Sporting group
Curly-Coated Retriever
The tallest, most independent retriever — elegant, athletic and slow to grow up.
Curly-Coated Retrievers are tall, athletic retrievers with a unique coat of tight curls. They are affectionate but more reserved and independent than other retrievers, and they need plenty of exercise and a patient trainer.
- Height
- 23–27 in58–69 cm
- Weight
- 60–95 lb27–43 kg
- Life expectancy
- 10–12 years
- Size
- Large
- Group
- Sporting
- Origin
- England
Coat: Dense mass of tight, crisp curls; smooth hair on the face. Colours: Black, Liver.
At a glance
Ratings describe typical dogs of the breed on a 1–5 scale. Individual dogs vary with lines, upbringing and training.
Temperament
Curlies are confident, loyal and often aloof with strangers. With their family they are affectionate and playful, and many have a clownish streak. They tend to mature slowly — adolescence can last until about three.
They are intelligent and can be independent thinkers who get bored with repetition. Some are protective of home. Early socialisation helps them become calm, discerning adults.
Living with a Curly-Coated Retriever
Exercise
Needs 60–90 minutes of vigorous activity daily. Swimming, retrieving and dog sports suit them well.
Grooming
Surprisingly low-maintenance: wet the coat and let it dry rather than brushing, which frizzes the curls. Seasonal shedding.
Training
Smart but easily bored; keep sessions short and varied. Positive training and early socialisation are key.
Kids & other pets
Good with considerate children and generally fine with other dogs. Can be reserved with visitors.
Time alone
Tolerates moderate alone time if exercised; bored Curlies may chew or dig.
Home fit
Best suited to a house with secure outdoor space; apartment living is hard on this breed and its neighbours.
Is a Curly-Coated Retriever right for you?
Take the Breed Fit quiz to see how a Curly-Coated Retriever matches your home, schedule and tolerance for shedding, barking and exercise — or find out which breed matches your personality with Dogsona.
Health
With good breeding and care, a Curly-Coated Retriever typically lives 10–12 years. These are the conditions most associated with the breed — not a prediction for any individual dog.
Hip and elbow dysplasia
Screened parents reduce the risk of joint disease.
Glycogen storage disease IIIa
An inherited metabolic disorder; a DNA test identifies carriers and affected dogs.
Exercise-induced collapse
Inherited weakness after intense exercise; DNA testing is available.
Cancer
Several cancers occur in the breed; check new lumps promptly.
Follicular dysplasia
Patchy hair loss, often on the flanks or thighs, seen in some lines.
Ask a breeder for
- Hip and elbow evaluation
- Eye and cardiac examinations
- DNA tests: GSD IIIa, EIC, prcd-PRA
Sources: OFA CHIC breed requirements: Curly-Coated Retriever; Curly-Coated Retriever Club of America. This is general information, not veterinary advice — talk to your vet about your own dog.
Cost to own
After the first year, expect roughly $1,500–$3,000 a year for food, routine vet care, preventives, insurance and supplies (US estimate).
- Food, medication and anaesthesia are dosed by weight, so every vet visit costs more for a big dog.
- Pet insurance for a puppy typically runs $30–$60 a month; premiums rise with age and breed risk.
History
Curlies are one of the oldest retriever breeds, developed in England by the late 1700s, likely from the extinct English Water Spaniel, retrieving setters and later Poodle crosses. Gamekeepers valued them for retrieving from cold water and thick cover.
The breed was shown in England from the 1860s, but declined as the Flat-Coat and Labrador rose in popularity. The AKC recognised the Curly-Coated Retriever in 1924; it remains uncommon.
Did you know?
- The Curly is the tallest of the retriever breeds.
- Brushing a Curly’s coat makes it frizzy, so owners mostly just wet it and let it air-dry.
- Curlies are sometimes called the “Peter Pan” of retrievers for their slow maturity.
Library guides for Curly-Coated Retriever owners
Training
Come (Recall)
High chase drive makes a reliable recall essential.
Training
Heel and Loose-Leash Walking
A strong Curly-Coated Retriever needs loose-lead manners early.
Exercise & Play
Fetch
A fast way to meet a high exercise need.
Exercise & Play
Hide and Seek
Brain work that tires busy minds.
Exercise & Play
Tug of War
An energy outlet that also builds impulse control.
Exercise & Play
Dog Walking
Getting daily walks right for a Curly-Coated Retriever.
Similar breeds
Frequently asked questions
- Are Curly-Coated Retrievers good family dogs?
- Yes, for active families prepared for a long adolescence and an independent streak.
- Do Curly-Coated Retrievers shed?
- Lightly for most of the year, with seasonal sheds.
- Are Curlies hypoallergenic?
- No dog is hypoallergenic. Curlies shed less than many retrievers, but they still shed.