Curly Coated Retriever basic information

The Curly Coated Retriever (often referred to as a Curly) is an intelligent, friendly breed of dog originally bred for upland bird and waterfowl hunting. He is the tallest of the retrievers and is easily distinguishable by the mass of tight curls covering his body. Curly Coated Retrievers were developed as upland game hunters and waterfowl retrievers in England and were recognized as a breed as early as 1860. Curly Coated and Wavy Coated (now known as the Flat-Coated Retriever) were the first two recognized retriever breeds.

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

Coat
The coat of the Curly is a hallmark of the breed. A correct coat is a thick mass of small curls that lie close to the skin. Breeders aim for tight, crisp, individually pronounced curls rather than loose, open curls. The coat is sufficiently dense to provide protection in ill weather and icy water, and against brambles and briars.

The only places on a Curly's body that are not covered in tight curls are the forehead, face, front of forelegs, and feet, where the hair should be short, smooth, and straight. A looser curl is acceptable on the ears. The breed should have no undercoat.

Patches of uncurled hair behind the withers or bald patches of skin are undesirable. The coat should not be sparse, silky, fuzzy, very harsh, dry, or brittle.

Bald patches which may temporarily occur in growing puppies who are changing to adult coat and in bitches who have recently whelped are not necessarily indicative of a permanent problem.

Colour
The only acceptable colours for the Curly Coated Retriever are solid black and solid liver (brown). Occasional white hairs are permissable, 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, black in black dogs and liver in liver dogs.

Height and weight
Dogs: 25-27 in at the withers
Bitches: 23-25 in
Weight should be in correct proportion to the size of the dog.

Dogs: 80-100 lb
Bitches: 60-80 lb