Curly Coated Retriever Dog Breeds
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Height at the withers: Males 64 – 69 cm, Females 58 – 64 cm
Average weight: Males 32 – 41 kg, Females 23 – 32 kg
Curly Coated Retrievers have very distinct looking coats that offer them a tremendous amount of protection from the elements. They also have quite wedge-shaped heads when seen in profile and there’s a slight stop with dogs boasting nice muzzles. Their nose can either be black or brown depending on a dog’s coat colour. Their eyes are large and oval in shape being set obliquely on a dog’s face. They can either be black or brown to match a dog’s coat.
A Curly Coat’s ears are on the small side and they are set just above the level of a dog’s eyes, but always lie close to their head and they are well covered in tiny curls. These dogs have a strong jaw with a perfect scissor bite where their upper teeth neatly overlap their lower ones. Their necks are slightly arched and strong being moderately long, flowing neatly down to a dog’s well laid-back shoulders.
Forequarters are muscular and well developed with dogs boasting straight front legs that are well set under their body. Chests are deep with well sprung ribs and they reach well back with dogs also having a well-developed brisket and their fore chest is clearly visible. Loins are powerful and deep with dogs having slightly tucked up flanks. Toplines are level, strong and hindquarters are muscular and powerful with dogs having strong back legs. Feet are round and tight with dogs having well-arched toes. Their tail flows from their topline which dogs carry straight and level to their toplines when alert or on the move.
When it comes to their coat, Curly Coated Retrievers boast having one that is covered in a thick mass of tight and crisp curls that lie close to their bodies right from their occiputs to the tips of their tails with no undercoat. Accepted breed colours for Kennel Club registration are as follows:
- Black
- Liver
It is worth noting that the accepted breed colours for Kennel Club registration can differ from those set out in the breed standard which are as follows:
- Black
- Liver
Gait/movement
When a Curly Coated Retriever moves, they do so with effortless ease showing lots of drive from behind and plenty of reach in front. When dogs pick up speed, their legs typically converge.
Faults
The Kennel Club frowns on any exaggerations or departures from the breed standard and would judge the faults on how much they affect a dog’s overall health and wellbeing as well as their ability to perform.
Males should have both testicles fully descended into their scrotums and it is worth noting that a dog can be a little lighter or heavier as well as slightly taller or shorter than set out in the Kennel Club breed standard which is only given as a guideline.