Group: Sporting
Height: 23 to 27 inches
Coat: Thick mass of small tight curls
Color: Black or liver

This smartly upstanding, multi-purpose hunting retriever is recognized by most canine historians as one of the oldest of the retrieving breeds. Developed in England, the Curly was long a favorite of English gamekeepers. Prized for innate field ability, courage and indomitable perseverance, a correctly built and tempered Curly will work as long as there is work to be done, retrieving both fur and feather in the heaviest of cover and the iciest of waters. To work all day a Curly must be balanced and sound, strong and robust, and quick and agile. Outline, carriage and attitude all combine for a grace and elegance somewhat uncommon among the other retriever breeds, providing the unique, upstanding quality desired in the breed.

In outline, the Curly is moderately angulated front and rear and, when comparing height to length, gives the impression of being higher on leg than the other retriever breeds. In carriage, the Curly is an erect, alert, self-confident dog. In motion, all parts blend into a smooth, powerful, harmonious symmetry.

The coat, a hallmark of the breed, is of great importance for all curlies, whether companion, hunting or show dogs. The perfect coat is a dense mass of small, tight, distinct, crisp curls. It's easy to care for coat because its curls stay in place with little to no attention.

The Curly is wickedly smart and highly trainable and, as such, is cherished as much for his role as loyal companion at home as he is in the field.

The Curly-Coated Retriever's curious nature may lead him to many amusing escapades that call for an owner with a sense of humor.

The Curly-Coated Retriever learns rapidly and performs willingly almost any task. Self-confident, steadfast and proud, this active, intelligent dog is a charming and gentle family companion and a determined, durable hunter. The Curly is alert, biddable and responsive to family and friends, whether at home or in the field. Of independent nature and discerning intelligence, a Curly sometimes appears aloof or self-willed, and, as such, is often less demonstrative, particularly toward strangers, than the other retriever breeds. The Curly's independence and poise should not be confused with shyness or a lack of willingness to please. In the field, the Curly is eager, persistent and inherently courageous. At home, he is calm and affectionate.

27 inches for males, 25 inches for females. A clearly superior Curly falling outside of this range should not be penalized because of size. You see curlies of all sizes. Curlies can range from 50 lbs to over 100.

The Curly Coated Retriever is the largest and oldest of all the Retriever breeds. A CCR is not for everyone. They are a strong willed, challenging, intelligent dog. A curly is not just a Lab with a perm. The different retriever breeds all have distinct personalities and temperaments. The curly tends to be reserved toward strangers. This is part of their genetic makeup. This does not mean overly shy or aggressive. Originally bred in England, the curly was used at a meat dog, and often as a game keepers dog. They will work all day as long as their is game to be retrieved. They may not tend to have the flash of the other retrievers, and this is probably one of the reasons you do not see many Curlies running field trials. But those that have curlies marvel at the versatility. Retrieving waterfowl as well as flushing upland game in the harshest of conditions.

Most Curlies are good with children, but like any dog, you should supervise any interaction with small children. As with any dog, they can be destructive if left on their own all day. Training is a must. The Curly enjoys and needs exercise, but should settle down while inside. Grooming is minimal. Bathing when needed. You can brush or comb the coat when the dog is shedding. Brushing will frizz out the curls, but once the coat gets wet again, the curl comes back together. Trim off any thick collection of hair that blocks the ear canal, or any long dreadlocks type mats. If you are going to show your dog, more trimming is usually needed to tidy the coat. Curlies are not hypoallergenic, and they do shed.

The coat should be tightly curled, crisp to touch and somewhat dull looking, as opposed to shiny. The hair on the face and legs is smooth and short. Curlies come in black and liver color. The curly can be prone to a coat disorder known as patterning. A patterned curly may have hair loose at the neck and backs of rear legs. This may happen only seasonally, it may happen only when the dog is young, or may be present all the time. This is a fault and if you have a curly with patterned baldness, be sure to let your breeder know.

Curlies before breeding should be checked for Hip dysplasia, eye problems, cardiac problems. (OFA, CERF, OFA Cardiac)