One of the earliest uses for hunting dogs was for the retrieving of game from the water. (Man usually hates to swim out after it himself!) The Flat-Coated Retriever was the dog that the English huntsman bred to help him with this task. The English wealthy owned most of the land and hunting was forbidden - except by the landowners' designated hunter. It was important for this man to have a smaller retriever that was able to live around his family, help him hunt any game and wouldn’t consume so much food that he had trouble feeding it. The result was the Flatcoat.
The Flatcoat is a high-energy dog that combines the gentle, fun-loving exuberance of the Golden with the serious hunting ethics of the Labrador. It is a serious water dog! Their love of water will lead them to play in their own water dish! They will sometimes dunk their toys and food in the water!
Flatcoats need plenty of exercise, preferably with their master by their side! They are seen in obedience, rally, agility and the hunting arena. Most of the modern Flatcoats still retain their original hunting drive and excel at the sport.
A weekly brushing should be all that’s necessary to maintain the flat, straight coat. The breed standard calls for a height between 23" & 24.5" and a weight under 70 lbs, although many are breeding for larger dogs for the show ring. The coat color should be black or a dark brown with dark brown eyes.
