DOG BREED OF THE WEEK

The Fancy Flat Coated Retriever



The Flat Coated Retriever or 'Flat Coat' is a majestic, beautiful and strong dog breed, which makes it this weeks DOG BREED OF THE WEEK!

HISTORY:


The Flat Coat originated in the mid 19th Century, when shooting was at its most popular - it gained popularity as a gamekeeper's dog. The breed originated in the UK from imported Newfoundland Wavy-Coated Retriever dogs or the now extinct St John's Water Dog, these were then crossed with Setters.It is thought that Canadian seafarers brought Newfoundlands  to British ports which helped to contribute to the ancestry of the Flat Coat. Also that Collie-breeds were added to increase trainability and also along with the Newfoundland, the Setter too. Originally bred as a working hunter retriever to fetch shot birds form the water it works well in and out of water.

FLAT COATS AS PETS:


Flat Coats make great pets! This is due to their great nature, they are intelligent, obedient, easy to train, very attentive, lovable, highly affectionate, multi-talented, enthusisatic, gentle and hard-working. but if you have one you must know that you need to keep them exercised as they are a working breed! They love an active life and need to have lots of catching, carry and fetching objects as they love to play! They thrive off exercise and attention.They are eager to please and they await their master's commands eagerly. You can never be sad with a Flat-Coat around!- they are very cheerful dogs and are loyal and happy optimists! Which makes them such lovable and endearing companions. But if you leave them alone they will become despondent and unhappy.... Don't scold them too much in training or when they misbehave, because it will lull them into a deep sulk. They absolutely love water and are agile and brilliant swimmers! They look elegant, noble and intelligent. They're eager and quick to learn. They are best taught in small intervals becuase they willl get bored with repotitiation.


CHILDREN:


Most Flat Coats enjoy being around children due to their gentle, easy-going and calm and friendly nature, they will be quite submissive and you can trust them if they are trained to be with kids!



CRUFTS WINNER 2011:


This years Crufts 2011 winner was a beautiful, glossy-coated, 9 and a half year old, Flat-Coated Retriever, named Jet (The Kentuckian), he own the Best Gun Dog Category and also went on to win Best In Show! He is owned by Iain Ross and was showed at Crufts, by his breeder, Jim Irvine, both from Scotland. He was crowned on Sunday 13 March! There was a total of 21,422 dogs competing over the four day event and a live audience of 138,000.

LIFESPAN AND HEALTH:


Flat Coats have an average life-span of 8-10 years. They can have a litter size of 4-8 pups. Also occasionally epilepsy is senn in the rbeed. They also hve a higher risk of Cancer than most dogs, make sure you regurly give them health checks and vet checkups. Hip displaya is at a very low rate in the breed though.

WEIGHT:


The males can range from 27 - 36 kg (60 - 79 lb) and the females can range from 25 - 32 kg (55 - 71 lb) always check the weight of your dog to make sure he's not underweight or overweight.

HEIGHT:


The males can range from 59 - 61 cm tall at the withers, (23-24 in) and the females, 56 - 59 cm (22 - 23 in ).

APPEARANCE:


Flat Coats have strong jaws and a long muzzle which helps them to hold game etc. Their eyes have a friendly and intelligent expression and are almond shaped with a beautiful dark brown colour to them! There are lighter than the other retriever breeds. They are very attractive dogs and are very lovable.


COAT & COLOURS:


The Flat Coats are normally black but there is a rarer liver-coloured type dog (a rich brown). Occurring rarely is a solid yellow coat colour but these dogs cannot compete in conformation shows but can in different activities like field, agility and obedience trials. Their coats are glossy and smooth and remain even into older age. They always look youthful and happy though. They have a single coat, there is no undercoat, is quite long and the legs, tail, chest, under body and feet have longer feathering on.