Ava Williams
Shoulder height: 56 – 61 cm
Weight: 25 – 36 kg
Age: 12 – 14 years
Color: black or brown
Use: hunting dog, companion dog, the family dog
The Flat-Coated Retriever belongs to the group of retrievers and is now a rarity among retrievers. It is a gentle, good-natured working companion dog that needs close contact with its people and is easy to train with loving consistency. However, it needs a lot of exercises and meaningful employment.
Origin and history
Along with the Curly Coated Retriever, the Flat-Coated Retriever is one of the oldest known retrievers. It was bred in the 19th century from Setters crossed with Newfoundland, Collie, and Labrador. Before the First World War, the Flat Coated Retriever was very popular as a reliable working and hunting dog and was widely bred in England. Its specialty was retrieval. After World War II, the Labrador and Golden Retriever boomed, and almost all flat-coated kennels disappeared. It is only thanks to a few breeders that this breed did not become extinct. Nevertheless, the Flat-Coated has become rare in its native Great Britain, and in Europe, it is a rarity among retrievers.
Appearance
The Flat-Coated Retriever is a medium-sized, athletic dog with a very elegant appearance. Its fur is medium-long, smooth to slightly wavy, and has a silky sheen. It has a good undercoat and is relatively easy to care for. The head is slender and narrow, the ears are pendulous, and the eyes are medium-sized with an intelligent expression. The coat color is either black or liver brown.
Nature
The Flat-Coated Retriever is a very gentle, good-natured dog with a strong personality. It is adaptable and willing to subordinate and is easy to train with a little empathy and loving consistency. Even novice dogs will have fun with this breed, provided they can provide plenty of outdoor exercises and meaningful activities.
The Flat Coated Retriever is extremely willing to learn and willing to work. Therefore, it can also be used in many ways, for hunting, and dog sports, as a guide dog, therapy dog, or rescue dog. It is generally suitable for nature-loving, sporty people who like to do something with their dogs. Like all retrievers, the Flat-Coated loves the water. Long hair is easy to care for.