Bhuvan Kennels

Flat-Coated Retriever Dog

The Flat-Coated Retriever breed is known for generally producing great companion animals. Flat - Coated Retrievers tend to be loyal and protective. Unfortunately for some people, their protectiveness tends to take the form of barking at anything unusual, a tendency they have to be trained to overcome. As a "bark" pointer breed, generations of Flat-Coated Retriever dogs were bred for their ability to locate hunted animals and bark.

The Flat-Coated Retriever's Behaviour

Recommended for: pet

The Flat-Coated Retriever breed is generally considered outgoing and friendly, yet devoted to family. Flat-Coated Retriever dogs tend to be quite versatile as hunting dogs working well on land and water and in a variety of tasks. As a hunting dog breed, Flat-Coated Retrievers need outdoor time and opportunities for physical activity. Remember that breed only provides a general clue as to any individual dog's actual behaviour. Make sure to get to know dogs well before bringing them into your home.

The Flat-Coated Retriever's Physical Characteristics

Here are the characteristics of the Flat-Coated Retriever breed as determined by the American Kennel Club's published breed standard.

Size: Males 23 to 24½ inches; females 22 to 23½ inches

Coat: shiny, straight and flat or slightly wavy; all-weather

Colour: solid black or liver-colour

Eyes: medium-sized, almond-shaped, dark brown or hazel spaced wide apart.

Ears: relatively small, close to the side of the head, thickly feathered

Skull: flat skull, moderately broad, flat cheeks

Muzzle: long, deep; nearly as long and broad as the skull

Nose: black

The Flat-Coated Retriever's Origins and History

Country/Region of Origin: United Kingdom
Original purpose: hunting birds
Name: often simply nicknamed "Flatcoat;" the breed was, a long time ago, called the "wavy-coated retriever," but successive generations developed more flat coats
Historical notes: The Flat-Coated Retriever breed was developed in the nineteenth century and was officially recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1915. In those early years, the breed's popularity and population spiked. But Flat-Coated Retrievers lost popularity to the new Golden Retriever, which had been bred by crossing the Flat-Coated Retriever dog breed with a few other breeds. By the end of World War II the breed was nearing extinction, only regaining some of its lost popularity in the 1960s.

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