Flat-Coated Retriever

Its origins are in Canada, on the island of Newfoundland where it helped fishermen retrieve fish. The Newfoundland dog is sometimes given as one of its ancestors, but it is more likely that the two breeds simply share the same ancestor. The Flat-Coated Retriever was later selected in England in the nineteenth century as a hunting dog. In the origins of the Flat-Coated Retriever we find the Irish Setter, and then probably the Colley which allowed the coat of the retriever to be "smoothed out", which was probably wavy at the beginning of breed selection. The ancestors of the breed are also named "Wavy-coated retriever" or "Wave coated retriever", that is to say "retriever with wavy coat". The breed was popular in the nineteenth century, but would gradually be supplanted by the Labrador Retriever and Golden Retriever during the twentieth century. However, the Flat-Coated Retriever is experiencing a resurgence of interest and numbers are in constant increase.

The Fédération Cynologique Internationale standard describes the Flat-Coated Retriever as a cheerful, kind, confident dog with a well-established hunting instinct. Very devoted to his family, the Flat-Coated Retriever does not tolerate solitude well. Never aggressive, it is very patient with children. It will retain its puppy behavior into adulthood. Training should be early and carried out with great patience and consistency, without any harshness. Training is considered by the Central Canine Society as more delicate than that of other retrievers because of its more spirited character. It is therefore recommended to channel it from an early age, so as to have a civilized and pleasant companion on a daily basis. Its marked personality requires tact and dexterity in training and it is sometimes useful to consult an expert to complete its education, which should be both firm and gentle.

The Flat-Coated Retriever is a medium-sized dog of balanced construction: powerful without being heavy, elegant without lacking substance. Short and straight, the tail is carried gaily, but never too far above the level of the back. The head is long with a slight stop and a good-sized nose. The brown eyes are medium-sized, dark brown or hazel in color. The ears are small and attached close to the head. The coat is dense, fine to medium texture, as flat as possible. It forms beautiful fringes on the limbs and tail. The coat is black or liver.

The Flat-Coated Retriever has fragile health, exposed to many diseases with a predisposition to multiple cancers including the dreaded histiocytic sarcoma. The long coat requires weekly brushing. For Flat-Coated Retrievers, to keep their coat soft and shiny, it is possible to use wild salmon oil.