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

About the Flat-Coated Retriever

The Flat-Coated Retriever is a medium-large, elegant dog with a long, clean head, a flat and glossy coat and feathering on the legs, chest and tail. It comes in solid black or solid liver. The look is more racy and lightly built than a Labrador, and the long tail is carried happily and never stops wagging.

It was developed to retrieve game on land and water for British gamekeepers, and it remains a capable hunting retriever. As a pet it attracts owners who admire its eternally youthful, goofy temperament. Some call it the Peter Pan of dogs because it keeps its puppy outlook well into adulthood.

Temperament and family life

A Flat-Coat is a friendly, exuberant dog with a bright outlook. It loves people and usually gets along with children, other dogs and visitors. Its high spirits can make it clumsy in the house, and a young Flat-Coat may bowl over small children or sweep a coffee table clear with its tail. Plan for a long puppyhood that may last three or four years.

The breed needs company. It does not suit being left alone for most of the day, and it can become destructive or noisy when bored. It is not a guard dog. Many Flat-Coats are mouthy and carry things around, so providing toys and teaching a clear drop cue prevents trouble.

Exercise and training

Flat-Coated Retrievers need regular, strenuous exercise, including swimming and retrieving if possible. An adult in good condition can run and hike for hours. Without work, a Flat-Coat can become frantic or find inappropriate activities, including digging and chewing.

The breed is smart, willing and trainable, but it can be distractible and slow to mature, so patience pays. Short, fun sessions with food and games work better than strict drilling. Flat-Coats do well in field trials, obedience, agility, tracking and dock diving. Teach leash manners and polite greetings early.

Grooming and shedding

The sleek coat needs more care than it appears to. Brush two or three times a week, and more in the spring and fall when the undercoat sheds. The feathering on the chest, legs and tail can tangle, and the long hairs behind the ears are prone to knots.

Trim stray hair around the feet and tail if you like a tidy look. Bathing is needed only occasionally. The breed has hanging ears, so check and clean them after swimming. Expect a fair amount of hair on clothes and floors, as the coat continues to shed in moderate amounts all year.

Health

The main concern with the Flat-Coat is cancer. Histiocytic sarcoma, hemangiosarcoma and other tumors affect a large share of the breed and are the reason for its short average lifespan, typically eight to ten years. Hip dysplasia, patellar luxation, eye diseases and bloat also occur. Breeders screen hips, elbows, knees and eyes and should be open about cancer in the pedigree. The above is general information about the breed, not advice for one dog, and a veterinarian can answer that.

History

The Flat-Coat developed in nineteenth-century Britain, where gamekeepers wanted a retriever that could work on both land and water. The foundation is generally traced to Newfoundland-type dogs, setters and spaniels, and the breed was refined by sportsmen through the late 1800s. It was widely used on estates in Britain before the Labrador and Golden Retriever took over. Numbers declined during the world wars, and the breed has since been rebuilt by dedicated clubs. The American Kennel Club recognized the breed in 1915.

Is the Flat-Coated Retriever right for you?

A Flat-Coat suits an active, affectionate household that likes a perpetually cheerful dog and is ready for a long adolescence. It does well with families, hunters and dog-sport enthusiasts. Prospective owners should be prepared for the likelihood of cancer in middle age.

It does not suit someone seeking a calm, low-exercise pet or a long-lived breed. The Golden Retriever and the Labrador Retriever are steadier and live a bit longer. The Curly-Coated Retriever is more reserved, and the Irish Setter offers a similar silhouette in red.