Curly-coated Retriever

Most Curly-Coated Retrievers do well on a good-quality food matched to their life stage, whether puppy, adult, or senior. Some owners add meat or canned food, and a few feed raw. A food that meets recognized nutritional standards supplies what a Curly needs, and your veterinarian can help you set the right amount and keep your dog at a healthy weight.

Feed an adult twice a day, morning and evening. Curlies love to eat and tend to eat fast, so if your dog gobbles its food, a slow-feeding bowl regulates how much it takes at once and eases the stomach upset that can follow eating too quickly. Puppies grow in rapid spurts, so increase portions as they mature, following the guidelines on the bag.

Treats help with training, but too many lead to weight gain. A simple guideline:

• Keep treats to no more than 10 percent of daily calories.
• Learn which human foods are safe for dogs and which are not.
• Check with your veterinarian about any weight or diet concerns.

Your veterinarian may suggest a supplement based on your individual dog's health, such as a joint supplement started early in life. Never start a supplement without consulting your veterinarian first.

The Curly-Coated Retriever is a low-maintenance breed that needs only minimal grooming. There is no undercoat, and the dog does not shed much except during the spring and fall shedding seasons. Females usually shed a fair amount about every six months and can look relatively bare when out of coat.

During shedding seasons, a rake-type tool with metal prongs lifts dead hair well, and the coat can then be scissored down. Most owners never brush a Curly, since brushing makes the curls frizz. The curls do not mat, so a professional groomer is not necessary, and a wet-down and air-dry is easy and often enhances the curls.

Bathe only when the dog swims or gets particularly dirty, then let the coat air-dry to protect the curls. Clean the ears every two to three weeks with a cleaner that contains a drying agent, and again after baths and swimming. Trim nails regularly, since overly long nails can cause pain or trouble walking and running.

Provide ongoing dental care with at-home tooth brushing and professional cleanings. Book a veterinary appointment if you notice eye redness, drainage, squinting, or vision trouble.

True to their sporting background, Curly-Coated Retrievers need a fair amount of daily exercise, about two hours a day. They love the outdoors but settle and relax well at home, so their living space does not need to be large as long as they are with their people and get enough activity. The ideal setup is a large, fenced yard where the dog can run and burn off energy.

These are not dogs that do well left alone for long stretches. A bored or pent-up Curly may turn to destructive behavior to burn energy or entertain itself, so give them an outlet: a long walk or run, outdoor play, or a swim.

They thrive in an active family that takes them on long walks, weekend hikes, swimming sessions, and hunting trips. They enjoy hunting, tracking, field trials, agility, retrieving, rally, and competitive obedience, and their love of swimming makes them strong jogging and hiking companions.

Curlies are not excessive barkers, though they may bark to alert their people or to entertain themselves when bored. Pairing physical activity with this kind of work keeps a smart dog engaged and well behaved.

Curly-Coated Retrievers are intelligent and may lose interest in unclear or repetitive training. Use kind, consistent, reward-based methods, and allow extra time while the breed matures.

Two things help: avoid too much repetition, which bores them, and make learning as enjoyable as possible. They respond well to reward-based training. This is useful when teaching them to release inappropriate items they have retrieved, a common retriever habit, by simply offering a favorite treat or toy in exchange. Some Curlies do very well in the obedience ring, while others lose interest in repeated exercises.

Curlies are extremely affectionate with their family and do well with children who know how to interact with dogs correctly. They are not as outgoing as some other retrievers and may be reserved around new people at first. With proper socialization when young, they can do well with other pets too.

Start socialization as soon as you bring a puppy home, and ask your veterinarian how to safely expose your pup to new people, animals, environments, and situations. For new dog parents, a reputable trainer with experience in this breed is a sound choice. Field training in particular takes a knowledgeable, gentle approach, so consider watching a local training group's methods before joining.