Curly Coated Retriever
A Liver Curly Coated Retriever is shown here. Curlies can also be black.
Country of origin
United Kingdom - England
Common nicknames
Curly CCR
Classification and breed standards
FCI:	Group 8 Section 1 #110	Stds
AKC:	Sporting	Stds
CKC:	Group 1 - Sporting	Stds
KC (UK):	Gundogs	Stds
UKC:	Gun Dogs	Stds

The Curly Coated Retriever (often referred to as a Curly) is a breed of dog originally bred in England for upland bird and waterfowl hunting. It is the tallest of the retrievers and is easily distinguishable by the mass of tight curls covering its body. Curly Coated and Wavy Coated (now known as the Flat-Coated Retriever) were the first two recognized retriever breeds, established as early as 1860. ^{[citation needed]} Image File history File links Curly_Coated_Retriever. ... For other uses, see England (disambiguation). ... Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) (English, World Canine Organization), is an international Kennel Club based in Thuin, Belgium. ... © The American Kennel Club (or AKC) is the largest registry of purebred dog pedigrees in the United States. ... The Canadian Kennel Club (or C.K.C.) is the primary registry body for purebred dog pedigrees in Canada. ... The Kennel Club in the United Kingdom is a club aiming to improve the relationships between dogs and their owners. ... The United Kennel Club (or UKC) is the second oldest all-breed registry of purebred dog pedigrees in the United States and the second largest in the world. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Trinomial name Canis lupus familiaris The dog (Canis lupus familiaris) is a domestic subspecies of the wolf, a mammal of the Canidae family of the order Carnivora. ... For other uses, see England (disambiguation). ... A retriever is a type of gundog that retrieves game for a hunter. ... The Flat-Coated Retriever is a gundog breed from Britain. ...

Appearance

The Curly is an active, well-muscled dog bred for upland bird and waterfowl hunting. The Curly is somewhat different in structure than the more common retrievers. A well-bred Curly will appear slightly leggy but is actually slightly longer than tall. The breed sports a coat of tight, crisp curls. It is balanced and agile with a significant air of endurance, strength, and grace.

Colour

The only acceptable colours for the Curly Coated Retriever are solid black and solid liver (brown). Occasional white hairs are permissible, but white patches are a serious fault.

Eyes should be either black or brown in black dogs, and brown or amber in liver dogs. Yellow eyes are undesirable.

The nose should be fully pigmented, and the same colour as the coat as the dog.

Height and weight

• Dogs: 25-27 in (64-69 cm) at the withers

• Bitches: 23-25 in (59-64 cm)

Weight should be in correct proportion to the size of the dog. An inch (plural: inches; symbol or abbreviation: in or, sometimes, ″ - a double prime) is the name of a unit of length in a number of different systems, including English units, Imperial units, and United States customary units. ... A centimetre (American spelling centimeter, symbol cm) is a unit of length that is equal to one hundredth of a metre, the current SI base unit of length. ... The withers is the highest point on an animals back, on the ridge between its shoulder blades. ...

• Dogs: 80-100 lbs (36-45 kg)

• Bitches: 65-85 lbs (29-39 kg)

LBS is a three-letter abbreviation which may mean: Lexington Broadcast Services Liberty Broadcasting System, a defunct radio network Location-based service London Business School Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) Local Bike Shop La Bacheca Sportiva [1] Lipopolysaccharide See also: Pound (abbreviated as lb) Category: ... KG, kg or Kg can refer to several things: Kilogram, the SI base unit of mass. ...

Temperament

The Curly Coated Retriever was originally developed as a gun dog and their temperament and conformation reflect this purpose. Curlies are still used in many countries as bird hunting companions, including in both upland and waterfowl hunting. Like most retrievers, they are valued as pets and are a lively and fun-loving breed. As long as the Curly has enough exercise, it can be calm and laid back in the home environment, which makes them both a great activity dog as well as a placid member of the family.

The Curly can be sometimes aloof with strangers but are usually very loyal and affectionate with their owners and family. Curlies are extremely intelligent in general, but training can sometimes be difficult as they can easily get bored with repetitive training.

Care and maintenance

Coat

Curlies are a single coated breed with no undercoat, and the small, tight curls of a show-standard dog are very easy to maintain. A Curly kept as a companion and/or hunting animal need not be elaborately groomed but needs to be kept clean and free of mats for the health of the dog. All Curlies shed though not to the degree that dogs with undercoats do. Bitches usually shed more heavily during their heat cycles (usually twice a year). Dogs and bitches may also shed more in the spring, especially those living in areas with extreme seasonal temperature changes. Bathing should be as needed using a dog shampoo.

Show ring exhibitors normally trim feathering from the tail, ears, belly, legs, and feet. Trimming is not required when exhibiting a Curly at a conformation dog show, but most judges may discount the dog if it is not trimmed. Shaving of the body coat is undesirable. In a conformation show, judges familiar with specific dog breeds evaluate individual dogs for how well they conform to published breed standards. ...

Feeding

An active dog which is also prized for its endurance, the Curly usually needs a high-quality food. Some breeders feed a natural diet, consisting of meat and vegetables ^{[citation needed]}. Others feed good quality commercial dog foods. For the computer jargon, see eating ones own dog food. ...

Exercise

The Curly Coated Retriever likes exercise; it was bred for athleticism and endurance in the field. A Curly is an intelligent dog and is happiest when it has adequate exercise, mental stimulation and play. Curlies are great dogs for active sports such as hunt tests, flyball and dog agility trials as they love the outdoors, working with people, and activities of any kind. While active and exuberant outside, at play, or in the field, the adult curly is generally a calm house dog. According to the International Encyclopedia of Dogs (1984), "this dog's delight is swimming", which has made it a valuable retriever especially where streams and rivers have to be crossed. Dogs from two teams race against each other over parallel lines of jumps. ... Dog agility is a sport in which a handler directs a dog through an obstacle course in a race for both time and accuracy. ...

Health

Life expectancy

Average life expectancy is 9-14 years, although there are instances of Curlies living to 15 to 19 years of age ^{[citation needed]}.

Known medical issues

• Hip dysplasia
• Eye problems such as cataracts, corneal dystrophy, distichiasis, entropion, ectropion, or retinal dysplasia
• Cardiac problems
• Epilepsy
• Bloat
• Glycogen Storage Disease (GSD)

This article covers Hip dysplasia, a condition affecting the hip joint, which occurs in humans but is more commonly associated with animals, especially dogs (Canine hip dysplasia). ... Cataract is also used to mean a waterfall or where the flow of a river changes dramatically. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... A distichia is an eyelash that arises from an abnormal spot on the eyelid of dogs. ... Entropion is a medical condition in which the eyelids fold inward. ... Ectropion is a condition of loose eyelids. ... Retinal dysplasia is an eye disease affecting the retina of animals. ... This page is about the muscular organ, the Heart. ... Bloat, also known as torsion, gastric torsion, and gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV) is a medical condition in which the stomach becomes overstretched by excessive gas content. ...

References

1) Stanley Dangerfield and Elsworth Howell, The International Encyclopedia of Dogs (1984 edition)Mermaid Books.

External links

• Curly Coated Retriever club in the UK
• Curly Coated Retriever Club of America