Tell me all flatcoated retrievers

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Nt9

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We have been thinking about getting a dog for many years, but now the time seems right as I mostly work from home. Yippee. Having done lots of research into different breeds we both love the flatcoated retriever, so does anyone on here have one or breed them and can you tell me the good and bad about them? Including how they get on with other animals, I have horses who are kept on a sheep farm and cats.
Many thanks for any and all information.
 
freinds of mine breed and work and show them, they have anything up to 16 at any given time, upsides they are really sociable people and animal dogs as a rule, that said my friends do sometimes have one that is a demon hunter but they have never had a horse/cat chaser, down side they love water and can be smelly because of it.
They are too oafish and a bit big (males) for my liking and some lines can have health issues. Go and meet some and see if you like their nature and stature in the flesh, if you do then do lots of research on the lines you find puppies from with regards to health issues.
Good luck
 
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I have 2 flatcoated retrievers and have had them for over 20 years.
Flatcoats are fab they are the Peter Pan of the retriever world in that they are slow to mature when compared to labs and goldens. They are very trainable and respond well to clicker training.
Always make sure both parents are health tested. Average breed hip score is now a total of 7, elbows should be 0, eye testing includes the test for glaucoma. The flatcoated retriever society also offer patella testing and some dogs may have been DNA tested for renal dysplasia but the test has proved unreliable. They are prone to cancers as are s number of other breeds and the latest KC health report shows the average life expectancy is 10 years old. Although I hear of more and more becoming teenagers including my old lady who was 13 when she died.
If you want s puppy then j strongly recommend going through the societies litter recorders. They have lists of puppies available and up and coming litters and will be able to judge which will be suitable for your needs. Look on the flatcoated retriever society website for their contact details.
Flatcoats are very sociable and in my experience get in very well with dogs, people and other animals.
I am very biased towards my breed 😀😀
 
I have had flatcoated retrievers for 40 years. I just adore them. Really make sure you check all the parents health testing.
In all my years I just lost one before her time at 8 years old to bone cancer, otherwise they have lived to teenagers.
Their temperament is full of fun but biddable and keen to work or play. They are are not sit about and do nothing dogs. Mine have all done obedience, gun dog work and agility. A constant wagging tail IS a flatcoat.
Mine have all been good with adults, children, other dogs, horses and will walk through sheep etc and ignore. However you do, as with any dog need to teach them these things and socialise them.
I only ever have bitches so can't comment on the males personally but the breeder of my present two has two males that have just as good temperaments as my dogs.
I have a 7 yr old black and a 3 yr old liver at the moment who are related.
Just wonderful dogs but make sure you have TIME before you commit. Good luck.
 
Just a thought the flatcoat champ show is on Sunday 3rd April at stoneleigh. Why not come and meet 400 flatcoats and chat to owners and breeders.
 
I met the flat coated dogs at the discover dogs section at crufts. I have to say that of all the dogs there these seemed to be enjoying it the most and were really engaging with the people saying hello. They looked like they thought they were in heaven!
 
abb, flatcoats always enjoy everything! They are such enthusiastic dogs, you just have to guide their enthusiasm in the right direction or they find their own fun!
 
Many thanks for all of your replies that's lovely and helpful, many of the things that have been said are what attracted us to the breed (very excited). Our plan would definitely be to go through the breed society, probably a bit of a difficult question but are there any particularly healthy lines I should look out for?

Another thought, does anyone run with theirs, we are near the Yorkshire moors, so beautiful walking and running. It good to hear that they are good for agility and obedience as we would like to do both these and maybe a bit of showing. Nothing to series probably though 😃

I would have loved to go to Stoneleigh but we are away climbing in Spain that week 😞.
 
If you're an active family I'd say they'd fit the bill. The ones I know never slow down, they're just bouncing with (positive) energy.
 
, probably a bit of a difficult question but are there any particularly healthy lines I should look out for




An open forum is probably not the best place to discuss certain lines and types. This is something to talk to Jenny or Shirley from the flatcoat society.
I do know that there are a number of litters available at the moment depending on where you live and how far you are willing to travel.

BTW my flatcoats can certainly run and last year Tiva was regularly doing 5k with me as I built up to do the Nottingham spooky sprint. One of the park run regulars was trying to get me to do Cani cross but I prefer her to run by my side rather than in front but that's my competition obedience head coming out 😀😀😀😀
 
NT9, have you looked at the Flatcoated Retriever website? They are a hugely approachable lot on there.
I had whippets and lurchers originally but fancied a change to a retriever, I thought I wanted a Goldie until I discovered Flatcoats. In those days there were no websites, I found a phone number and rang the Litter Secretary, she was very welcoming and as I only lived an hour away she invited me to her house. I met her show dogs that lived in the house as pets and her husbands dogs that were kennelled, he was a gamekeeper.
I had a wonderful time, was completely besotted even with the warning about high energy and a sense of humour. I have never looked back and have been a society member ever since.
 
I meet one regularly when walking my small dog (bichon). He's about 7 months old and just lovely. Full of energy and enthusiasm but not to the extent that he stamps all over my dog. If I were in the market for a second dog I'd definitely consider one, especially given the amount of walking I do.
 
I have a cross. Rottweiler x Flatcoat. He is full of beans even at 5.5 years old people still think he is a puppy.

Have met a few flatcoats on our canicross adventures and can definitely see the similarities. Not a dog for a 30min walk around the park though they need a job and a good walk.
 
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