THE FLAT COAT RETRIEVER - BRIEF HISTORY, CHARACTERISTICS AND TRAITS
RETRIEVER BREEDS WERE DEVELOPED IN THE EARLY 19TH CENTURY AS DOGS WHOSE SOLE PURPOSE WAS TO PICK UP SHOT GAME. THE FLAT COAT WAS DEVELOPED FROM THE LESSER NEWFOUNDLAND AS A LAND RETRIEVER AND EVOLVED INTO A FINE WATER AND LAND RETRIEVER MUCH FAVOURED BY GAMEKEEPERS.
THEY HAVE THE ADDED SKILLS OF FLUSHING GAME FROM COVER AND WILL HUNT GAME IN UPLAND AREAS. THE CREDIT FOR ESTABLISHING THE BREED IS GIVEN TO MR J HULL WHO BEGAN BREEDING THEM IN 1864 AND THEY CAME TO BE COMMONLY USED ON ESTATES THROUGHOUT GREAT BRITAIN.
IN THE 20TH CENTURY THEIR NUMBERS BEGAN TO DECLINE AND AFTER THE SECOND WORLD WAR NUMBERS FELL DRASTICALLY. ALTHOUGHT THE BREED WAS RE-ESTABLISHED IN THE MID 1960’S NUMBERS REMAIN RELATIVELY LOW.
FLAT COATS ARE VERY INTELLIGENT AND QUICK TO LEARN. THEY ARE EAGER TO PLEASE AND KEEN TO JOIN IN WITH ALL ACTIVITIES BUT THEY MAY WANT TO DO THINGS THEIR OWN WAY SO REQUIRE FIRMNESS AND CONSISTENCY IN THEIR TRAINING.
FLAT COATS ARE SLOW MATURING DOGS (USUALLY 3 – 5 YEARS) BUT EVEN IN THE MATURE FLAT COAT THERE USUALLY REMAINS A SPARK OF JOY AND MISCHIEF.
THE FLAT COAT IS OFTEN DESCRIBED AS THE CANINE ‘PETER PAN, THIS IS AN ENDEARING QUALITY FOR FLAT COAT FANS WHEN THE TEN YEAR OLD FLAT COAT IS STILL PLAYFUL AND EAGER TO HUNT.
THE FLAT COAT IS NOT THE BREED FOR EVERYONE, IT IS A VERY NATURAL BREED AND LIKES TO DO NATURAL THINGS, THAT MEANS DIGGING, ROLLING IN MUD PUDDLES AND BARKING WHEN CONFINED FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME.
THE FLAT COAT IS NOT DESTRUCTIVE IF MANAGED PROPERLY. THE HIT AND MISS TRAINING METHODS THAT ARE EFFECTIVE ON MANY BREEDS LEAVE HOLES THAT THE FLAT COAT CAN HAPPILY BOUND THROUGH. AS THE FLAT COAT MATURES VERY SLOWLY -SOME NEVER FULLY MATURE - IT SOMETIMES SEEMS THAT THEY ARE ‘FROZEN’ AT AN PUPPY STAGE THAT KEEPS THEM SO DEPENDENT, PLAYFUL AND FRIENDLY.
FLAT COAT PUPPIES AND YOUNG ADOLESCENTS DO TEND TO ROMP AND JUMP SO IF YOU HAVE YOUNG CHILDREN THIS IS SOMETHING THAT REQUIRES SERIOUS THOUGHT BEFORE BUYING A FLAT COAT AS YOUR FAMILY PET, YOUNG CHILDREN CAN BE BOWLED OVER EASILLY BY AN EXUBERANT FLAT COAT
YOU MUST PROVIDE ENOUGH EXERCISE AND MENTAL STIMULATION FOR A FLAT COAT.
GROOMING
TO KEEP THEIR LOVELY COATS FREE OF TANGLES, FLAT COATS REQUIRE REGULAR BRUSHING .A REGULAR GROOMING SESSION WILL ENSURE THAT THEIR COAT REMAINS IN GREAT CONDITION. THE EYES, EARS AND TEETH SHOULD BE CHECKED ON A REGULAR BASIS.
IS THE FLAT COAT THE RIGHT DOG FOR ME?
IF YOU WANT A DOG WHO.
- IS LARGE AND ATHLETIC
- HAS A LOVELY FEATHERED COAT
- IS A CHEERFUL , FRIENDLY OUTGOING TAIL WAGGER
- IS POLITE TO ALL – EVEN BURGLERS!
- GETS ON WELL WITH OTHER ANIMALS
- HAS THE MOST WONDERFUL OUTGOING NATURE
A FLAT COAT MAY BE RIGHT FOR YOU
IF YOU DON’T WANT TO DEAL WITH:
- MUST HAVE REGULAR EXERCISE , THEY LOVE WALKING, SWIMMING ETC – BUT NOT IN THE FIRST YEAR OF THEIR LIFE
- CAN BE ROWDY AND PRONE TO EXUBERANT JUMPING, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOUNG OR NOT EXERCISED ENOUGH
- CARRIES OBJECTS AROUND MOST OF THE TIME
- REQUIRES REGULAR GROOMING SESSIONS
A FLAT COAT MAY NOT BE THE BREED THAT IS RIGHT FOR YOU