COUNTRY: Great Britain
WEIGHT: 70-80 pounds
HEIGHT: 25-27 inches
COAT: Small, close, crisp curls all over, face smooth
COLOR: Solid black or solid liver
GROUP: Gun Dog
The Curly is a fairly old breed, if not well-known. He began in the early 1800s. from crosses of early British water spaniels with various retrievers or possibly even pointers. Some breed historians state there were later introductions of Poodle to tighten the coat curl. The Curly-Coated Retriever became a popular hunting dog in Britain in the latter part of the 19th century. He was exported to Australia and New Zealand, where he has remained in demand as a working dog for quail hunting, as well as water birds. These two countries now claim more registrations of the breed than its native land does.
He is in his element in the water, but can retrieve handily on land as well. Owners say he is a natural retriever and easy to train, with a robust constitution and a sweet temperament. But he tends to be sober, independent and wary of strangers, and can be quarrelsome with his fellows in the field. The wonderfully short, waterproof and self-drying coat is a big plus for the sports enthusiast. The Curly-Coated Retriever is fearless, and often doubles as an excellent guardian for his family.
He is a big fellow, built square and up on leg. His tail is left at natural length, and tends to be rather short like a pointer's. There is no trimming required of his curly coat. The coat has no topknot or fringe on the ears, nor is there excess hair on the legs. The proper haircoat outlines the entire body with ringlets all over, like a flapper with a new perm and a tight cap of curls.