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Curly Coated Retriever Dog Breed Introduction
A Curly-coated Retriever, also known as Curly, is a friendly and playful pooch breed originally bred in England for upland bird and waterfowl hunting. Initially, it was bred in England for waterfowl hunting and upland birds. Among the retriever dog breeds, it is the tallest.
Furthermore, the pooch is easily distinguishable by the mass of tight curls covering its body. Additionally, Curlies compete in such dog sports as flyball, obedience, agility, and field trials. These dogs have even worked as search and rescue, drug sniffing, and therapy dogs.
Origin | History
Curly originated in the 18th century in England. The exact ancestry of this dog has long been lost. However, Curly probably stems from crosses of the old English water dog, the Irish water spaniel, a small type of Newfoundland. The dogs are great hunters and swimmers. Curlies are one of the aged British retriever breeds.
Furthermore, these dogs were initially shown in England in about 1860. Moreover, its demand increased and they were exported to New Zealand and Australia. In 1907, Curlies initially entered the United States according to the AKC. The pooch then received official recognition in 1924.
Lifespan
Curlies have a lifespan of 9 to 14 years. However, there are cases of these dogs living from 15 to 17 years of age.
Curly Coated Retriever Grooming | Coat Care
These dogs do not have an undercoat. Approximately every six months, the female Curlies will usually shed a fair amount of coat. A rake-type grooming tool with metal prongs is good at removing dead hair during shedding season. Afterward, the coat can be scissored down.
Furthermore, Curlies need an occasional bath using a hypoallergenic shampoo and conditioner unless they are visibly dirty. Cut the nails every three weeks using the nail clippers. Moreover, use a cotton ball soaked in an ear cleanser solution to get rid of dirt in the ears. Use a finger toothbrush and the dog’s toothpaste regularly to brush its teeth for overall health.
Curly Coated Retriever Shedding | Shed
Curlies shed two times a year profusely to allow new hair growth.
Coat Type
These dogs usually have a signature curly single coat. Curlies have a short coat with tight curls.
Wavy Coated Retriever Dog
This dog breed does not have a wavy coat whatsoever.
Curly Coated Retriever Hypoallergenic
Although they are single-coated, Curlies tend to shed a bit of their coat to remove dead hair. Shedding allows the fur to spread around the house triggering inflammation. A curly also produces dander which has a protein allergen that causes allergic reactions in people who suffer from dog allergies. Therefore, Curlies are not hypoallergenic dogs.
Training
Curlies are highly intelligent and trainable dogs that are eager to learn. The puppies should be introduced to training immediately after they join your home from the age of 8 weeks. The training will assist them in learning acceptable dog behaviors prior to getting inclined towards bad habits. Furthermore, the dogs should be trainable keeping in mind not to be harsh towards them as the end result will be aggressiveness, anxiousness, and fear.
Early socialization with Curlies is also essential as it unveils the pooch to a wide variety of sights, smells, experiences, situations, surfaces, dogs, people, and sounds such as sirens, whistles, vacuum cleaners, doorbells, washing machines, and lawnmowers. Also train your dog in basic obedience lessons and command words like sit, stay, heel, and stop among others. The training sessions of Curlies should last for a maximum of 10 minutes distributed throughout the day.
Moreover, the dogs should be taught the skill of housebreaking. There are two rules for housebreaking Curlies. The first one is confinement so that your puppy cannot to the bathroom in the wrong place. In addition, the second rule is regular or constant access to alternative places to go. This rule has three options that include;
- Presenting an indoor bathroom such as newspapers or (for very small pocch) a litter box.
- Installing a doggy dog. The purpose of this is that the pooch itself into an enclosed “potty yard.”
- Take your pooch outside every 2-3 hours.
Curly Coated Retriever Temperament
- Affectionate.
- Loyal.
- Energetic.
- Intelligent.
- Active.
- Trainable.
- Friendly.
- Confident.
Exercise
The Curly dog is a highly energetic pooch that barely gets worn out easily when engaged in any physical exercise. It is recommended for owners to combine physical activities of about 30 to 60 minutes daily with mental exercises to keep the dog busy. Furthermore, great options for exercising include bike rides, hikes, long walks, and running. Also, playing fetch and swimming will assist in keeping your dog’s mind occupied.
Barking
These dogs bark when they are easily bored and are not given something to do. Furthermore, Curlies are not likely to bark. However, their deep bark alone is sufficient to cease unwanted intruders in their tracks. Depending on their emotional level and what they are attempting to say, Curlies can change their barks.
Curly Coated Retriever Height
The height of a male Curly varies but can grow from 25 to 27 inches tall ( approx. 63.5 to 68.6 cm ) while the female Curly height also varies but can grow from 23 to 25 inches tall ( approx. 58 to 63.5 cm ).
Apart from Curlies, other dog breeds include:
American Staffordshire Terrier.
Curly Coated Retriever Weight
Male Curly’s weight may vary but may go from 70.5 up to 90 pounds ( approx. 32 to 41 kg ) while female Curly’s weight also varies but may go from 50.7 up to 70.5 pounds ( approx. 23 to 32 kg ).
Curly Coated Retriever Size
Curlies are medium-to-large-sized dogs of 23 to 27 inches ( approx. 58 to 68.58 cm ) and weigh 65 to 100 pounds ( approx. 29.4 to 45 kg ).
Curly Coated Retriever Cross Labrador | Curly Haired Labrador Retriever | Curly Coated Labrador Retriever
The Curly may look like a Poodle crossed with a Labrador Retriever. However, they are one of the aged retriever breeds. Curlies were popular on large estates and were featured in British artwork from 300 years ago. On the other hand, Labrador Retrievers are also British breeds of retriever gun dogs. They were developed in the UK from St. John’s water dogs imported from Canada.
Curly Coated Retriever Pups | Puppy
A puppy of the Curly breed needs more socialization than other retrievers. This is so that the pooch can develop a confident temperament. Furthermore, puppies of this breed have sensible protective instincts, playful, relate well to other animals, and are accepting.
Curly Coated Retriever Health Problems
These dogs generally exhibit good health as well as stamina. However, Curlies are vulnerable to certain health conditions just like all breeds. Not all dogs of this breed will get any or all of these diseases. Nevertheless, it is prime to be enlightened on this matter at hand if one considers a Curly.
The diseases include hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, entropion, ectropion, distichiasis, persistent pupillary membranes, progressive retinal atrophy, retinal dysplasia, pattern baldness, glycogen storage disease, lymphosarcoma, adenocarcinoma, fibrosarcoma, and mast cell tumors. Other diseases include hemangiosarcoma, melanoma, and gastric dilatation-volvulus.
Names
A Curly dog parent may make a choice to get a name for the pet after the pet settles home to understand better the personality of a certain dog or before it joins them home from the breeder. Furthermore, the names of these dogs may also be a result of inspiration from nature, historical figures, food, books, songs, movies, coats of the dog, and prominent dogs. Admired names suitable for Curly Dog include:
- Destiny.
- Garry.
- Hank.
- Beyonce
- Einstein
- Cheesecake
- Dandy
- Nova
- Tack
- Misha
- Ives
- Rolo
- Beau
Food | Feeding
Curlies can take up from 3 to 4 cups of high-quality dry food a day. With that said, their meals are divided into two. The dog’s size, age, build, metabolism, and activity level can be a determinant factor in how much the dog can eat. Healthy foods for these dogs are protein-rich as well as high-quality dog food.
Curly Coated Retriever Color | Brown
These purebred dogs come in two different colors, either solid liver or solid black. Furthermore, the color of Curly’s eyes should be brown or amber in liver dogs or either black or brown in black dogs.
Curly Haired Golden Retriever
Curlies are also similar to Golden Retrievers. The medium-sized Golden Retrievers are a Scottish breed of retriever dog characterized by a striking golden coat and a gentle and affectionate nature. The breed was created in the late nineteenth century by Sir Dudley Marjoribanks at his Scottish estate Guisachan. Marjoribanks cross-bred Tweed Water Spaniels with Flat-coated Retrievers, with some further infusions of Bloodhound, Labrador Retriever, and Red Setter.
Curly Coated Retriever Cross Border Collie
This is a mixed breed that comes as a result of breeding a Curly and a Border Collie. The personalities of these dogs can differ but are both friendly. The Border Collie Curly Coated Retriever has a lifespan of about 10 to 17 years. Furthermore, the pooch has a height of about 23 to 27 inches at the shoulder ( approx. 58 to 68.58 cm ). Moreover, the dog’s weight can vary from about 50 to 90 pounds ( approx. 22.6 to 40.8 kg ).
Curly Coated Retriever Mix
Curlies are purebred dogs. Furthermore, the dog stems from crosses of the old English water dog and the Irish water spaniel, a small type of Newfoundland.
Curly Coated Retriever Price
Curly puppies usually cost between $1000 to $3000. However, this varies based on the availability or the pedigree of the parent.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Are Curly Coated Retrievers Good Pets
Yes. Curlies are excellent family dogs for homes that can enjoy long walks and training, homes with older children, or homes without children. Homes with very young children or busy homes may not find Curlies the ideal pet.
Do Curly Coated Retrievers Shed A Lot
Yes. At certain times of the year, these dogs can shed quite a bit. Furthermore, Curlies are not hypoallergenic.
What Breeds Make A Curly Coated Retrievers
The exact ancestry of this pooch has been long lost. However, Curlies might have probably stemmed from crosses of the old English water dog, Irish water spaniel, a small type of Newfoundland, and later, perhaps even a poodle.
What Are The Interesting Facts About Curly Coated Retrievers
- Curlies are one of the aged retriever breeds.
- Since the early 1900s, the dogs have been purebred.
- Curlies have straight hair on their face.
- These dogs only need minimal grooming.
- They are yearning swimmers and hunters.
What Is The Purpose Of A Curly Coated Retrievers
They bred mainly to retrieve birds or other prey and return them to the hunter without damage. Their main function is nonslip retrieval.
Curly Coated Retriever Quick Facts
- They are very intelligent.
- They mature slowly.
- These dog’s personalities vary from other retrievers.
- They have straight hair on their face
- They are excellent watchdogs as they are more protective than other retrievers.
- Curlies are thought to be related to the Spaniel, St John’s Water Dog, and the Poodle.
- They also need brushing during the shedding season.
