"I love kids, especially when they drop food!"
The Curly-Coated Retriever is a unique, family-friendly dog. They love exercise, especially playing in water, hunting, or retrieving anything you’re willing to throw their way. Curly-Coated Retrievers can be a little headstrong, but if you’re patient and can provide them with good ways to channel their energy, they’re wonderful companions.
Curly-Coated Retrievers love people and become very attached to their owners. In fact, you may find that you have a new, dog-shaped shadow that follows you wherever you go! If you raise your Curly-Coated Retriever around other animals, they will usually get along fine together, sometimes even becoming good buddies. They are known to be sensitive but can also be headstrong, which makes training them a little tricky. A delicate combination of sensitivity and strong leadership is the best way to raise a well-behaved Curly-Coated Retriever.
In keeping with their moniker, the Curly-Coated Retriever’s coat consists of small, tight curls that won't comb out when brushed. You’ll want to brush them before you give them a bath, which only needs to be done about once a month or less, depending on how much outdoor fun they've been having.
Curly-Coated Retrievers fit best in families who will be able to spend plenty of time taking them out for daily exercise and are willing to be patient with a somewhat headstrong dog. They usually don’t do too well with being left alone in the house when they're younger, so you’ll need a plan to for them if you work during the day. They fit best in a home with a yard but can live without one if you are diligent about taking them out to play every day.
Curly-Coated Retrievers need daily exercise, which will help them burn off energy they may otherwise spend chewing on your couch cushion! A daily walk, hike, or game of fetch will keep your Curly-Coated Retriever happy and tired enough to curl up in your lap for a snuggle at the end of the day.