History

Historically, you have to go back to around 1830 to find the first retriever breeds, and in around 1850, the Flat-coated Retriever began to emerge. Hunters began breeding retrievers that were skilled retrievers, and as the population was not so large, different hunting dogs became available. For the Flat-coated Retriever, it was water dogs, Setters and individual herding dogs that were the foundation. Even then they sought to improve the dogs through targeted breeding. The breeders saw the so-called St. John Dogs and at believed that these new dogs could refine the breed. The dogs were originally brought to England by North American fishermen, and made excellent retrievers with their medium-sized, robust frame and long head. As the dogs also had a heavy coat, they were extremely good for water work. Much work went into producing the Flat-coated Retriever we know today, and in 1870 the breed was given its name. Until then, they were known as Eavy-coated retrievers, but a straight coat was desired for this breed, hence the name Flat-coated Retriever.

Current breeders, also in Denmark, want to breed dogs that have both good hunting skills and a lovely appearance – "dual-purpose” dogs. Breeders also want to maintain the breed's good temperament with a happy and lively dog that works closely with its handler. This strategy has contributed to the fact that the Flat-coated Retriever is now evenly distributed throughout Denmark. This also means it is easy to get help and guidance with buying puppies, training and activities. A good idea is to visit the breed-specific club's website at www.flatcoat.dk When it comes to training a Flat-coated Retriever, it is worth getting help from the club's experienced staff, as this type of retriever requires slightly different training.

OTHER RETRIEVER BREEDS

The Flat-coated Retriever as a gun dog

The Flat-coated Retriever is a great gun dog, whose core skills come into play post-shoot. This is a very industrious breed that needs contact and activation. The Flat-coated Retriever can be a little later to mature than other breeds, but once you have trained it, you have an eager, effective and enduring retriever who works well in all types of terrain. The Flat-coated Retriever loves water and also shows persistence and endurance when working in water. This breed also has a dense coat and water-repellent fur that protects the dog from the cold, a clear advantage when retrieving at the end of the hunting season. This is not ”just” a dog to use post-shoot. The Flat-coated Retriever is a versatile gun dog that can easily be used to search in short ranges pre-shoot. The breed works in close contact with its handler and can easily be trained to search/work in shooting teams.

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