Breed History: The Curly-Coated Retriever is believed to be one of the oldest of all the retriever breeds. Although the exact ancestry of this breed is unknown, it is believed that in the early 1800s, in England, small Newfoundlands called St John's Newfoundlands were crossed with Irish or English Water Spaniels to create a serious land and water retriever. It is possible that the Poodle was later introduced into the mix that creates this breed. There are also many references to a curly coated spaniel, or water dog, credited with outstanding retrieving and hunting abilities dating back to at least the mid fifteenth century. These water dogs are most likely in the backgrounds of the curly coated retriever. The curly was known as the gamekeeper and as such was developed to find and retrieve game. It had to be able to succeed at a variety of tasks since it was relied upon to put food on the table. In England the Curly was first exhibited in dog shows in 1860. In 1864 the Kennel Club split the retrievers into two breeds the curly-coated retriever and the wavy coated retriever the later was the predecessor of the flat coated retriever. The Curly-Coat was introduced into the United States in 1907 and registered with the American Kennel Club in 1924. The breed dwindled by the end of WWII with only 2 registered in the early 60s however by the 70s the breed again found a following and sufficient interest existed by 1979 that the Curly Coated Retriever Club of America was founded.
		Today the Curly-Coated Retriever is an enthusiastic and hard working gundog. Although reserve, independent and wary of strangers, he is a pleasant companion for his owner and easy to care for since his coat does not require excessive grooming. Curly coats are slow to mature and this should be considered when training. Although intelligent and quick to learn, repetitive training can bring on boredom and a lack attention. It is best to tailor training methods to the individual dog often using short and varied sessions for the best results. The breed is particularly popular in England, New Zealand and Australia where he is used to hunt quail and other wild fowl. He is not as popular as other hunting breeds are in the United States. The Curly Coated Retriever requires a moderate amount of exercise and does not do well when left alone for extended periods of time. Breed Description The Curly Coated Retriever is a well balanced dog that is "just off the square," only slightly longer than it is tall. It is at home in the water, in the field, or in your home. It is distinguished from all other retrievers by its unique curly coat which is comprised of very small tight, waterproof curls that extend from the occiput on the rear of the head down to the elbows and hocks and to the tip of its tail. The face is smooth with short straight hair. They come in two solid colors: Black or Liver. Ideal heights as listed in the AKC Standard are 25 to 27 inches for males and 23 to 25 inches for females, although otherwise excellent dogs are not to be penalized for falling outside these ranges. The AKC Standard states that "outline, carriage and attitude all combine for a grace and elegance somewhat uncommon among the other retriever breeds." The grace and elegance is combined with a sturdy structure and hardworking, persevering temperament to create a credible working retriever. For full AKC standard Go to: AKC.org/Breeds/Curly_Coated_Retrievers