The Flat-Coated Retriever

The Flat-coated Retriever is an intelligent, outgoing, and optimistic doggy.

This dog was originally bred to be a dual-purpose one and was meant to catch land and water game which makes it is a popular dog breed till date. The dog competes in agility, rally, and obedience and also makes an excelled therapy dog.

This breed is also an ideal companion for those looking for an active dog.

The Flat-coated Retriever is also known as the ‘Peter Pan’ of retrievers as it matures slowly than other dogs and has a puppy-like temperament for years.

The dog has playful energy which makes it a good yet entertaining companion.

In this blog post, we will go through everything there is to know about the flat-coated retriever such as the breed origins, history, temperament, etc.

Let’s get started!

A Look Through the History of the Flat Coated Retriever

Flat-Coated Retriever: What’s this Dog Like?

Appearance of the Flat-Coated Retriever

Health Issues

The Life Expectancy of Flat-Coated Retrievers

Conclusion: A Complete Breed Guide to the Flat-Coated Retriever

A Look Through the History of the Flat Coated Retriever

Gamekeeper Hull in 1864 owned two forebears of a working strain of retrievers which were named Old Bounce and Young Bounce which was her daughter.

They were both important to the development of the Flat-Coated Retriever breed.

S.E. Shirley is the man behind the breed's development as he was the one who molded the breed into a more stable type. It was H. R. Cooke from the Riverside Kennel contributed to the advancement of the breed and produced several show and field Flat-Coated Retrievers.

These dogs were popular hunting dog to the end of World War I.

However, the Golden and Labrador Retrievers came on the scene and basically began to steal this breed’s thunder.

The number of this breed started becoming dangerously low---even to the extent that the breed faced extinction a time or two. The fans of this dog breed were able to bring the dog back from the brink of extinction around the mid-1960s.

However, Flat-Coat retrievers never really regained their early popularity.

The breed is still a rare one and ranks 100th among the 155 breeds registered by the American Kennel Club.If you wish to own a Flat-Coat Retriever, you’ll have to spend a year or more on the waiting list.

Flat-Coated Retriever: What’s this Dog Like?

The Flat-Coated Retriever is a cheerful, optimistic, and good-humored dog.

The active dog is a multi-talented bird dog that has a desire to please people. The confident, outgoing, and exuberant dogs make excellent family pets and are good companions for kids as well as adults.

This breed needs a lot of exercises as they’re sporting dogs.

A minimum of 2 hours of exercise per day is needed to keep this dog happy. These dogs are protective and do when tasked with protecting the owner and property. They bark to alert the owner. However, they aren’t usually aggressive.

These dogs make excellent drug sniffer dogs as they have high energy levels, an excellent sense of smell, and eagerness to please their humans.

The breed is quick at learning and can easily be trained.

Flat-coated retrievers are slow maturing dogs and reach full maturity when they’re about five years old and are the Peter Pans of Retrievers.

Appearance of the Flat-Coated Retriever

According to the Flat-Coated Retriever breed standards:

• Males must be 23 to 25 inches tall and should weigh between 60 to 80 pounds
• Females must be 22 to 24 inches tall and should weigh between 55 to 75 pounds

Flat-Coated Retrievers have a long muzzle and strong muscular jaws which allow the dog to carry birds and other upland game.

The dog’s head is unique to the breed.

It has a minimal stop and a black skull of about the same length as the muzzle. Flat-Coated Retrievers have intelligent and friendly almond-shaped dark brown eyes. The ears are small in size and lie close to the dog’s head.

The breed has a racier, lighter, and more elegant in appearance than the other retrievers.

Health Issues

Every dog breed has a genetic disposition of developing a disorder or two. Flat-coated Retrieves are no exception to this rule. Let’s take a look at the health problems this dog breed faces:

• Hip dysplasia: This heritable condition is caused when the femur doesn’t snugly fit the pelvic socket or the hip joint which causes lameness and pain in one or more legs
• Malignant Histiocytosis: This form of rare cancer is commonly seen in Flat-Coated Retrievers. T can be treated with chemotherapy, radiation, or surgery but, the prognosis is poor
• Lymphosarcoma: One of the most common cancers in dogs, this can be found in the lymph nodes, liver, spleen, gastrointestinal tract, and the bone marrow. It is generally treated with chemotherapy
• Hemangiosarcoma: Found in the lining of the blood vessels as well as the spleen, this cancer can be treated with surgery and chemotherapy.
• Osteosarcoma: This aggressive bone cancer affects large or giant dog breeds. It is treated aggressively and the affected limb may need to be amputated

• Patellar luxation: The patella means the kneecap. Luxation is the dislocation of a part of the anatomy. This condition occurs when the knee joint slides in and out of place which causes pain

• Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus: Commonly known as bloat, GDV is a potentially life threatening disease. This occurs when the dog’s stomach is distended with gas and twists on itself. This means that the dog isn’t able to pass the excess air out and needs immediate attention

The Life Expectancy of Flat-Coated Retrievers

Flat-Coated Retrievers have an average life expectancy of 9-11 years.

However, it is the quality of life that your dog has is what matters the most. Flat-Coated Retrievers are happier when they’re around their people. You should ensure that your dog gets the right diet and exercise to have a happy life.

Conclusion: A Complete Breed Guide to the Flat-Coated Retriever

Flat-coated Retrievers are unique and lovable dogs.

These dogs were originally bred to retrieve game from water as well as land and, also became excellent companion dogs. Good with kids, these dogs do amazing with small families.

Flat-coated Retrievers are protective of their family and make good watchdogs. However, they aren’t usually aggressive.

Still, have questions? Let me know in the comments, and I’ll get back to you as soon as possible.