INTRODUCTION

The Flat-Coated Retriever was originally developed as a dual-purpose hunting dog on land and in water, and they are still popular for that purpose today. However, flat dwellers should be careful, as these puppies need room to run and play. AniMall24 recommends a dog bed to give your medium-sized Flat-Coated Retriever a good night’s sleep. You should also pick up a dog toy to help burn off your puppy’s high energy.

HIGHLIGHTS

Beware of any breeder advertising yellow Flat-Coated Retrievers. The Flat-Coated Retriever is a high-energy dog that requires about 90 minutes of exercise per day. The Flat-Coated Retriever is a high-energy dog requiring about 90 minutes of exercise a day and is an excellent running companion once he reaches physical maturity. This ageless puppy can be both a joy and a frustration. If you want a dog that is calmer and less puppy-like as an adult, you should look for another breed.Flat-Coated Retrievers enjoy human contact and will become destructive if left alone for too long. Routines help establish what the dog can expect and reduce its stress level.Flat-Coated Retrievers are not recommended for flats.Training is a must with this breed, as Flat-Coats are happy jumpers and, like all retrievers, have an oral fixation, which means they like to chew.Use positive reinforcement techniques such as praise, games and food rewards. Keep training fun, interesting and kind. With harsh verbal or physical treatment, Flat-Coats may become stubborn or stop responding altogether.Although very affectionate, the Flat-Coated Retriever is not the best choice in households with small children or frail elderly. They are not aware of their strength and can hurt people with their exuberant jumping and rough play.Flat-Coated Retrievers will bark an alarm, but are not a watchdog or guard dog in any way. They are more likely to greet intruders affectionately, happily licking their hands and face, than to deter them.Flat-Coated Retrievers may eat their own poo, a habit known as coprophagia. Pick up the poop as soon as possible if you don’t want your Flat-Coat to eat it.Flat-Coated Retrievers are considered a healthy breed relative to other breeds, but they have a high rate of cancers.To get a healthy dog, never buy a puppy from an irresponsible breeder, puppy mill or pet shop. Look for a reputable breeder who tests their breeding dogs to make sure they are free of genetic diseases that can be passed on to puppies and that they have a healthy temperament.

HISTORY

Given the jumping nature of the Flat-Coat, it is appropriate that one of his ancestors was named Old Bounce. Old Bounce and his daughter, Young Bounce, were important to the development of the breed. They were members of a line of working retrievers owned by gamekeeper J. Hull in 1864, but the man most credited with the development of the breed was H.E. Shirley, who helped mould them into a stable type. The Flat-Coat was a very popular hunting dog until the end of World War I, but then the Labrador and Golden Retriever began to steal the show. Their numbers dwindled dangerously and they flirted with extinction on a couple of occasions. Fortunately, its fans managed to pull it out of the abyss in the mid-1960s. The Flat-Coat never regained its initial popularity, but breeders consider it an asset. It remains a rare breed, ranking 100th out of 155 breeds and varieties registered by the American Kennel Club. If you want a Flat-Coat, expect to spend a year or more on a waiting list, not to mention undergoing the third degree from a protective breeder who wants to make sure you will provide the right home for one of his puppies.