The family pet often becomes an important and necessary part of our lives. For a dog to become that ideal family pet, he should be adaptable, eager to learn and eager to please. Gentle, yet courageous and dependable. A Curly has all these qualities plus the intelligence which enables him to learn easily. He is of even temperament and charmingly affectionate - rather than nervous and jittery, and is at his happiest when he is included in family activities.

Even though he has a quiet imperturbable temperament, the Curly's loyalty and affection for his family make him an ideal natural guard. Generally his bark alone will be sufficient to ward off unwanted intruders, but in a dangerous situation he can be trusted to protect his family.

Intelligent, quick-witted, affectionate, utterly charming and totally devoted, the Curly-Coated Retriever is an exceptional animal, and individual in its own right.

The Curly-Coated Retriever is one of the oldest retrieving breeds, probably the oldest, and was the first breed of dog used to any extent known as a "Retriever" in England which is his country of origin.

This fascinating and old-fashioned retriever has a unique blend of intelligence, temperament and rugged physique which make him an ideal all-purpose dog equally at home or in the water, in the field, or by the hearthside.

This rare, beautiful breed is either solid black or solid liver in color and is distinguished from all other breeds by his absolutely intriguing coat. This unusual coat is a mass of very small, tight, waterproof curls, which extend from the back of the head right down to his elbows and his hocks, and all over his body including his straight, sabre-shaped tail. The crispy curled coat forms a striking contrast to the Curly-Coated Retriever's face, which is totally free of curls, the short hair grows naturally smooth and straight, although you will occasionally find a few curls on his front legs down to his feet.

Click here to see a variety of Curly and not so curly coats

By any standard, this breed is relatively "maintenance free". It requires no fussing, no twisting or permanent solutions to curly the thick coat, which literally seems to thrive on outdoor weather and water. The Curly is bathed but is one of the few dogs that is never brushed or combed, for if this is done those prized tight curls will frizz and look like a Poodle's.

Grooming:
A show dog requires additional grooming, in the form of scissoring off excess hair from tail, front and rear legs, ears, etc. This can be quite an extensive project for Curlies who have not been show-groomed before. Grooming this way is a choice of the dog's owner; the Curly-Coated Retriever standard does not require this grooming for any Curly shown in a conformation ring although it might be difficult to win in the show ring if your Curly is not groomed this way.
Keeping up the Curly coat for every day or hunting use is fairly simple: comb or brush the coat when the dog is shedding, usually twice a year, in spring and fall, and bathe him at that time as well. You may also choose to bathe him at other times as you see fit. A clean dog is a healthy, happy dog and the Curly-Coated Retriever benefits from frequent baths, at least three times a year. And from combing or brushing when he is heavily shedding. Normally the breed is a light to moderate shedder. An intact female will often blow her coat with her heat cycle. (See the Grooming and Coat Problems)

Weight:
You see curlies of all sizes. Curlies can range from 50 lbs to over 100. The Curly is both sturdy and elegant. The degree of substance is sufficient to ensure strength and endurance without sacrificing grace. Bone and substance are neither spindly nor massive and should be in proportion with weight and height and balanced throughout.

To work all day a Curly must be balanced and sound, strong and robust, and quick and agile.

The Curly Coat is possessed of an imperturbable temperament. Even tempered, this dog is intensely loyal and will be protective of the family while maintaining unfailingly good manners to humans likewise mannered. Curlies tend to be reserved rather than extroverted with strangers. However, this reserve can be shed rather dramatically when someone the dog knows and loves approaches!

Curly Coats are very slow to mature and this should be taken into account when training them. They are always quick and intelligent, however, so tailoring your training into multiple, short, and interesting sessions will yield the best results over time.

The Curly is a versatile breed. Most Curlies are happy to be family companions, field dogs, personal hunting dogs, obedience partners; some do well as therapy dogs, or Search-and-Rescue dogs. You should be honest with the breeder as to what your expectations and intentions for this puppy are. When a breeder sells a puppy as Pet Quality then you should consider it at that. It is not sold for breeding. Even in a litter of outstanding puppies, most are pet quality. A few are show quality, and even fewer are breeding quality. Only the very best of any breed should be considered as breeding quality. Most breeders carefully evaluate a litter, socialize, grade, and place puppies accordingly.

Remember when choosing a puppy that the breeder has seen the puppies characters develop over 8 weeks-- their experience is a valuable asset for you. If they say that a particular puppy will not be right for your situation, believe them. Most reputable breeders will sell all pet-quality puppies on a limited registration under spay/neuter contracts. This is to help protect the breed. Spayed and neutered dogs make better family companions and their chances of some cancers are reduced.