors:
o Fibrosarcoma
o Osteosarcoma
o Hemangiosarcoma
o Malignant Histiocytosis
o Adenocarcinoma
o Lymphosarcoma
o Mast Cell Tumors
o Melanoma
• Hypothyroidism
• Patellar Luxation
• Gastric Torsion (also known as Bloat)
Height & Weight:
The Flat Coated Retriever is a medium sized dog that should be the epitome of an athletic breed. It should be slightly longer than it is tall and the lines of the body should be clean. It is important that this breed does not carry excessive weight and that it has a lean and well conditioned appearance.
The size of a Flat Coated Retriever is:
Males: 23 to 24.5 inches (58 to 62 cm) tall
Females: 22 to 23.5 inches (56 to 60 cm) tall
Both Males and Females range in weight from 55 to 70 pounds (25 to 31.8 kg).
Note: Height is always determined from the ground up to the withers, also known as the highest spot on the shoulders, of the dog.
Grooming:
Despite the beautiful coat of the Flat-Coated Retriever, they are actually very easy to maintain. Generally, all they need is weekly brushing to remove any dead hair or burrs from their coat. The Flat Coated Retriever is an average shedder and there are periods in the year when they are considered to be heavy shedders.
In addition to grooming the coat, it is important to trim the hair on your dog’s feet and the tip of the tail but you should make sure that the coat looks as natural as possible. This can keep the burrs and other debris from becoming embedded between your dog’s toes and twisted into his tail.
Ears are a very important area for grooming since the breed can suffer from chronic ear infections and you should take extra care at keeping them dry and clean. Wash the ears with a damp cloth on a regular basis and also make sure that you dry them after your dog has been in the water.
Life Expectancy: 10 to 12 years
History:
Developed in England during the late 17th Century, the Flat Coated Retriever can accredit its development to S.E. Shirley who also founded the Kennel Club of England.
While it is not clear what dog’s S.E. Shirley used to create the breed, it is believed that he used St. John’s Dogs, the foundation breed for the Labrador Retriever, and combined them with Water Spaniels. In addition, he may have introduced Scotch Collies into the breed. During the breed’s development, it is believed that Setters were introduced into the lines but this was not done by S.E. Shirley.
In the end, the result was an exceptional gundog that became popular with a number of sportsmen in England; however, the occurrence of two world wars saw a significant decrease in the number of Flat Coated Retrievers alive and the breed came close to extinction.
To keep the breed viable, many breeds crossed Flat Coated Retrievers with the Labrador Retriever and through their efforts; the breed was saved from extinction.
Although S.E. Shirley is credited with developing the breed, it was actually H. Reginald Cooke who had a strong influence over the Flat Coated Retrievers that we see today.
The Flat Coated Retriever was recognized by the AKC in 1915 and it has been gaining popularity as a wonderful hunting dog since the 1960’s.
Grouping:
Gun Dog, AKC Sporting
Recognition:
CKC, FCI, AKC, UKC, KCGB, CKC, ANKC, NKC, NZKC, CCR, APRI, ACR
For More Infomation On Flat Coated Retrievers You Can Go To The FLAT COATED RETRIEVER SOCIETY’S WEBSITE