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Curly Coated Retriever
A breed with a hunting heritage as an upland game and waterfowl dog, the Curly Coated Retriever is an active, quick and agile breed requiring plenty of exercise. Known for possessing a discerning independent nature, the dogs can be aloof with strangers and are protective, affectionate and loyal companions.
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It has been claimed that the Curly Coated Retriever is the oldest of the Retriever breeds. He is also the tallest. The hallmark of the breed, a coat of small tight curls, nods acknowledgement to his ancestor, the English Water Spaniel, now extinct, which was added to a base of Retriever blood probably the Labrador. Poodle blood was also added to the mix to give the tightness of curl. The coat gives the dog a waterproof quality when retrieving ducks from water, the function for which he was originally bred.
Source: The Kennel Club (UK)
Links to Breed Descriptions
US: AKC: CCRCA Illustrated Standard (PDF)
Australia: ANKC: Extended Breed Standard for the Curly-Coated Retriever (PDF)
Gun Dog Magazine: Breed Profile: The Curly-Coated Retriever: Jerry Thoms - July 10, 2012
Country of Origin and Parent Breed Club
Great Britain
The breed is classified by The Kennel Club as a Vulnerable Native Breed.
Breed-Specific Articles
Gun Dog: Breeds: Meat Dog: The Curly Coated Retriever
Gun Dog: The "Blue Collar" Retriever
ShowSite Magazine: Q&A: The Curly-Coated Retriever
Canine Chronicle: The History of the Curly-Coated Retriever
Canine Chronicle: The Curly-Coated Retriever… A Spaniel in Sheep’s Clothing?
Breed Standards
There are numerous breed standards. The basis of breed/conformation shows is the judging of pedigree dogs against the 'Breed Standard', which is a picture in words that describes the range of features that are deemed appropriate for the breed. Three of the major international standards are:
Breed-Specific Statistics
1. Swedish Insurance Data Breed-specific information on rates of disease and death from Agria Pet Insurance (Agria Djurförsäkring) is available for many breeds.
This breed has information on Veterinary Care 2011-2016. Click here to view downloads.
2. Finland: Curly Coated Retriever FKC Database
3. UK, The Kennel Club: Population analysis of the Retriever (Curly Coated) breed 2015 - RETRIEVER (CURLY COATED).pdf
4. US: OFA: Breed Reports
Breeding/Health Strategy Documents
Health/Breeding Strategy Documents and Links:
The Kennel Club, UK: Breed Watch (Category 1)
Sweden: Breed-specific Breeding Strategies: (in Swedish) and/ or English summary
Finland: - FKC Database: https://jalostus.kennelliitto.fi/frmEtusivu.aspx?R=110
US: OFA: CHIC: Recommended tests
Health Surveys
UK, The Curly Coated Retriever Club: Breed Health Survey 2014/15 (PDF)
Breed-Specific DNA Tests:
Other Breed-Specific Webpages
Germany: DRC Database
Breed-Specific Research
R. Bond ,1, K. Varjonen , A. Hendricks , Y. M. Chang and H. Brooks Brownlie
Glycogen storage disease (GSD) in Curly-coated retrievers
University of Helsinki: A curly finding in canine genes
Breed Clubs
We are listing sites for breed clubs with health or other information that might be helpful. Follow links below.
UK: Curly Coated Retriever Club
US: Curly-Coated Retriever Club of America
Sweden: Svenska Curly Coated Retrieverklubben
Finland: Suomen Noutajakoirajärjestö ry
Norway: Norsk Retrieverklubb
Germany: Deutsche Retriever Club e.V. (DRC)
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