Large
14 Years
41 Kg
Gun Dogs
Independent, Intelligent, Lively
The Curly Coated Retriever (also referred to as a “Curly”) is a large breed of dog and is the tallest among the retrievers. It has a distinguishable coat made of tight, crisp curls and a slightly leggy appearance but is actually slightly longer than it is tall. It has a wedge-shape head with a slight stop, a muzzle that tapers at the end, a black or brown nose with large nostrils and a strong jaw with complete scissor bite. The eyes of the Curly are large but not prominent, oval and obliquely set; they can either be dark brown or brown tone in colour. It has small ears which are set high above the level of the eye and lying close to the head. It features a set of straight front legs, with an equally strong and muscular back legs to support a deep-chested and slight tucked up body. The legs have round, tight feet with thick pads to cushion the breed from the ground. The tail is also covered with curls and normally carried straight level with the topline when the dog is in motion. The body is covered by a thick mass of small tight, crisp curls that lie close to the skin with no undercoat or bare patches which can only come in black or liver colour.
IntelligenceAll dog breeds have different levels of intellect. Some dog breeds; working dogs in particular, are very independent thinkers and have been evolved to be very intelligent. Typically, a highly intelligent dog does well in obedience training and other activities. A highly intelligent dog can be very demanding and do require lots of physical and mental stimulation. If you’re looking for a relatively laid-back dog, that doesn’t require lots of mental and physical stimulation, then you must fully understand the level of intelligence of your dog breed of choice.
Before committing to a certain dog breed, you must fully understand their intellect levels and their specific levels of energy. To keep your dog well-balanced and happy, their needs must be met and maintained.
Exercise NeedsAll dog breeds have different needs when it comes to the level of exercise they require. For the high energy dogs; which are your typical working dogs, they have a lot of energy and require lots of daily exercise along with plenty of mental stimulation. A highly energetic dog breed would suit an individual or family that is equally as active and loves the outdoors. There are also breeds that have relatively low exercise needs, such as toy dog breeds. Although they require daily exercise and mental stimulation, they’re just as happy chilling at home with their loved ones. This type of dog breed would suit an individual or family that prefers the peace and quiet and relaxation.
Before deciding on your chosen dog breed, Mypetzilla recommends that you research the exercise needs and whether you’re well equipped before committing to buying or adopting a particular dog breed.
Dogs HealthThere are several dog breeds that are known and potentially predisposed to developing health related conditions. Sensible breeding can help prevent the onset of health related conditions and this should always be taken into condition when researching your dog breed of choice. Before committing to a dog, you should speak to the breeder about any health related conditions that may affect the dog you’re looking to buy or adopt. You can also request to see any test results from genetic testing.
Child FriendlyThere are many dog breeds that tolerate children really well and are not affected by the constant noise and need for play-time. However, there are some dog breeds that don’t do very well with children and can become frustrated and snappy. That being said, all children should be shown how to handle and care for a dog in their home and should always be supervised when playing. As much as a dog can become annoyed and snappy with a younger child, the child can also become less tolerant and misbehaved towards the dog.
Mypetzilla recommends that you always supervise play-time between your children and dog. Children need to respect the boundaries and feeding time for the dog and likewise for the child. We also strongly advise that play-time doesn’t get out of control and too rough which can cause injury to both child and dog.
ApartmentThere are lots of dog breeds that are well suited to living in an apartment. It’s worthwhile noting that you need to check that you’re allowed dogs in your building before committing to bringing one home. If you do decide to own a dog and are living in an apartment, then you must make sure that they have plenty of room to roam around and frequent walks outside to prevent them from becoming bored and depressed.
Mypetzilla recommends that you check as to whether you’re allowed dogs in your apartment building and to fully ensure your apartment is dog proof before committing fully to bringing a dog home.
SheddingAll dog breeds shed to some extent, some more than others. With this, all potential dog owners should be aware of this, as it will be a matter of putting up with some hair or lots of hair being left around the house. Depending on the dog breed, there are certain times during the year where some dog breeds shed the most and this is typically around spring and autumn. However, there are some dog breeds that shed all year round.
If you’re very house-proud, they you may want to choose a dog breed that sheds very little. Mypetzilla strongly recommends that you fully research your dog breed of choice and their shedding levels before committing.
Grooming NeedsAll dog breeds require different levels of grooming. Some dog breeds are easier to maintain than others and only require a weekly brush to help keep their coat in good condition. There are some dog breeds that require regular trips to the grooming parlour and this can come at a huge cost. Either way, all dog breeds require their coat and nails to be maintained and cared for.
Mypetzilla strongly advices that potential owners research the grooming needs and associated costs with their desired dog breed before fully committing.
BarkingBarking is a necessity for your dog to communicate. However, it can also be a nuisance to yourself and fellow neighbours if it’s not kept under control. If you live in an apartment, then you’re better off choosing a dog breed that doesn’t bark as much. If you live further out and far from civilisation, then it’s worthwhile looking into a dog breed that does bark and will bark to alert you of any other company on your property.
Mypetzilla advices that you research the behaviours of your dog breed of choice and whether this would work for you and your family. It’s worth noting that dogs can be trained to bark less and this will take a lot of effort and training from the owner.
AloneMajority dog breeds form very close relationships with their owners and as a result can become very stressed when left alone for a period of time. If a dog is suffering with separation anxiety then they’re very likely to become destructive around the home as a way of dealing with their anxieties. Dog breeds that do form strong bonds with their owners are better accustomed to a household where one member of the family remains home, whilst the others are out, this is to help avoid further anxieties and destructive behaviours.
Mypetzilla recommends that all potential owners research their dog breed of choice on their bonding abilities and how well-adjusted they are to being left alone at home. It’s also worth noting that you should never leave your dog for longer than 4 hours alone at home.
TrainabilityThere are certain dogs breeds that have very high intellect and therefore easier to train than other dog breeds. There is also a downside to this; as fast as they learn the new trick or command, they can easily pick up bad habits just as quick. Other dog breeds that don’t rank as high on the intellect scale require patience and plenty of reward treats from their owners during training.
Before committing to a certain dog breed, Mypetzilla advices you to fully research your dog breed of choice and their level of training needs.
Energy LevelsAll dog breeds have different energy levels. The working dog breed has one of the highest energy levels in comparison to the low-energy dog’s breeds such as the Toy dog breed group. To keep a dog truly happy, healthy and well-balanced, their energy levels must be met.
High-energy dog breeds need lots of exercise and mental stimulation. High energy dog breeds would suit an active family or person. Dog breeds that are considered as low-energy, love to spend the majority of their time relaxing and sleeping in their favourite, comfy spot. A low-energy dog breed would suit an individual that equally loves the quiet life and relaxing lifestyle. Of course, low-energy dogs still need their daily walks and mental stimulation, just not as much as a high-energy dog breed.
Mypetzilla recommends that potential owner research fully on the type of dog breed that would suit their existing lifestyle and to also take into consideration the dog breeds energy levels and exercise requirements.
Dog friendlyBefore you decide on what dog breed would be suitable for you and your family, you must consider whether they’re a friendly dog breed and if you already have other pets within the household. For homes that already have dogs and other domestic pets, then it’s wise to choose a dog breed that has a friendly personality and temperament.
There are some dog breeds that mix well with other dog breeds and there are others that don’t suit one another and this could potentially cause issues later on down the line.
Another important point to consider is whether the dog breed of choice is friendly towards people and children.
Mypetzilla recommends to research fully on the right dog breed for your family and to also consider their temperament and characteristics.
The Curly Coated Retriever is one of the oldest breed of retrievers. It was supposedly the result of crossing the Irish water spaniel, the Newfoundland breed and the now extinct close curled English Water Dog. It is also claimed that the Curly was even crossed with a poodle that enhanced the curly coat. Whatever its exact origins maybe, the Curly Coated Retriever became the most sought-after retriever breed in England during the 1800s. It also has the reputation as one of the first breeds to be publicly displayed at English dog shows. The Curly is a fine water retriever with a soft-mouth, ideal for duck and quail retrieving and still maintains a following in Australia and New Zealand despite its setback in the United States and England. It was originally brought to the United States in 1907 and was officially recognized by the AKC in 1924. It has seen two near-extinction episodes in its lifetime; during the first World War and again during the second World War. Thankfully, a few breed enthusiasts managed to save what was left of the population and has brought them back to the public’s eye ever since. Today, the Curly excels in hunting, tracking, retrieving, watchdogging, guarding, agility and competitive obedience besides being a faithful companion.
The Curly Coated Retriever is a very active breed especially outdoors where it loves to go dipping and relaxing in the water, but it can otherwise be calm indoor which makes it a perfect family companion. It is an intelligent breed, courageous, and alert making it a good watchdog. However, this breed can be timid and wary of strangers. It is independent, self-confident and willing to please; characters that makes it a trainable breed. The Curly Coated Retriever is a slow-maturing dog which takes about 36 months before it reaches adulthood. In general, it is not aggressive like other breed but its deep sounding bark may often frighten people.
This is a sensitive breed and training must be given in a gentle but firm manner. Like most dogs, early socialization is the key to raising a breed that is not timid, aggressive and suspicious of strangers.
he coat of the Curly is quite easy to maintain. It should be bathe and trimmed occasionally to tidy up the curls. It does not need regular brushing, especially when it is shedding.
The Curly Coated Retriever is a robust and hardy breed with a lifespan of 8 to 12 years. Among the known medical issues that affect this breed include canine hip dysplasia, eye problems such as cataracts, corneal dystrophy, distichiasis, entropion & ectropion, or retinal dysplasia are prevalent. Cardiac problems, epilepsy and gastric torsion are also known to affect the breed. To avoid the latter, give the dog several small meals a day rather than one large full meal and never take the Curly for an exercise before or after meals.
Food with a blend of poultry and wheat or those which contains very high amounts of poultry fat is the best diet for this breed but never with a blend of soy or white rice.
It is an active breed and requires an equally active or outdoor-loving family or owner. Similarly, being a high-energy breed means that the Curly Coated Retriever requires a lot of exercise and mental encouragement to keep it perfectly healthy and happy. Allow the dog to swim and retrieve if a pool or a small pond is nearby. An hour of walk on-leash or sessions of play in an open but secured space are daily rudimentary exercises that will keep this breed happy. This large active breed is not recommended for an apartment living. It will be most happy living in an apartment with a large yard. T
It is sensitive but a very gentle breed; generally excellent with children and good with other pets especially when socialized at an early age, but care must be taken when it is around very young children as it can get too boisterous which can accidentally topple down a small child.
Copyright © 2024 Mypetzilla UK
