Curly Coated Retriever: Temperament, Grooming, Lifespan, Price

Curly Coated Retriever: Temperament, Grooming, Lifespan, Price

Last Updated: October 4, 2023

No wonder the happy and wagging Retrievers are everyone’s favorite, so here we introduce the charismatic and rare Curly Coated Retrievers, one of the oldest in the clan and equally irresistible.

Once a darling and dependable to the British hunters, these beautiful Curly Coated canines make a great addition to your family for their gentle and loving temperament besides an alert watchdog. 

Recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) in 1924 for their unique traits, the Curly Coated Retrievers are rare and less known to many.

But we promise you an informative ride that will keep you hooked for which you clicked here.

Let’s dive in!


How much does a Curly Coated Retriever cost?

How much does a Curly Coated Retriever cost?
Photo credit: Brett J Cox, Visualhunt

Finding one purebred can cost you your energy, effort, and certainly, price as they are rare, and only a handful of breeders have limited stock of this exotic Retriever, based on demand.

So, depending on your location, the breeder’s reputation, and their share of expenses in preserving this breed, Curly Coated Retriever puppies costs can start from $900 to over $2000, making them one of the priciest in dogdom.

But if you don’t mind the hefty amount, get your first pup from dedicated clubs like the Curly Coated Retriever Club of America, AKC, or similar reputed kennels near you over the dubious deals.

Choose a name for your Curly Coated Retriever puppy before you bring it home. Check out these hunting dog names.


How to select Curly Coated Retriever breeders?

Being rare and so expensive, finding reputed Curly Coated Retriever breeders who stock this breed can be exhausting.

But you can do your share of research online to connect with a reliable network of breeders near you or visit their website for a better overview of their business and featured listings. 

While selecting the breeder keep a couple of points in mind:

  • If possible, visit the breeder to scale their knowledge about preserving and raising this exotic breed.  
  • Ensure the breeder is certified by the AKC or authorized Curly Coated Retrievers Clubs as per your country.
  • Ask for vaccination and health certifications from the breeder to ensure taking home a healthy CCR puppy.
  • Spend some time with the parents of the puppy to understand their behavior and temperament. This will give you an idea of how your puppy will behave when it grows up. 
  • Ask questions to the breeder about the feeding patterns, daily care, and routine of your puppy to gain as much knowledge as you can.

All these will help you bring home a healthy and happy puppy without any future surprises.


When does a Curly Coated Retriever get full size?

When does a Curly Coated Retriever get full size?

Well, it is going to be time-testing for those anxious parents who can’t wait to see their fur babies grow faster. 

These British Retrievers generally attain their full size at around 2 years, which is a steady growth process to support the strong development of bones and muscles of these sporting breeds.

They are also one of the tallest retrievers, and with vet-recommended daily nutrition and activities, you can expect the males to stand tall at 27 inches while the females can grow up to 25 inches. 

As the Curly Coated Retrievers grow and get their full size, the males and females both weigh nearly 95 pounds, making them one of the heavyweight retrievers in the league. 

However, if the stats of your full-grown Curly Coated Retriever don’t match with the recommended size and weight chart, get an in-depth diagnosis by a vet to know if any underlying condition is the culprit.


How to care for your Curly Coated Retriever puppy?

Caring for Curly Coated Retriever when they are puppies

Before welcoming your first Curly Coated Retriever pup home, make sure it is in its 8th week or can be a week older, as this is the right stage to separate the puppies from their mother and no ethical breeder would allow you to take the puppy home before that.

Coming to the caring of these elegant Curly Coated babies, stock a few chewing kibbles or toys at home to allow them to release their energy safely than targeting your home’s valuables and furniture. 

Though this sporting breed thrives on adequate exercise, you should strictly avoid engaging your puppy in vigorous activities like running and jumping, as it can badly hamper its bone and muscle growth.

However, you must start training your pup early in its 9th or 10th week with basic obedience commands besides socializing as they tend to aloof themselves from strangers if not trained to bond in time. 

Caring for Curly Coated Retriever when they grow up

As your Curly Coated Retriever steps into its 9th month, it’s time to introduce it to the outer world besides proper pet grooming at home. 

A bit reserved around strangers, the curlies are generally outgoing with a strong desire to escape. 

So always put a leash on while out, considering their escaping tendency and strong prey drive.

Besides daily activities, you also need to pay extra attention to their daily nutrition once they enter adulthood. 

These energetic retrievers thrive on high-quality dry dog food two times a day, depending on their daily schedule. 

The best part is they can adapt anywhere but do good when left to roam around on a spacious lawn than living in a confined apartment. So, choose wisely than regretting later.


How to groom a Curly Coated Retriever?

Curly Coated Retriever grooming requires no special treatment except for the hefty amount during obtaining them. 

Their single-coated curlies are easy to groom, making this breed surprisingly low-maintenance.

These large water retrievers have a single-layered coat of tight curls that requires less grooming unless your dog spends maximum time wandering in the lawns, parks, retrieving in the swamps, and during the falls when they shed.

If you take your Curly Coated Retriever for outdoor activities a lot, comb its coat daily to shrug off dirt and dander to prevent its curly hair from matting. 

Avoid bathing it frequently, unless needed, as that would strip the natural oils off its coat, leaving it dry and coarse. 

To keep your Curly Coated Retriever well-groomed and in the best shape, keep checking their teeth, eyes, ears, and especially their skin as they are prone to getting skin disorders

Above all these, feed your Curly a balanced nutrition to ensure healthy growth inside that reflects on the outside.


How much exercise does a Curly Coated Retriever need?

How much exercise does a Curly Coated Retriever need?
Photo credit: Mattias Agar, Visualhunt

As a sporting breed, Curly Coated Retrievers thrive on an average amount of daily activities like walking, jogging, or best retrieving in the swamps.

If you live in an apartment, make sure to go out with your Culy every day for at least a 30 minutes walk or engage in some low-intensity activities in the park to ensure its healthy physical development and mental stimulation.

Things will be much easier if you live in the countryside or at home with a spacious front yard or lawn, as you can leave your Curly to roam, jump and roll around freely. 

Also, taking them occasionally on fishing or to a nearby swamp. 

It is a great way to support their healthy growth in natural surroundings. 

Before obtaining or adopting a Curly Coated Retriever, keep in mind that they are athletic retrieving dogs and meant for owners who are equally outgoing and have enough time to keep up with their energetic spirit.


Does Curly Coated Retriever shed a lot?

If you want a dog that won’t create a furry mess, this breed isn’t your fit unless you are ready to ignore this only flaw over unlimited adorable moments.

These elegant Curlies are known for their signature tight curls or hair that sheds averagely throughout the year, except during the falls and springs when they shed excessively, making way for the newer coat beneath.

However, if you think your CCR is exhibiting unusual heavy shedding, check the skin between the hair strands as they are prone to skin disorders which can be the reason behind excessive hair fall.


Are Curly Coated Retriever hypoallergenic?

The single-coated Curlies are average shedders, and you will encounter some furry mess throughout the year, which worsens during the spring and falls.

Besides shedding averagely all year round, the Curly Coated Retrievers sheds heavily during the spring and fall, which makes them non-hypoallergenic, and unsuitable for people with allergic sensitivity.

It is not only the hair but their tightly woven curls that trap dirt and dander to worsen your flare-ups while you cuddle your precious.

But with routine pet grooming at home and daily brushing during the shedding time, you can manage this non-hypoallergenic breed not to trigger your allergy symptoms.


Understanding Curly Coated Retriever’s Temperament

Understanding Curly Coated Retriever Temperament

If you are an outgoing soul looking for an equally spirited furry companion, Curly Coated Retrievers’ temperament will definitely match your energy.

These elegant Curlies are intelligent, loyal, adaptable, and easy-going with grown children and older people, besides being an alert watchdog.

However, as hunting dogs, they can exhibit their strong-willed nature to overpower you, which is manageable with a consistent and compassionate training process.

While a Curly Coated Retriever energizes your life and home with its lively personality, it may shy around strangers depending on how early you started training your dog to socialize or greet visitors at home.

Being one of the ancient retrievers, the CCRs have a strong prey drive to chase after anything that attracts their attention, and for this primitive instinct, they aren’t friendly with pets like cats, rabbits, and birds. 

However, they gel well with other large dog breeds.

Like an alert watchdog, your CCR might bark low when encountering strangers, but not to an extent troubling your neighborhood. 

However, they will bark endlessly to vent out their aggression and depression if deprived of your company or mostly left alone at home.


How intelligent are Curly Coated Retrievers?

These ancient water retrievers are highly-intelligent, as they were once dependable companions of the British hunters for their fast learning ability and following commands.

According to a canine psychologist, Curly Coated Retriever obeys its owner 50% of the time and takes around 25 to 40 repetitions to learn new commands.

And because of this brilliant trait, these majestic retrievers can adapt anywhere and are easy to train. 

But, as a primitive hunting dog, their strong-willed temperament can create some issues for first-time owners. 

So, if you are not confident in taming their independent nature, avoid getting one out of sudden curiosity.

Though extremely intelligent, the CCR can exhibit different shades of temperament that need your loving attention to shape them into well-behaving dogs, especially around strangers. 

Lack of early socializing or delaying can make them aloof around strangers and even sour the equation with you.

To hone and support your Curly’s intelligence, involve it in brainstorming games like hiding and seek kibbles and fun toys since puppyhood, besides regular physical activities and later up the level as they grow. 

As they are intelligent, repeating the same activities or games, again and again, will bore them very soon. 

So make sure you are intelligent enough to sense and act according to your Curly’s volatile temperament.


How easy is it to train a Curly Coated Retriever?

If you have cherishable pasts with free-spirited canines, training the Curly Coated Retriever will be easier. 

These upland water retrievers scored an impressive 4 out of 5 on the intelligence meter that speaks it all.

To make training your CCR more rewarding and exciting, you can learn unique dog training tips and tricks to keep the daily session interesting. 

Out of their ancient instinct, they are always eager to please and quickly learn new commands or adapt a different training regime to impress and claim treats from you. 

All a CCR needs is a confident and compassionate parent who can overpower its free-spirited nature to transform it into a calm and obedient family dog. 

To get the best out of your Curly, you must start training it from its 9th month to socialize and bond with other pets in the family. 

If you have a spacious lawn, leave your CCR free and take it out on 30 minutes of a daily walk to keep up its lively spirit.

Lack of your company and prolonged isolation can turn these lively retrievers aggressive and will bitter the bond between you two.


What type of hunting is best for Curly Coated Retriever?

Curly Coated Retrievers are skilled hunters with exceptional retrieving skills to chase and hunt down ducks, quail, waterfowl, and other small games on land and in water.

Often referred to as ‘meat dogs’ by the British hunters in the mid 15th century, the CCR used to dominate the icy marshlands and hunt birds even during the night, confirming their exceptional sense of sniffing and tracking.

To keep your Curly Coated Retriever in good shape physically and mentally, plan occasional fishing and hunting trips with them in the nearby water bodies or marshes and allow them to do what they are best at. 

The more you keep your CCR active out on the lawn or take on camping or adventurous trips, the more it will benefit their holistic wellbeing.

If you often go fishing, take your Curly Coated Retriever with you to increase your chances of fetching a good catch that you alone will hardly be able to do.


Curly Coated Retriever Lifespan

Curly Coated Retrievers are the purest breed of retrievers to own as a perfect hunting and loving family companion. 

These large ancient retrievers are low shedding dogs and survive healthily for up to 9 – 12 years if raised through an active daily routine.

Since they are highly athletic and thrive on daily activities like retrieving in the swamps, long walks, and high-quality dog food, make sure to give them an environment so that they can thrive. 

Apart from this start training your Curly Coated Retriever puppy early, socializing with strangers and pets as they are a bit reserved by nature. 

Basically, the more you keep your retriever active, the greater will be its lifespan.


Common Health Issues Associated With Curly Coated Retriever

Thankfully Curly Coated Retrievers are not over breed like other highly in-demand retrievers in the market and hence possess a stronger immunity. 

But still, that doesn’t make them totally immune. 

They are vulnerable to developing some common diseases like hip dysplasia.

Hip dysplasia is a staple among most active or athletic dogs and Curly Coated Retrievers are no exception. 

To prevent your CCR from getting arthritis and joint pain don’t let them gain extra weight and jump from heights. 

Other diseases that trouble Curly Coated Retrievers are epilepsy, eye problems, gastric torsion (severe bloating), and glycogen storage disease.


Final Thoughts

The rare yet much-cherished one from the lovely and lively Retriever family, the Curly Coated Retrievers makes a great addition to your family as a loving and alert watchdog. 

These large and elegant water retrievers are easily adaptable anywhere, making them a perfect choice for both country and city dwellers. 

However, if you are from the hot and humid tropics, it’s better to avoid these dogs that were once bred to retrieve in the icy cold marshes.

Oozing a childish side till its 3rd year, you will hardly find any difference with its other family peers except for the lovely curls.


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About Me

I am Chhavi Kumari, passionate dog lover and devoted blogger sharing tips, insights, and love for all things canine. Honoring the memory of cherished Dobermans while inspiring a happy, healthy life with your furry companion.

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