Dog Breed Guide
Flat-coated Retriever
Profile
- Size
- Large
- Country of origin
- United Kingdom
- Origin
- 19th century
- Bred for
- Retrieving
- Height
- male 59 - 61cm (23 - 24in), female 56 - 59cm (22 - 23in)
- Weight
- male 27 - 36kg (60 - 79lb), female 25 - 32kg (55 - 71lb)
- Life span
- 8 - 10 years
The breed is named for its straight, glossy coat that lies flat against the body. It comes in black or liver (dark brown) and has a sleek, elegant build.
Above all, the Flat-Coat is bright, cheerful and fond of people and dogs alike. Fans call it the "wagging tail" breed because its tail never seems to stop. It stays innocent and playful like a puppy even in old age, earning it the nickname "the Peter Pan of dogs."
It needs plenty of exercise and is a good swimmer, so in addition to walks it should get to burn off energy playing ball or in the water. It is, however, known to be prone to cancer; one British survey found that cancer accounted for 40 to 50 percent of deaths. Keep an eye out for lumps and arrange regular health checks.
Good to know
The breed was developed in 19th-century Britain as a retriever for bird shooting. S. E. Shirley, who founded the Kennel Club in 1873, is also known for his work in improving the breed.
Before the Golden and the Labrador came along, it was the most popular retriever in British shooting fields. It was especially favored by gamekeepers on large estates and was known as "the gamekeeper's dog."
In the 20th century it lost ground to the Labrador and the Golden, and its numbers fell sharply after World War II, but fanciers kept it going. In 2011 a nine-year-old Flat-Coat named Jet won Best in Show at Crufts in Britain, one of the world's largest dog shows. Guinness World Records recognized Jet as the oldest dog ever to win the title, a fitting achievement for the breed that never grows up.