Description

The Flat Coated Retriever is a noble and sturdy dog, and stands strong as a gundog from Britain. It has been trained and bred to work on both land and, and these dogs are exceptional family companions as well. The Flat Coated Retriever has a strong, muscular jaw and long muzzle. It is a unique breed with its one-piece backskull and muzzle, and often carries a friendly and intelligent expression. The ears are pendant-shaped and are fairly small. They lie closely to the back of the skull and the dogs have a well-arched neck. The topline of the dog is strong and straight, while the back of the dog's head is angulated.

The coat of the Flat Coated Retriever is a single coat, with no undercoat. IT is moderate in length and is quite dense and lustrous; owners of this dog enjoy brushing and keeping this dog's coat smooth and shiny, and the coat is longer on the backs of the legs, body, and tail. The head is molded and sleek, and the eyes are either dark brown or hazel. These dogs have a very intelligent and often doleful expression; they have moderately small ears and simple but bold features.

The nose is usually black, but it may be brown in color for liver-colored retrievers. The back is short, square, and muscular and the feet are round and strong. These dogs are naturally very energetic and training can take some time. However, they are also very obedient and will listen to their masters and owners with little fuss. These dogs are stable and consistent, and they fit well with a variety of families.

Coat Description

Borders are single coated with moderately long, dense, and lustrous brown or black coats. The body coat often has longer feathering on the backs of the body and tail region, and the areas around the face are short and smooth.

History

The Flat Coated Retriever originated in the mid 19th century in England, and soon became popular as a gamekeeper's dog. It later moved on into becoming a gundog as its hunting characteristics and traits were outstanding. Part of the ancestry of the Flat Coated Retriever can be due to stock imported from North America from the area of St. John's Newfoundland. This dog is thought to have been a descendant of the Labrador and the Chesapeake Bay Retriever.

The Flat Coated Retriever quickly gained popularity in the U.S. as a gundog in the 1870s, and it has been recognized as a stable and noble dog ever since. By the end of World War II, however, there were very few flat coated retrievers in existence but breeders have once again given rise to these dogs as companions and showdogs as well. The Flat Coated Retriever has shown multiple talents and a steady temperament throughout the years; it has increasingly been used in field competition, and careful breeding has brought it back into a variety of breeding circles. These dogs are very good at being watchdogs, retrieving, hunting, tracking, and they have consistent agility.

Today, the Flat Coatd Retriever is modestly popular and requires attentive breeding to encourage its natural talents. It is commonly used as a show dog, but many people choose to take this dog as a companion.

Grooming

The Flat Coated Retriever needs very little trimming but regular weekly brushings whenever possible. Their coat needs to be kept nice and tidy on a regular basis, especially after they have been outdoors for extended periods of time. It is important to use care when brushing after the dog is wet or has been in cold temperatures.

A good brushing at least 4-5 times per week is ideal, as this will bring out the natural gloss and sheen of the dog. The breed is an average shedder, and the coat will change in luster and appearance throughout the seasons. The coat may tangle on occasion, but this simply requires additional brushing and perhaps a trim.

Bathing and shampooing are only necessary when the dog is exceptionally dirty; these dogs tend to keep themselves clean on a regular basis, and taking them to a professional groomer can help to keep them in the best shape. A visit to the vet once per month will be helpful in keeping the dog as healthy as possible, and these dogs will also need to be checked for ticks on a regular basis.

Exercise

The Flat Coated Retriever needs daily exercise at least once or twice per day. Running, walking, jogging, sprinting, and playing with a Frisbee are ideal activities for this dog, and they make excellent jogging companions regardless of the weather. These dogs especially enjoy swimming and hunting, so taking them out to the forest or parks on a weekly basis will give them plenty of new environments to explore. These dogs also enjoy car rides, so taking the dog along on a camping adventure would be a real treat!

Natural hunters, these dogs use all of their senses to enjoy a variety of activities. They have a tendency to follow their noses, but owners do not necessarily need to worry about this dog wandering too far as it will return home more often than not. Still, an untrained dog will need to remain on a leash during the majority of its excursions. These dogs are well-behaved and will listen to instructions quite well. It is important to train them consistently and encourage a variety of activities and exercises. These dogs are very playful and active, and are a joy to manage and grow with.

Working flatcoats usually get their fair share of exercise, and enjoy taking part in a variety of activities. These dogs are easy to work and will train well as a gundog or hunter.

Training

The Flat Coated Retriever has been bred as a sporting dog and is very active by nature. These dogs love to please but they can be difficult to train at times. They are bored easily, so it is important they have enough variety in training and activities on a regular basis. The Flat Coated Retriever develops a strong bond with its owners and masters, and will require consistency and direction, especially in its younger years. The dog's personality can be best described as devoted and outgoing. This is helpful when creating a training program for this dog at any age. Using toys and other objects as part of training can help them grasp new skills relatively easily. Rewards of food, new toys, and even trips to the park can be helpful motivators.

The Flat Coated Retriever will get bored very easily with repetitive tasks, and they may even become willful at times. It is important to pay attention to positive reinforcement and motivation so that they are consistent. These dogs do respond best to positive reinforcement on a regular basis, and they are particularly sensitive to harsh tones or mannerisms. They cannot tolerate harsh handling or correction and will simply retreat when they feel too anxious or uncomfortable.

These dogs are naturally happy and exuberant; it is important to train them appropriately so that they do not knock over items in the house, or even run into small children. Socialization is very important, and obedience training will help them learn the rules of the household. These dogs can be quite affectionate and fun-loving, so it is important to set some guidelines and respect through constructive training.

Training the Flat Coat Retriever as a working gundog is another opportunity to make the most of this dog's natural talents and abilities. These dogs are especially strong and have strong stamina; they have a natural ability to learn and will do well with consistent training out on the field. These dogs use their own air scent abilities to track down and hunt, and this needs to be encouraged whenever possible. Teaching the dog to 'heel' is the first step in training both puppies and fully grown dogs. The dog will come to understand the direction only after demonstration and ongoing repetition. Too much, however, will result in ineffective training. It is important that the puppy has learned how to 'follow' his mother, whether this is its real mother or simply the owner or master. These dogs do well by performing with a pack leader, and they are especially responsive to consistency.

Incorporating games and play into training will help with the activities for the Flat Coat Retriever. These dogs thoroughly enjoy bonding time with their owners, and will respond well to continuous attention, reinforcement, and affection.

Life :: 10 years

Litter Size :: 4 - 8 puppies with the average being 6 puppies

Group :: Gun Dog, AKC Sporting

Color :: Black, Brown, Liver, White spots, Black spots

Hair :: Long

Size :: Large

Shedding :: Moderate Shed

Male Height :: 22 -23 inches (56 - 58 cm.)

Male Weight :: 60 - 70 pounds (27 - 32 kg.)

Female Height :: 22 -23 inches (56 - 58 cm.)

Female Weight :: 60 - 70 pounds (27 - 32 kg.)

Living :: The Flat Coated Retriever is not recommended for apartment life, as it does need plenty of fresh air and exercise on a regular basis. These dogs were raised to be gundogs and enjoy exploring forest area, large territories, and can withstand harsh weather. They are relatively inactive indoors, and will do their best when they have an average-sized yard available. The breed needs to be around people in order to be happy, so it is important that they are paid attention to at least once per day. Intensive exercise works best for them, and they can often be found working up a sweat outdoors in a variety of tasks. These dogs do play well indoors, but also enjoy spending as much time as possible outside as well. This dog will not do well being chained up in the house all day, and needs plenty of space to roam.