Flat-Coated Retriever Dog Breed
Aliases: Flatcoat, Flatte, Flattie
Description
The Flat Coated Retriever is a noble and sturdy dog, and stands strong as a gundog from Britain. It has been trained and bred to work on both land and, and these dogs are exceptional family companions as well. The Flat Coated Retriever has a strong, muscular jaw and long muzzle. It is a unique breed with its one-piece backskull and muzzle, and often carries a friendly and intelligent expression. The ears are pendant-shaped and are fairly small. They lie closely to the back of the skull and the dogs have a well-arched neck. The topline of the dog is strong and straight, while the back of the dog\'s head is angulated.
The coat of the Flat Coated Retriever is a single coat, with no undercoat. IT is moderate in length and is quite dense and lustrous; owners of this dog enjoy brushing and keeping this dog\'s coat smooth and shiny, and the coat is longer on the backs of the legs, body, and tail. The head is molded and sleek, and the eyes are either dark brown or hazel. These dogs have a very intelligent and often doleful expression; they have moderately small ears and simple but bold features.
The nose is usually black, but it may be brown in color for liver-colored retrievers. The back is short, square, and muscular and the feet are round and strong. These dogs are naturally very energetic and training can take some time. However, they are also very obedient and will listen to their masters and owners with little fuss. These dogs are stable and consistent, and they fit well with a variety of families.
Coat Description
Borders are single coated with moderately long, dense, and lustrous brown or black coats. The body coat often has longer feathering on the backs of the body and tail region, and the areas around the face are short and smooth.
History
The Flat Coated Retriever originated in the mid 19th century in England, and soon became popular as a gamekeeper\'s dog. It later moved on into becoming a gundog as its hunting characteristics and traits were outstanding. Part of the ancestry of the Flat Coated Retriever can be due to stock imported from North America from the area of St. John\'s Newfoundland. This dog is thought to have been a descendant of the Labrador and the Chesapeake Bay Retriever.
The Flat Coated Retriever quickly gained popularity in the U.S. as a gundog in the 1870s, and it has been recognized as a stable and noble dog ever since. By the end of World War II, however, there were very few flat coated retrievers in existence but breeders have once again given rise to these dogs as companions and showdogs as well. The Flat Coated Retriever has shown multiple talents and a steady temperament throughout the years; it has increasingly been used in field competition, and careful breeding has brought it back into a variety of breeding circles. These dogs are very good at being watchdogs, retrieving, hunting, tracking, and they have consistent agility.
Today, the Flat Coatd Retriever is modestly popular and requires attentive breeding to encourage its natural talents. It is commonly used as a show dog, but many people choose to take this dog as a companion.
Temperament
The Flat Coated Retriever is affectionate, energetic, and loving. It is an excellent companion for families with children, and makes for a good protective dog as well. It is stable, smart, and tends to stand strong during times of tension. The dog is smart, active, and friendly and bonds well with its owners and family members. It is often over-attentive to guests and strangers, and may come across as too strong at times. Still, these dogs are gentle and playful and enjoy keeping their owners and company happy.
The Flat Coated Retriever is sweet and gentle, and will often take extra steps to be a happy companion. They are very cheerful by nature, and will always welcome new guests or company. They seem to maintain their puppy-like exuberance into their later years, and will always be found busy at work or play. These dogs enjoy spending time both indoors and outdoors, and are a very sociable breed. They need constant attention and affection, and they will tend to become bored or disinterested with inactivity. These dogs are highly trainable as they are so sensitive and responsive to their owners and surroundings. Keeping training sessions short and combining them with play is the best course of action for this bred. These dogs do get along well with other dogs and pets, so if there are multiple Flat Coated Retrievers within the family they can be trained as a group.
These dogs are intelligent and will pick up new skills and behaviors with ease. They tend to work hard at projects and at play, but will seldom get excessively tired. Always ready to try new things, the Flat Coated Retriever fares well in new surroundings, environments, and settings.
Thyroid Disease - Low Risk
The Flat-Coated Retriever ranks #75 among all breeds for autoimmune thyroiditis prevalence. This is considered a low risk breed so your chances of obtaining a dog with the disease is small. It is still suggested that dogs meant for breeding still be tested to help bring the incidence of disease even lower (or even eliminate it).
| Rank Among Breeds |
Number of Dogs Tested |
Percent of Dogs With Disease |
| #75 |
398 |
5% |
You can download the full report (on all breeds) by the Michigan State University Diagnostic Center for Population and Animal Health. Here
Other Health Problems
The Flat Coated Retriever is a hardworking and generally healthy breed; they have a naturally strong stamina and will stay most healthy with plenty of exercise and rest. Still, it is important to note that cancer is quite common in this breed. Regular tests and clearances for hereditary conditions are important, and these dogs will require these on a regular basis. There are also some special medical conditions to be aware of:
- Hip Dysplasia: Canine Hip Dysplasia (CHD) can cause mild to severe lameness.
- Diabetes: this is occasionally found in the Flat Coated Retriever.
- Epilepsy: a neurological seizure disorder. There is no test for this.
- Deafness: Congenital deafness can be a problem.
The most common types of cancers in these dogs include hemangiosarcoma, fibrosarcoma, malignant histiocytosis, and osteosarcoma. These seem to occur at higher rates in Flat Coated Retrievers than other breeds, and it is important to note that almost 75% of deaths are actually due to cancer.
