Dog class - Sporting
Average height - Males 25-27 inches; females 23-25 inches
Average weight - Males 70-95 pounds; females 45-70 pounds
Size - Large
Coat - Crisp, small curls
Average life span - 12 to 14 years

The solid black or solid liver (brown) Curly is a family hunting dog and companion. He is a large retriever with tight curls over its entire body, except its forehead and muzzle, which have very short hair, giving its forehead a peculiar, bald look.

Curlies are taller and more intelligent than other retriever breeds, and their temperament is not as hard.

Because the Curly is a rare breed, not many litters are whelped each year (usually no more than 25 litters). A show quality puppy should be well conformed, free of observable defects like bad bite or missing tail, and not shy in temperament. A pet quality dog should not be expected to be a champion and is not considered breeding stock.

The Curly-Coated Retriever is the oldest of five retrievers. He was developed in England to retrieve shot ducks from the water. Originally a gamekeeper's gundog and guard dog, he is very fond of water and is a natural swimmer.

Curlies get along well with other animals. They are athletic, discriminating dogs that thrive on activity, training, and work.

The Curly-Coated Retriever is susceptible to hip dysplasia and PRA. Only buy one from OFA- and CERF-registered parents.

Curlies do not fully mature physically until age three or four. They are also emotionally still maturing until two and a half to three and a half years of age.

The Curly is friendly, intelligent, and responsive, but more difficult to training than other retriever breeds, having a definite mind of his own and training may take a great deal of patience. Behavior problems may arise from its timidity. They are very susceptible to fear conditioning, and if not socialized early to many people (including adults and children) they may become fear biters. They should not be harshly punished.

Curlies must be supervised when they are with children. They can be boisterous and can unintentionally knock over small children. However, most like children and only need structure to play safely with them.

Don't choose a timid puppy.

Curlies drool and are wilful. They are quiet indoors, but their needs for daily exercise (including swimming, if possible) mean they may do best in the suburbs or country. They can be reserved and sometimes timid or distrustful with strangers, so must become accustomed to people and noises at any early age.

Although very smart, he often uses his intelligence in a clever way to suit his own purposes; thus he needs early, consistent obedience training.

His coat needs brushing twice a week.

Further Curly Coated Retriever Dog Resources

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