Flat-Coated Retriever
Sporting Group
Breed Standard

General Appearance

The Flat-Coated Retriever is a versatile family companion hunting retriever with a happy and active demeanor, intelligent expression, and clean lines. The Flat-Coat has been traditionally described as showing "power without lumber and raciness without weediness." The distinctive and most important features of the Flat-Coat are the silhouette (both moving and standing), smooth effortless movement, head type, coat and character. In silhouette the Flat-Coat has a long, strong, clean, "one piece" head, which is unique to the breed. Free from exaggeration of stop or cheek, the head is set well into a moderately long neck which flows smoothly into well laid back shoulders. A level topline combined with a deep, long rib cage tapering to a moderate tuck-up create the impression of a blunted triangle. The brisket is well developed and the forechest forms a prominent prow. This utilitarian retriever is well balanced, strong, but elegant; never cobby, short legged or rangy. The coat is thick and flat lying, and the legs and tail are well feathered. A proud carriage, responsive attitude, waving tail and overall look of functional strength, quality, style and symmetry complete the picture of the typical Flat-Coat.
Judging the Flat-Coat moving freely on a loose lead and standing naturally is more important than judging him posed. Honorable scars should not count against the dog.

Size, Proportion, Substance

Size Individuals varying more than an inch either way from the preferred height should be considered not practical for the types of work for which the Flat-Coat was developed. Preferred height is 23 to 24½; inches at the withers for dogs, 22 to 23½ inches for bitches. Since the Flat-Coat is a working hunting retriever he should be shown in lean, hard condition, free of excess weight.
Proportion--The Flat-Coat is not cobby in build. The length of the body from the point of the shoulder to the rearmost projection of the upper thigh is slightly more than the height at the withers. The female may be slightly longer to better accommodate the carrying of puppies.
Substance-- Moderate. Medium bone is flat or oval rather than round; strong but never massive, coarse, weedy or fine. This applies throughout the dog.

Head

The long, clean, well molded head is adequate in size and strength to retrieve a large pheasant, duck or hare with ease. Skull and Muzzle--The impression of the skull and muzzle being "cast in one piece" is created by the fairly flat skull of moderate breadth and flat, clean cheeks, combined with the long, strong, deep muzzle which is well filled in before, between and beneath the eyes. Viewed from above, the muzzle is nearly equal in length and breadth to the skull. Stop--There is a gradual, slight, barely perceptible stop, avoiding a down or dish-faced appearance. Brows are slightly raised and mobile, giving life to the expression. Stop must be evaluated in profile so that it will not be confused with the raised brow. Occiput not accentuated, the skull forming a gentle curve where it fits well into the neck. Expression alert, intelligent and kind. Eyes are set widely apart. Medium sized, almond shaped, dark brown or hazel; not large, round or yellow. Eye rims are self-colored and tight. Ears relatively small, well set on, lying close to the side of the head and thickly feathered. Not low set (houndlike or setterish). Nose--Large open nostrils. Black on black dogs, brown on liver dogs. Lips fairly tight, firm, clean and dry to minimize the retention of feathers. Jaws long and strong, capable of carrying a hare or a pheasant. Bite-- Scissors bite preferred, level bite acceptable. Broken teeth should not count against the dog. Severe Faults Wry and undershot or overshot bites with a noticeable gap must be severely penalized.

Neck, Topline, Body

Neck strong and slightly arched for retrieving strength. Moderately long to allow for easy seeking of the trail. Free from throatiness. Coat on neck is untrimmed. Topline strong and level. Body--Chest (Brisket)--Deep, reaching to the elbow and only moderately broad. Forechest--Prow prominent and well developed. Rib cage deep, showing good length from forechest to last rib (to allow ample space for all body organs), and only moderately broad. The foreribs fairly flat showing a gradual spring, well arched in the center of the body but rather lighter towards the loin. Underline--Deep chest tapering to a moderate tuck-up. Loin strong, well muscled and long enough to allow for agility, freedom of movement and length of stride, but never weak or loosely coupled. Croup slopes very slightly; rump moderately broad and well muscled. Tail fairly straight, well set on, with bone reaching approximately to the hock joint. When the dog is in motion, the tail is carried happily but without curl as a smooth extension of the topline, never much above the level of the back.

Forequarters

Shoulders long, well laid back shoulder blade with upper arm of approximately equal length to allow for efficient reach. Musculature wiry rather than bulky. Elbows clean, close to the body and set well back under the withers. Forelegs straight and strong with medium bone of good quality. Pasterns slightly sloping and strong. Dewclaws--Removal of dewclaws is optional. Feet oval or round. Medium sized and tight with well arched toes and thick pads.

Hindquarters

Powerful with angulation in balance with the front assembly. Upper thighs powerful and well muscled. Stifle--Good turn of stifle with sound, strong joint. Second thighs (Stifle to hock joint)--Second or lower thigh as long as or only slightly longer than upper thight. Hock--Hock joint strong, well let down. Dewclaws There are no hind dewclaws. Feet oval or round. Medium sized and tight with well arched toes and thick pads.

Coat

Coat is of moderate length density and fullness, with a high lustre. The ideal coat is straight and flat lying. A slight waviness is permissible but the coat is not curly, wooly, short, silky or fluffy. The Flat-Coat is a working retriever and the coat must provide protection from all types of weather, water and ground cover. This requires a coat of sufficient texture, length and fullness to allow for adequate insulation. When the dog is in full coat the ears, front, chest, back of forelegs, thighs and underside of tail are thickly feathered without being bushy, stringy or silky. Mane of longer heavier coat on the neck extending over the withers and shoulders is considered typical, especially in the male dog, and can cause the neck to appear thicker and the withers higher, sometimes causing the appearance of a dip behind the withers. Since the Flat-Coat is a hunting retriever, the feathering is not excessively long. Trimming --The Flat-Coat is shown with as natural a coat as possible and must not be penalized for lack of trimming, as long as the coat is clean and well brushed. Tidying of ears, feet, underline and tip of tail is acceptable. Whiskers serve a specific function and it is preferred that they not be trimmed. Shaving or barbering of the head, neck or body coat must be severely penalized.

Color

Solid black or solid liver. Disqualification-- Yellow, cream or any color other than black or liver.

Gait

Sound, efficient movement is of critical importance to a hunting retriever. The Flat-Coat viewed from the side covers ground efficiently and movement appears balanced, free flowing and well coordinated, never choppy, mincing or ponderous. Front and rear legs reach well forward and extend well back, achieving long clean strides. Topline appears level, strong and supple while dog is in motion.

Summary

The Flat-Coat is a strong but elegant, cheerful hunting retriever. Quality of structure, balance and harmony of all parts both standing and in motion are essential. As a breed whose purpose is of a utilitarian nature, structure, condition and attitude should give every indication of being suited for hard work.

Characteristics and Temperament

Character is a primary and outstanding asset of the Flat-Coat. He is a responsive, loving member of the family, a versatile working dog, multi-talented, sensible, bright and tractable. In competition the Flat-Coat demonstrates stability and a desire to please with a confident, happy and outgoing attitude characterized by a wagging tail. Nervous, hyperactive, apathetic, shy or obstinate behavior is undesirable. Severe Fault--Unprovoked aggressive behavior toward people or animals is totally unacceptable.

Flat-Coats are absolutely unfailingly cheerful and often maintain a youthful outlook on life and a rather immature character (Paddy Petch called them the "Peter Pan" of dogs.)
Most Flat-Coats feel that the primary purpose in life is to be "your buddy." They can become quite despondent when left alone or neglected for periods of time. They thrive on human companionship, and while they do love a good run or walk, games of fetch, etc., they are mostly content just to be with you. In general Flat-Coats are very happy dogs throughout their whole lives and only their immediate families will notice the gradual slowing down they do get as they age. To most outsiders (and Flat-Coats love EVERYONE) they are very happy, friendly dogs.

As with most of the retriever breeds, they seem to feel that they are "at their best" when they have something (anything for most of them) in their mouth. When their mouth is full, their whole body exudes happiness.

Many are confirmed poop eaters, although some grow out of it. Sometimes the activity seems seasonal or even food-related. Bitches seem to be worse about it, especially after having a litter.

In general, they make good pets for houses with kids, but don't expect the kids not to get bruised. It will not be intentional, but they are big dogs.

Flat-Coats are unabashed people dogs. They do not do well in kennel situations at all and they do not do well in families continually on the go -- unless they get to go as well! This is absolutely not a breed you can leave out in the backyard all the time.

These dogs are very intelligent, and can be very creative in their destruction. They will do almost anything to get your attention, so unless they are in a situation where they are going to get a lot of attention, they can become chewers and diggers and they do have a lot of energy. They are not couch potato dogs.

Flat-Coats are very stoic and do not show when they are in pain very often. They put up with a lot before they let you in on it. In this sense they make bad patients, as they are often up and around much too early for their own good after an injury.

Character

Character is as important to the evaluation of stock by a potential breeder as any other aspect of the breed standard. The Flat-Coat is primarily a family companion hunting retriever. He is keen and birdy, flushing within gun range, as well as a determined, resourceful retriever on land and water. He has a great desire to hunt with self-reliance and an uncanny ability to adapt to changing circumstances on a variety of upland game and waterfowl.
As a family companion he is sensible, alert and highly intelligent; a lighthearted, affectionate and adaptable friend. He retains these qualities as well as his youthfully good-humored outlook on life into old age. The adult Flat-Coat is usually an adequate alarm dog to give warning, but is a good-natured, optimistic dog, basically inclined to be friendly to all. The Flat-Coat is a cheerful, devoted companion who requires and appreciates living with and interacting as a member of his family. To reach full potential in any endeavor he absolutely must have a strong personal bond and affectionate individual attention.

DISQUALIFICATION

Yellow, cream or any color other than black or liver.

It seems clear that the St. John's Water Dog from Newfoundland, played a significant role in the general development of the retriever breeds, though no one is quite certain of the dogs used in developing this breed. Nancy Martin's recent The Versatile Labrador Retriever (1994) contains perhaps the most comprehensive summary of the St. John's Water Dog's known and surmised history.

By all accounts, the development of the modern Flat-Coated Retriever is credited to Mr. S. E. Shirley in the early 1870s. St. John's Water Dogs, water spaniels, and possibly Scotch collies were all used to develop the Flat-Coat. He stabilized the wavy or curly-coated retriever and fixed the type of the flat coated retriever. Shirley himself did not use Setters in his development of the Flat-Coat, but it is probable that the retriever mixes at that point already had infusions of Setter blood from earlier in the century. He is known to have used Labradors once they became available outside the Buccleugh and Malmesbury kennels.

Mr. Shirley is well-known also for founding the Kennel Club in 1873. The breed's close association with this man meant that they were bred at the onset for both showing and hunting unlike other breeds that were privately bred by estates with their own grounds and gameskeepers.

Given the depletion of breeding stock, especially after the second World War, Flat-Coats and Labradors were widely interbred to broaden the gene pool and increase the number of dogs to a safer level. For example, the Labrador CH. Horton Max, a well-regarded Labrador at the turn of the century was actually an interbred, sired by the influential CH Darenth, a Flat-Coat. For some reason, while those breeders in Flat-Coats are aware of this mixing, many Labrador breeders are not.

The next influential patron of the breed was Mr. H. Reginald Cooke, born in 1860 who saw some of the first dogs that Shirley established, their hey day during the turn of the century, their uncertain fortune through the World Wars and finally their decline in numbers afterwards. His kennel, Riverside, dominated the show scene for over sixty years. He also collected wins in field trials. This domination was both fortunate in keeping the breed on an even keel and unfortunate in keeping other patrons out. He was an advocate of a medium-sized dog as being the best for work; and was concerned about keeping the hunting ability alive in the show dogs. Contrary to popular supposition, though, Cooke purchased many dogs bred by others and there was no exclusive 'Riverside' strain of flat-coats.

The Flat-Coated Retriever's decline directly coincides with the Labrador Retriever's almost meteoric post-war rise in popularity. The Labrador was considered superior to the Flat-Coat in the field trials. The domination of the Flat-Coats by the Riverside kennel may have also helped to limit the possible growth that the Flat-Coat might have otherwise enjoyed alongside the Labrador; it is unclear whether this was beneficial or detrimental to the breed in the long run. There are risks in being wildly popular or in being too rare.

Care and Training

Standards for the Flat-Coated Retriever

AKC Standard, 1990
The Standard is the physical "blueprint" of the breed. It describes the physical appearance and other desired qualities of the breed otherwise known as type. Some characteristics, such as size, coat quality, and movement, are based on the original (or current) function for the dog. Other characteristics are more cosmetic such as eye color; but taken together they set this breed apart from all others. The Standard describes an ideal representive of the breed. No individual dog is perfect, but the Standard provides an ideal for the breeder to strive towards.

Because of copyright concerns over the collection of all the Standards at any single site storing all the faqs, AKC Standards are not typically included in the Breed faqs. The reader is referred to the publications at the end of this document or to the National Breed Club for a copy of the Standard.

British Standard, 1985

HEAD AND SKULL
The head should be long and nicely moulded. This moulding is characteristic of the breed. There is a gradual tapering form a moderately broad flat skull towards the muzzle, there being a notable absense of cheekiness. The change of level between the line of the skull and muzzle shoudl be slight, giving a minimal amount of drop or 'stop'. In fact the face is fairly well filled in between the eyes which are set widely apart. The muzzle should be long although not necessarily equal to the length of skull as formerly. It should be strong, with the capacity of carrying a heavy hare and possess large open nostrils for easy scenting, and well braced lips to obviate the collection of feathers. The teeth should be regular and ideally show a complete scissor bite, the upper teeth closely overlapping the lower teeth, but a level bite should not be unduly penalised, as should be an under- or over- shot mouth.
EYES
Should be of medium size, dark brown or hazel (defined as reddish brown) with a very intelligent expression. A yellow or goosberry eye is a decided fault as is a round or prominent one, and the eyes should not be obliquely placed. The lower eyelids should not be so slack as to favour the collection of foreign bodies in the field.

EARS
Should be small and well set on, close to the side of the head.

NECK
The head should be well set in the neck, and the latter should be reasonably long and free from throatiness, symmetrically set and obliquely placed in shoulders sloping well into the back to allow of easily seeking for the trail.

FOREQUARTERS
The chest should be deep and fairly broad, with a well defined brisket, on which the elbows should work cleanly and evenly. The legs are of the greatest importance, the forelegs should be perfectly straight with bone of good quality carried right down to the feet and when the dog is in full coat the legs should be well feathered.

BODY
The fore-ribs should be fairly flat showing a gradual spring and well arched in the centre of the body but rather lighter towards the quarters. Open couplings are to be ruthlessly condemned. The back should be strong and the loins short and square.

HINDQUARTERS
Should be muscular. The stifle and hock should not be too straight or too bent and the dog must neither be cow-hocked nor move widely behind; in fact he must stand square and move true on legs and feet all round. The legs should be well feathered. He should move straight with drive and fluency.

FEET
Should be round and strong with toes close and well arched, the soles being thick and strong.

TAIL
Short, straight and well set on, carried gaily but never much above the level of the back. Should be well feathered.

GAIT
Free and flowing, straight and true as seen from front and rear.

COAT
Should be dense, of fine to medium quality and texture, flat as possible. Legs and tail well feathered. A good dog at maturity shows full furnishings to complete his elegant appearance.

COLOUR
Black or liver only.

WEIGHT
In hard condition should be between 60 to 80 lbs for dogs and 55 to 70 lbs for bitches.

HEIGHT
Dogs 23-24 inches. Bitches 22-23 inches.

TEMPERAMENT
Confident and kindly. Characterised by a constantly wagging tail.

Health and Medical Problems

Patellar Luxation
This is a fairly serious problem, as it is genetic, but it is not really widespread. This is a condition in which the dog's kneecap will slip out of the joint and lock the leg straight. It can be surgically treated to keep the dog comfortable, but of course the dog should then be neutered. You should make sure the parents of any Flat-Coat puppy you consider has been cleared of Patellar Luxation by OFA.
Elbow and Hip Dysplasia
Flat-Coats may be prone to elbow and/or hip dysplasia, just as the rest of the retriever breeds generally are. In fact, according to OFA, the Flat-Coat is one of only four breeds in which the incidence of CHD is on the rise. The level has doubled from about 10 years ago and while is still low, the upward trend is troubling. Note that the overall incidence in, for example, the Golden is much higher; however, their rates have been decreasing in the same time period.
To minimize the risk, all breeding stock must be x-rayed and certified clear of hip or elbow dysplasia by OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals) in the US; there are equivalent programs in other countries.

Hip dysplasia is a malformation of the ball and socket, with varying degrees of presentation. Symptoms can range from none to severe crippling. Only an xray can give you a definitive diagnosis of this disease. While environmental factors have been found to play a role in determining the degree of visible symptoms, the causes are believed to be genetic. For more information on this disease, please see the medical information FAQ or consult with your veterinarian.

Thyroid
Some Flat-Coats may have low thyroid levels. Allergies, poor coat, etc may indicate low thyroid levels. It does not seem to be a widespread problem in the breed.
Cancer
Cancer is a troubling and complex presence in this breed. The age of onset seems to be about four years and different areas may be affected. Inquire about the general longevity in the lines of the puppy or dog you may be considering.

Flat-Coated Retriever Breed Clubs

Breed Clubs in Canada
Flat-Coated Retriever Society of Canada

Wendy MacDonald
3985 Rock City Road
Nanaimo, British Columbia
V9T 4L6
250-758-5121
wenmac@island.net
Breed Clubs in the UK
Flat-Coated Retriever Club of Scotland

Hon Secretary: Mrs. Margaret Scougal
Tel: 0968 73808
Flat-Coated Retriever Society

Hon Secretary: (information) Mrs. Joan Muade
The old Vicarage, Blackford, Wedmore, Somerset BS28 4NN Tel: 0934 712213
Membership Secretary: Mrs. Sally McComb
Pennywise, Hyndford Bridge, Lanarkshire, Scotland ML11 8SQ
Tel: 0555 662526
Field and Hunting Clubs
Hunting Retriever Club (HRC)
United Kennel Club, Inc.
100 E. Kilgore Road
Kalamazoo, MI 49001-5592
This organization also puts out a magazine.
National Shoot To Retrieve Association (NSTRA-GD)
226 North Mill Street #2
Plainfield, IN 46168
317-839-4059

North American Hunting Retriever Association (NAHRA)
P.O. Box 1590
Stafford, VA 22555
Tel: 800-421-4026
(they can direct you to clubs in your area)

North American Versatile Hunting Dog Association (NAVHDA)
Box 520
Arlington Heights, IL 60006

Quail Unlimited National Headquarters
P. O. Box 610
Edgefield, SC 29824-0610
For information about starting your own local chapter, if one does not already exist in your locale, direct your query to Winona Overholt, Assistant Director of Chapter Development at the same address or phone 1-803-637-5731.

Breed Rescue
Joyce Rein
13588 104th Avenue
Grand Haven, MI 49417
616-846-0773
Breeders
To find a good breeder near you, contact your local breed club to see if they keep a list of affiliated breeders. Some clubs have a code of ethics for member breeders; others do not. Membership or presence on a club list of breeders does not automatically confer reputability. You must check with each breeder individually and see if they meet your standards.
Even if the local breed club does not keep a list of breeders, you will still be able to come into contact with local breeders and you should get to know them if you are serious about getting a Flat-Coat. Taking the time now in this respect will stand you in good stead when you actually get the puppy -- you will know who is having a litter, you will know what you are looking for, and the breeders will know you as someone sincerely interested in a puppy and a good prospective owner to boot.

A breeder's list is available from the FCRSA, but as with any such list, it is up to you to determine if a breeder is the one for you.

Email List and Web Sites

Mike Richman (obedreq@trumpkin.ou.edu) maintains a mailing list for those interested in the FCR. To join, send email to listproc@trumpkin.ou.edu with no subject line and the single line
SUBSCRIBE FCR-L Firstname Lastname
in the body of the message.
Other mailing lists include:

The Hunting Retriever mailing list. Send email to majordomo@law.uark.edu, with subscribe HUNTING-RETRIEVER in the body of the mail message to join.
The Gundog-L mailing list (gatewayed to rec.hunting.dogs). Send email to listserv@tamu.edu with subscribe GUNDOG-L yourfirstname yourlastname in the body of the mail message to join.
Web sites of interest include:

The Flat Coated Retreiver Homepage, at http://www.io.com/~cane/fcr/fcrhome.html
Working Retriever Central, at http://working-retriever.com/
North American Hunting Retriever Association, at http://www.cvm.okstate.edu/~ACVA/nahra/nahrafaq.htm

Contacts Online
The people listed below are willing to answer your e-mail and provide information about the nearest Flat-Coat club in your area, if one exists. They may also have information about upcoming Field events, Supported Shows, club meetings and Flat-Coat fun days where you could meet Flat-Coats and Flat-Coat owners and find out more. Contacts are organized by country: USA, Canada, Great Britain, and Finland.

Regional Contacts for the USA

Listed geographically, from "left to right" or west to east:

Northwestern US
Alaska
Mark and Jo-Anne Prins, fsmsp1@aurora.alaska.edu
Pacific Northwest (Oregon, Washington)
Northwest Flat-Coated Retriever Club (aff.)
No online contact currently available
June Fuget, junefuget@aol.com
Alice Ellis, aellis2397@aol.com
Jennifer Stanley, 75211.2722@CompuServe.COM
Northern California
Northern California Flat-Coated Retriever Club (unaff.)
Chris Butler, cjb@frame.com
Kyla Carlson, kycarlson@pcc.ziff.com
Kathy Blanchard, kablanchard@ucdavis.edu
Southwestern US
Southern California, Arizona, Nevada
Great Western Flat-Coated Retriever Club (aff.)
Alison Taub (Secretary), alisont@netcom.com
Cynthia Trotter, hollystar@aol.com
New Mexico
Janice Anthes, janice.anthes@west.sun.com
Northern (Central) US
Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa
Midwest Waterways Flat-Coated Retriever Club (aff.)
Kathy Barton (Secretary) katefire@aol.com
Kathee Beebe (Treasurer), katheeb590@aol.com
Karen Bloom (member), asr@ssc.wisc.edu
Marybeth Bissig (member), mbbissig@interl.net
Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, North and South Dakota
Upper Midwest Flat-Coated Retriever Club (aff.)
Ernie Rudolph, erudolph@dsmnet.com
Phyllis Barks, pbarks@sunflowr.usd.edu
Western (Central) US
Colorado/Rockies, Utah, Wyoming
Don Freeman, donfcr@aol.com
Southern (Central) US
Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma
David and Lamora Cole dmcole@amoco.com or 72270.1104@compuserve.com
Northeastern US
Maryland, Virginia, District of Columbia
Capital Region Flat-Coated Retriever Club (aff.)
Dawn M. Buttion, (President) dawn@onion.jhuapl.edu
Judy Delventhal, (VP) victoryret@aol.com Marke Reynolds (club member) mark.reynolds@american.edu
Pennsylvania, New Jersey
Mid-Atlantic Flat-Coated Retriever Club (aff.)
Diane Husic, dhusic@esu.edu
New England, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont, New Hampshire
Northeast Flat-Coated Retriever Club (aff.)
Kurt Anderson (President), 73210,136@compuserve.com
Jennifer Andrews, huntlane@snet.net
New York State
Diane Cornell, dogs4fun@aol.com
Southeastern US
Joyce Leonard, joycel@okeechobee.com
Regional Contacts for Canada - Not Compiled Yet.

Regional Contacts for Great Britain - Not Compiled Yet.

Regional Contacts for Finland - Not Compiled Yet