Curly-Coated Retriever: temperament, size, care and health

About the Curly-Coated Retriever

The Curly-Coated Retriever is the tallest of the retrievers, a long-legged, elegant dog with a wedge-shaped head and a coat unlike any other retriever's: a mass of tight, crisp curls that covers the body, tail and upper legs, while the face and the front of the legs are smooth. Black and liver are the usual colors.

The curls are not just for show. The coat repels water and protects against brush and cold, and the dog was bred to retrieve in rough conditions. The Curly is a strong swimmer and a steady worker, though it works with more independence than the Labrador. Most are kept today as personal companions, and numbers are small.

Temperament and family life

The Curly is confident, intelligent and often described as aloof with strangers. It is deeply loyal to its family, and some choose a single favorite person. It makes an alert watchdog and generally behaves with dignity indoors, but it has a bit of a sense of humor. It is not as indiscriminately friendly as many other retrievers.

Compared with a Labrador or Golden, a Curly is more independent and slower to mature. It may be good with children it grows up with, but it can be too large and boisterous for toddlers. It may be dominant with other dogs. Socialization from puppyhood matters, since an unsocialized Curly can be overly wary.

Exercise and training

The breed needs daily exercise, preferably including swimming and retrieving. It has good stamina, and a young dog can be energetic well beyond the puppy stage. A bored Curly may chew or dig. Owners should expect to spend an hour or more outside.

Training requires a firm, fair, patient hand. The Curly is smart and can be willful, and it dislikes endless repetition. Harsh methods often cause it to dig in. Short sessions with rewards, variety and clear leadership work best. Curlies do well in hunt tests, field trials, obedience and tracking. Start early with manners because an adult is large, strong and not easily deterred.

Grooming and shedding

The curly coat sheds less than a typical retriever's, but it is not maintenance free. Do not brush a Curly dry, since brushing destroys the curl and creates frizz. Instead wet the coat and let the curls form, or simply rinse and let it dry. Many owners wash the dog every couple of months. Shedding occurs mostly in one or two seasonal bursts.

Trim the hair on the feet and around the ears, and keep the nails short. Check and clean the ears after swimming and any time the dog has been wet, as the folded ears can trap moisture. Expect water and mud to be carried into the house, and expect the occasional offended look after a bath.

Health

The Curly-Coated Retriever is subject to bloat, a sudden stomach emergency in deep-chested dogs, and owners should learn the signs. Hip dysplasia, eye problems such as cataracts, entropion and progressive retinal atrophy, and gastrointestinal troubles are reported. Cancers occur in some lines, and exercise-induced collapse, an inherited condition with a DNA test, has been found in the breed. Responsible breeders test hips, elbows, eyes and heart. A veterinarian, not this page, is the right source of advice on a particular dog; this is general information.

History

The breed is generally considered one of the oldest retriever types, developed in England in the 1700s and 1800s, with a mix of the lesser Newfoundland, the English Water Spaniel and possibly the Irish Water Spaniel and Poodle. English gamekeepers used it widely for retrieving on land and water. Numbers fell as the Labrador and Golden became fashionable. The breed spread to Australia and New Zealand, where it became a popular hunting dog, and to North America, where the American Kennel Club recognized it in 1924.

Is the Curly-Coated Retriever right for you?

A Curly suits an experienced, active owner who enjoys training a thoughtful, independent dog and who has water, space and time. It is an excellent hunting retriever and a loyal friend to those it knows.

It is a poor choice for novices, for owners who want a social butterfly or for small homes. The Labrador Retriever and the Golden Retriever are friendlier and easier to train. The Chesapeake Bay Retriever is similarly independent, and the Irish Water Spaniel has a similar coat in a more comic package.