Characteristics and Temperament of the Curly.
Sassy on the swinging bridge over the Torrens River.
The Curly Coated Retriever was developed to Retrieve birds from the chilly waters of England in the 1800's, historical evidence indicates he was working as a team with man as early as 1490.
Prior to the mid-1800's breeding records were not kept; or were closely guarded by individual estates. It was enough that a good dog could perform his function to retrieve the dinner shot by man.
The Curly was first shown in England in the 1860's in the Retriever class, he was the first Retriever to be shown in England and is believed to be the first of the Retrieving Breeds developed. His steady, sagacious temperament and his dense water and burr repellant curls have brought the Curly many steadfast followers. He is slower to mature physically, compared to the New-World Retrieving Breeds, often not totally mature physically until 2-3 years.
The modern-day Curly Coated Retriever retains all the physical and mental characteristics that made him the prized companion and hunting partner of 1800's England. Biddable, responsive and focused when out and about he is calm and clownishly affectionate when encouraged at home.
GENERAL APPEARANCE: A strong upstanding dog with a degree of elegance and a distinctive curly coat.
CHARACTERISTICS: Intelligent, steady & reliable.
TEMPERAMENT: Bold, friendly, self-confident and independent. May seem aloof with strangers compared to other Retrievers.
HEAD & SKULL: Wedge-shaped in both side and front profiles. Slight stop. Skull and muzzle equal length with planes parallel. Nose black in blacks and brown in livers.
EYES: Large, not protruding, oval shaped. Black to dark brown in blacks, in livers a brown tone to blend with coat colour. Bright yellow eyes are undesirable.
EARS: Rather small, set slightly above eye level; lying close to the head, covered with short curls.
MOUTH: Jaws strong with a perfect scissor bite.
NECK: Strong and slightly arched, of medium length, free from throatiness.
FOREQUARTERS: Shoulders well laid back and muscular. Forelegs straight with strong pasterns and set well under body.
BODY: Chest deep with well-sprung ribs, oval in cross section with brisket reaching elbow. Forechest visible. Ribs extend well back into a short, deep and powerful loin. Slight tuck-up to flank. Topline strong and level with a sloping croup. Slightly longer from withers to tail root, than from withers to the ground, giving a rectangular apperaance.
Hindquarters: Strong, muscular. Moderate turn of stifle. Hocks well let down & well bent.
Feet: Round & tight, with well arched toes. Webbed feet.
Tail: Should reach approximately to the hock (no longer); carried straight and level with the topline when moving. A gay or hooked tail is undesirable.
Gait: Powerful, good extension & drive. Parallel movement, hind legs converge with speed.
Coat: A mass of small, crisp curls lying close to the skin from occiput to tail tip. No undercoat, smooth coat on the head, leg-fronts hocks and paws..
Colour: Black or Liver
Size: Dogs 27” 68.5 Bitches 25” 63.5 This is a mid-range indication, balance in height and structure is more important, than a specific height.
Prior to the mid-1800's breeding records were not kept; or were closely guarded by individual estates. It was enough that a good dog could perform his function to retrieve the dinner shot by man.
The Curly was first shown in England in the 1860's in the Retriever class, he was the first Retriever to be shown in England and is believed to be the first of the Retrieving Breeds developed. His steady, sagacious temperament and his dense water and burr repellant curls have brought the Curly many steadfast followers. He is slower to mature physically, compared to the New-World Retrieving Breeds, often not totally mature physically until 2-3 years.
The modern-day Curly Coated Retriever retains all the physical and mental characteristics that made him the prized companion and hunting partner of 1800's England. Biddable, responsive and focused when out and about he is calm and clownishly affectionate when encouraged at home.
GENERAL APPEARANCE: A strong upstanding dog with a degree of elegance and a distinctive curly coat.
CHARACTERISTICS: Intelligent, steady & reliable.
TEMPERAMENT: Bold, friendly, self-confident and independent. May seem aloof with strangers compared to other Retrievers.
HEAD & SKULL: Wedge-shaped in both side and front profiles. Slight stop. Skull and muzzle equal length with planes parallel. Nose black in blacks and brown in livers.
EYES: Large, not protruding, oval shaped. Black to dark brown in blacks, in livers a brown tone to blend with coat colour. Bright yellow eyes are undesirable.
EARS: Rather small, set slightly above eye level; lying close to the head, covered with short curls.
MOUTH: Jaws strong with a perfect scissor bite.
NECK: Strong and slightly arched, of medium length, free from throatiness.
FOREQUARTERS: Shoulders well laid back and muscular. Forelegs straight with strong pasterns and set well under body.
BODY: Chest deep with well-sprung ribs, oval in cross section with brisket reaching elbow. Forechest visible. Ribs extend well back into a short, deep and powerful loin. Slight tuck-up to flank. Topline strong and level with a sloping croup. Slightly longer from withers to tail root, than from withers to the ground, giving a rectangular apperaance.
Hindquarters: Strong, muscular. Moderate turn of stifle. Hocks well let down & well bent.
Feet: Round & tight, with well arched toes. Webbed feet.
Tail: Should reach approximately to the hock (no longer); carried straight and level with the topline when moving. A gay or hooked tail is undesirable.
Gait: Powerful, good extension & drive. Parallel movement, hind legs converge with speed.
Coat: A mass of small, crisp curls lying close to the skin from occiput to tail tip. No undercoat, smooth coat on the head, leg-fronts hocks and paws..
Colour: Black or Liver
Size: Dogs 27” 68.5 Bitches 25” 63.5 This is a mid-range indication, balance in height and structure is more important, than a specific height.