Dog Breeds 101: Flat-Coated Retriever

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The elegant and athletic Flat-Coated Retriever is a sensitive dog that is often described as a forever puppy; it is even referred to as the “Peter Pan” of all retriever breeds. It was originally developed to flush out birds and retrieve wounded game but nowadays, the Flat-Coated Retriever is an obedient and enthusiastic pet suited for every household. This lively and playful dog respond well to instructions thus training it will be fairly easy. Active, loving and outgoing, this dog requires a lot of exercise to get rid of all their stored energy. They can be quite vocal especially when someone unfamiliar is going into their territory. The coat is thick and medium in length which comes in colors black or liver. This breed has an average life span of 10 years and is not prone to any breed-related health problems. [1] [2]

A gamekeeper named J. Hull owned two retrievers, Old Bounce and her daughter Young Bounce (I see what they did there!) and all modern Flat-Coated Retrievers can be traced back to those two dogs. However, the breed’s development is all thanks to S.E. Shirley and H.R. Cooke who were able to produce a lot of field and show Flat-Coated Retrievers. After they were introduced to the United States, they quickly gained a reputation as excellent gun dogs. They were recognized by the American Kennel Club as an official breed in 1915 but soon after, their popularity declined because they were overshadowed by the ever so popular Golden Retriever. After World War II, very few Flat-Coated Retrievers remained to the point that they were on the brink of extinction. In the 1960s, a group of enthusiasts attempted to raise the breed’s population. The process was long and hard but through careful breeding, the Flat-Coated Retriever is slowly becoming popular once again. [3] [4]