Curly Coated Retriever

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Breed Details

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Breed Rating

Breed Details

General

The Curly Coated Retriever originated in England and was bred to retrieve game either on land or in lakes and rivers. They are thought to be a mixture of the Irish Water Spaniel, Old Water Spaniel, Poodle, and Lab but their exact blood lineage is uncertain.

These dogs make fantastic workers as they will go above and beyond to please their masters but along with their natural skills, they make great family dogs. They are friendly and playful with children as well as considerate of other family pets.

This breed has a muscular, athletic body and long toned legs. They have tiny triangular ears, a long powerful muzzle and big friendly eyes. The Curly Coated Retriever has a long slender tail which when swimming is used as a rudder, and webbed paws that increase their speed when in the water! This breed's body is made for the water and they will naturally be drawn to this from day one.

The Curly Coated Retriever is a sweet tempered, caring and affectionate dog that will make an excellent pet. They are renowned for their hunting/retrieval skills but are sought out today not only for their workability, but for their sociability. Although they make great pets, these dogs are not recommended for the first time owner because they can be quite stubborn at times and will need an owner who can take charge and be dominant when it is needed.

Color

The Spinone Italiano will come in a brown & white, speckled brown, white, orange, speckled orange and brown with white markings. These dogs will have a large variety of coat patterns, markings, and patches but as long as their colours are within these standards, they will be accepted into show rings.

Coat

These dogs have a wiry coat that is very similar to the German Wirehaired Pointer but the Spinone will only have one layer of fur. To the touch, their coat will be dense yet hard giving them much protection from shrubs and other low to the ground plants that could potentially scratch or scrape them when on a hunt.

Personality

The Spinone Italiano is a versatile, low-key dog that will be great for people that like to relax and lay back with their pet or for people that like to be outdoors on an adventure. They are moldable dogs that will adapt to the lifestyle of their owners, provided they still get regular exercise. These dogs are very emotional and will tap into their owners moods, so a gentle attitude and manner towards this dog is always a must because it is quite possible for them to have hurt feelings otherwise! They will always want to please their owner and make them happy, so disciplining will need to be done sensitively. These dogs have a charming little personality, they are said to be comedians in dog suits! They enjoy playing, performing little tricks, and keeping the mood light with their funny antics! They are definitely a breed that will need to be included in family activities because if left alone too often, will become depressed. Socialization will be needed as puppies around other animals and people to ensure they will not be shy or aggressive as adults.

Care

The Spinone Italiano will need very minimal grooming to upkeep their coat. Brushing 1-2 times per week and bathing every 2 months will be perfect for this breed! Their coat is not quite long enough to tangle, but will need to have the dead fur removed weekly. The Spinone is prone to Cerebellar Ataxia, hip dysplasia and bloat. Generally they are a healthy breed but potential owners should have the puppy's parents medical history checked before buying, just to see what their puppy might be genetically inheriting.

Training

This breed is incredibly smart and will not need a large amount of training to understand basic obedience. However they will need an owner who can stay calm and remain firm but in a gentle manner because these dogs will show guilt if they are disciplined to harshly. Short training lessons that are made to be fun and positive, will make all the difference for this breed's understanding of any type of training concept so their owner will need to be repetitive and clear with each new command they introduce.

Activity

The Spinone Italiano will need about a half and hour to an hour of exercise per day to tire them out. Long walks or trips to a dog park will be perfect to burn off their energy. They are not as hyperactive as other sporting dogs, but will still be quite energetic! These dogs will do well in an apartment as long as they get their regular exercise and access to a backyard would be preferable so they have an outdoor area at home to roam around in.