Flat-Coated Retriever

Forever young might be the best way to describe what the American Kennel Club calls the “Peter Pan of the Sporting Group” of dogs. The Flat-Coated Retriever never wants to grow up, and many owners of this breed can attest that they simply hold on to their puppylike wonder of the world through their senior years.

Originally bred to address the growing popularity of bird hunting in England during the mid-1800s, the Flat-Coated Retriever’s original parents were an early version of the Labrador Retriever known as the St. John’s water dog (now extinct) and a number of setter varieties. The breeding of this intelligent dog focused on its being able to retrieve fowl in the water and on land.

The Peter Pan pup makes a wonderful choice for a family, even one with small children, although keep an eye on this breed with those littles. With their large size and overeager disposition, they may accidentally knock over a smaller child. The outgoing Flat-Coated Retriever has a great desire to please their owners, is very affectionate and cheerful, and gets along well with other dogs and cats. They also love attention, so it is important to ensure they receive enough of it; otherwise, they can become less happy and engage in destructive behaviors.

Grooming, Size, and Weight

Flat-Coated Retrievers are distinguished from other retriever dogs by their medium-length, flat-lying coat in either shiny black or liver. While relatively easy to groom and maintain, they do shed a good amount and need to be brushed about once each week using a brush and metal comb. This will help remove any loose hairs and dirt from their coat.

This is a large breed of dog, with both males and females typically weighing between 60 and 70 pounds. Males grow slightly taller than females. The range is usually between 22 and 24.5 inches to the shoulder for the breed, with males typically taller than 23 inches and females no taller than 23.5 inches.

At 3 months old, puppies generally weigh between 21 and 29 pounds; at 6 months, between 39 and 54 pounds. This breed finishes growing between the ages of 16 and 19 months.

Training and Exercise

These dogs, especially as puppies, are very orally fixated, which means early training to deter this behavior is crucial, as is hiding items you don’t want them to get hold of.

Speaking of early training, a method that stresses positive reinforcement works best for Flat-Coated Retrievers. Socialize this breed early, so they can quickly learn appropriate behavior around other dogs, people, and in different situations, as they have a tendency to jump up when overly excited.

Managing their excitement and energy is the name of the game. Flat-Coated Retrievers have high activity needs and require at least 90 minutes to 2 hours of moderate to vigorous exercise daily, including long walks or runs, playtime, and activities such as agility, obedience, and tracking.

Common Health Issues

Flat-Coated Retrievers are prone to hip dysplasia, a hereditary condition in which the joints do not form properly and rub against each other as the dog moves. This condition is quite painful for a dog and may require a costly surgery.

Another condition common to this breed is patella luxation, which occurs when the patella, or kneecap, slips in and out of place due either to poor breeding or trauma. Over time, a dog with this condition can become lame, and surgery may be necessary to repair the misalignment.

Purchasing your Flat-Coated Retriever from a responsible and reputable breeder can ensure that this ailment and other genetic conditions are screened for.

Watch out for bloat in this breed. Bloat refers to a dog’s stomach twisting on itself. When this occurs, the dog’s body is unable to expel any air from the stomach, causing the organ to expand. This is a life-threatening condition and can be fatal if not treated immediately by a veterinarian. While the causes of bloat are not completely understood, there does seem to be a connection between eating a large meal and exercising vigorously right after. Avoiding this scenario is advised.

The Best Dog Food

Most adult Flat-Coated Retrievers will need between 3.5 and 4.5 cups of food each day. Their food should be portioned out into two meals. The right amount for each dog will vary based on activity level, age, weight, and health concerns. As mentioned previously, this breed is susceptible to bloat. When feeding this dog, monitor it as it eats to ensure the dog isn’t eating too quickly or engaging in physical activity immediately after eating.

Flat-Coated Retriever puppies have small but growing stomachs. As such, feed them smaller, more frequent meals throughout the day. It is recommended that their meals be divided into four separate meals when the dog is between 8 and 12 weeks old and reduced to 3 meals when they are between 3 and 6 months of age. At 6 months old, they can handle two daily meals.

Since this breed can suffer from digestive problems, a digestion-support recipe with probiotics and prebiotic fiber is a good option. Food made from multiple types of fish will aid the longevity of the Flat-Coated Retriever’s joints.