Apartment fit
Apartment life is possible only with a serious exercise plan. The breed is large, athletic, and happiest when it has regular outdoor work.
SportingLargeGreat Britain
Curly-Coated Retriever
Weight
60-95 lb
Height
23-27 in
Lifespan
10-12 yrs
Coat
Curly Short
The Curly-Coated Retriever is a large British gundog with tight weather-resistant curls, black or liver coat color, and a confident, independent retriever temperament.
Old British retriever breed with tight weather-resistant curlsStandard colors are black and liverActive, confident, intelligent, and somewhat independentNeeds serious exercise, swimming, retrieving, or field-style work
Breed Names
Official, native, and commonly used variants
Curly
ConfidentIndependentIntelligentActiveAffectionate
Weight
60-95 lb
Height
23-27 in
Lifespan
10-12 yrs
Coat
Curly Short
At A Glance
Daily living snapshot
A quick read on energy, upkeep, and what day-to-day life with this breed usually feels like.
Energy
High
Barking
Moderate
Drooling
Moderate
Shedding
Moderate
Grooming
2/5
First-time owner
No
Overview
The Curly-Coated Retriever is among the oldest retriever breeds, developed in Great Britain as a versatile gamekeeper's and waterfowling dog. Its hallmark is a coat of tight, crisp curls that protects the body in water, cover, and weather.
Curlies are active, intelligent, confident, and often more independent than Golden or Labrador Retrievers. They are usually affectionate with family but can be reserved with strangers, so early socialization and steady training matter. They need swimming, retrieving, running, field work, or other real outlets to stay settled.
The standard coat colors are black or liver. Grooming is simpler than many long-coated breeds, but the coat should not be brushed into fluff. Health conversations should include hips, elbows, eyes, heart, cancer risk, bloat, and responsible breeder screening.
Temperament & Personality
ConfidentIndependentIntelligentActiveAffectionate
This breed tends to suit homes looking for a confident, independent, intelligent companion, with daily rhythms shaped by high energy, moderate barking, and moderate drooling.
Coat type
Curly
Coat length
Short
Shedding
Moderate
Colors
Black, Liver
Lifestyle Compatibility
Family Friendly4/5
Good with Kids4/5
Good with Dogs4/5
Good with Strangers3/5
Apartment Friendly2/5
Exercise Needs5/5
Grooming Needs2/5
Trainability4/5
Good fit if you want
- A family-friendly companion
- Room for routine exercise
- Confidence handling structure and training
Plan ahead for
- 5/5 exercise needs
- moderate shedding and coat upkeep
- moderate barking in daily life
Owner Fit & Everyday Behavior
Best for
- active sporting-dog owners
- homes with swimming, retrieving, or field-work outlets
- people who like independent intelligent retrievers
- families prepared for a large athletic dog
Not ideal for
- low-exercise homes
- owners wanting a soft easy retriever with minimal training
- small apartments without outdoor outlets
- people unwilling to discuss health screening and bloat risk
Common challenges
- high exercise needs
- independent decision-making
- slow maturity
- ear care after swimming
- bloat and cancer awareness
Barking & behavior
Curlies are usually not constant barkers, but boredom and under-exercise can create noise, restlessness, or destructive behavior.
Training style
Use rewards, variety, and purposeful work. Build steadiness, recall, retrieves, and polite greetings without turning training into repetitive drilling.
Grooming & shedding
Maintain the tight curl pattern with appropriate bathing and drying, check ears after water work, and avoid over-brushing the coat into fluff.
Care Guide
Exercise
Curly-Coated Retrievers need serious daily exercise: retrieving, swimming, long walks, running with conditioning, field work, and training. Young dogs need joint-safe structure rather than uncontrolled impact.
Grooming
The curly coat is usually maintained with bathing, drying, and hand work rather than frequent brushing that breaks the curl. Check ears after swimming, keep nails short, and monitor skin under the curls.
Training
Use reward-based training with variety and purpose. Curlies are intelligent and can be independent, so keep sessions practical, build recall and steadiness, and socialize carefully around strangers.
Nutrition
Feed measured meals for a lean athletic body. Discuss bloat risk, workload, growth rate, and joint health with a veterinarian, especially for active dogs.
Behavior & Environment
Energy level
High
Barking level
Moderate
Drooling level
Moderate
Watchdog ability
3/5
Guard dog ability
1/5
Climate tolerance
Cold weather4/5
Heat tolerance3/5
Health Considerations
Common concerns to discuss with your vet and breeder.
Hip dysplasiaElbow dysplasiaEye diseaseCancerBloat riskHeart disease
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Curly-Coated Retriever a good apartment dog?
Usually it is difficult. A Curly can live in a smaller home only if the owner provides substantial daily exercise, training, and outdoor outlets.
Does the Curly-Coated Retriever bark a lot?
Most are moderate barkers. They may alert or vocalize when excited, but lack of exercise is more likely to create behavior problems than barking alone.
Is the Curly-Coated Retriever good for first-time owners?
It is usually better for experienced sporting-dog owners. A first-time owner needs strong support and a real plan for exercise, training, and socialization.
How much exercise does the Curly-Coated Retriever need?
Most healthy adults need high daily activity, including retrieving, swimming, running, field work, or other purposeful exercise.
Is the Curly-Coated Retriever good with kids and other dogs?
Many are affectionate with family and can do well with dogs when socialized. Supervision matters because the breed is large, athletic, and slow to mature.
Does the Curly-Coated Retriever shed a lot?
Shedding is moderate. The tight curls need different care from a long feathered coat and should not be brushed into a fluffy texture.
What is the biggest challenge of owning the Curly-Coated Retriever?
The main challenge is meeting the needs of an athletic, independent retriever that wants real work, not just casual walks.
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