Curly Coated Retriever

 An intelligent and willing worker, the Curly Coated Retriever was not originally bred to be a family pet. As a gun dog, this breed has highly developed retrieving skills.

 History:

The Curly Coated Retriever was established in the 1800s by cross-breeding Newfoundland Hounds and Irish Water Spaniels. Possibly the oldest breed of gun dog and at one time the most popular, due to its willingness to hunt over water. Now, however, the Curly Coated Retriever is not as popular, possibly due to the up-keep of its burr-prone coat.

 Physical characteristics:

The Curly Coated Retriever is an elegant and active dog. Height: 25 - 27 in (63.5 - 68.6 cm). Weight: 70 - 80 lb (31.7 - 36.3 kg). The head has a long, well-proportioned skull. The jaws are long and strong with a scissor bite. The nose is broad and black or liver, to match the coat color. The desirable eye color is dark brown or black and not light brown, as it is believed by some that this indicates a tendency towards poor temperament. The ears are low-set and close to the head. The body has well-sprung ribs, and the forequarters are deep and muscular. The tail is of medium length, carried straight, and tapered to a point.

 The Curly Coated Retriever's coat is, as its name suggests, a mass of tight and crisp curls over the whole body. The colors are either black or liver all over. The coat is virtually water-proof, and sheds most of its moisture after a good shake.

 Behavior:

This powerfully built working dog is very comfortable in its original role as a working dog. It has enough courage to enter even the coldest water to retrieve game. Such a determined character does not always suit the owner looking for a dog to be just a companion. However, people who are prepared to provide strong and assertive direction to this intelligent dog will be rewarded with its excellent and spirited talents.

 The Curly Coated Retriever has a good bark and makes an excellent watch-dog but looks too gentle to be a real deterrent as a guard dog. In most cases, the Curly Coated Retriever gets along very well with other dogs. Unsterilized males can at times become a little bossy with other dogs and even people. It is wise to sterilize them if they are to be kept around families.

 These dogs really thrive on the attention provided by their assertive owners. It is marvelous to see a well-trained Curly Coated Retriever at work. For the patient and consistent owner, these dogs are highly trainable.

 The Curly Coated Retriever should be provided with a lot of exercise and they love to swim. It is advisable to introduce them gently to the water when they are young, so they can develop their true potential as incredible water dogs. It is wonderful to watch them emerge from the water, shake, and then appear virtually dry. After they have either been running through rough country or swimming, burrs and small twigs should be removed from their coat before they become a problem. A fair degree of attention is required to maintain their coat in top condition. A wonderful dog, but not for the faint-hearted.

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