The Flat-Coated Retriever Form & Function

This article was originally published in Showsight Magazine, July 2019 issue.

The Flat-Coated Retriever Form & Function

The Flat-Coated Retriever originated in England in the mid-1800s. Man’s improved ability to shoot game at a distance necessitated a dog capable of retrieving it, and Flat-Coats came to be for exactly that purpose. Early Flat-Coats were kept as personal shooting dogs and were favorites of gamekeepers. The breed was brought to type by Mr. Shirley, who was also the founder of the Kennel Club in England. As dog shows became popular, the handsome and elegant Flat-Coat became popular at shows. Gamekeepers and other owners brought their prized shooting dogs to show to compete based on their conformation. Flat-Coats were popular competitors in early field trials as well; for many years, they were the most popular field trial dog in England. When working in the field, Flat-Coats have excellent noses, soft mouths, and great heart. Watching them, you can’t help but see the incredible joy they have in doing their job. They are good markers and steady workers; they are also very smart and somewhat independent. They work with moderate speed and style.

They love to work and work with people and are always happy. This quality has made them a very multipurpose breed. Many Flat-Coats that win in the conformation ring also have initials after their names. The breed excels in any activity requiring a working relationship between dog and human. When judging the Flat-Coat, it is of paramount importance to remember the purpose for which the breed was created. The modern Flat-Coat is one of the few sporting breeds that have not diverged into a working and a show type. The same dog that wins in the show ring today should be able to run in a hunt test or trial tomorrow, and then go and run agility or do obedience. Many Flat-Coat owners are involved in multiple aspects of the dog game, and Flat-Coats easily transition between them. As owners, we prize and take pride in this ability of Flat-Coats to be beautiful and workmanlike, and we try very hard to preserve it. Flat-Coats are one of the few sporting breeds that do not have a division in type between the working and show dogs. We as Flat-Coat breeders are trying hard to keep it that way. We want our dogs to be able to do it all.

The Breed Standard of the Flat-Coated Retriever was written as a blueprint to describe the visual appearance and temperament of the dog, i.e. those things that make him a Flat-Coat rather than, for example, a Labrador. In doing so, it also describes the attributes that the dog needed to have to be a good and efficient working Retriever. I am going to discuss parts of the standard in relation to what is required from working dogs. The Flat-Coat is famously described as a dog having, ‘Power without lumber and raciness without weediness.’ Your first impression of a Flat-Coat should be that of a moderately sized, happy dog, with a constantly wagging tail.

He should appear strong, workmanlike, and with moderate bone and good substance. He should not be coarse or short on leg. He should be elegant, with gentle lines, all running smoothly together. He should not be refined, weak, leggy, or rangy. He should always be shown in lean, hard-working condition. Fat does not equal substance. The most important things that make a Flat-Coat what he is are his ‘silhouette, both moving and standing, smooth effortless movement, head type, coat, and character.’ The silhouette of the Flat-Coat is that of a dog with a ‘Long, strong clean one-piece head’ well set on a moderately long neck, flowing into a level topline. The body should be strong with a deep chest, prominent forechest, well-angled shoulder, long ribcage, and a moderate tuck up. The rear should be strong and in balance with the front. That tail should come off the back as an extension of the topline and should be carried level or slightly above the level of the back. In the water, the tail acts as a rudder, and a gay tail is not a very efficient rudder. The Flat-Coat is described as being longer than tall.

The length should be in the ribcage and the loin relatively short. He should never look square or cobby. All of these attributes describe a capable, workmanlike dog able to work all day under difficult conditions. The head of the Flat-Coat is distinctive and very different from most other sporting breeds. The skull and muzzle give the impression of being ‘cast in one piece.’ The skull is fairly flat and moderately wide. The stop is ‘gradual, slight, and barely perceptible.’ There should not be a down or dish-faced appearance. The eyebrows are prominent, active, and should not be confused with a stop. The stop should be evaluated in profile. The muzzle should be long, deep, and strong. The muzzle and skull should be approximately the same length. Strength of muzzle is important to allow the dog to carry a large bird for a long distance. Lips should be tight to keep the dog from getting feathers stuck in their mouths. Eyes should be almond-shaped, dark brown or hazel, and widely set. It is important that eyelids be tight so that they do not pick up seeds and debris while working in the field.

The head of the Flat-Coat is very important, but please do not consider them a head breed alone. A good Flat-Coat should have a good head but also all of the other attributes that make him a functional Retriever. The Flat-Coat’s personality is described as having a ‘happy and active demeanor.’ When judging a ring of Flat-Coats, you should see a lineup of happy dogs with constantly wagging tails. Flat-Coats should be shown standing freely and moved on a loose lead. A ring of Flat-Coat puppies is a ring full of joy and mischief. One of my first happy memories in the breed was showing my very first puppy. The judge had a corsage on; when she bent over to examine my puppy, she quickly lost that corsage. Fortunately, she had a sense of humor. I was mortified. They should never be shy, fearful, or aggressive; any dog showing these characteristics should be severely penalized. A dog that is aggressive towards other dogs or humans should be excused. Dogs must work together when out hunting or picking up and must all be able to get along. The movement of the Flat-Coat should be sound and efficient.

He must be able to work all day. His movement should be balanced with good reach and drive front to rear. His topline should be strong, level, and supple. He should not have a huge rear kick. This seems to be the fashion today, but dogs that do this do not move efficiently. They would quickly tire in the field. They generally have much more angulation in the rear than they do in the front, and although many think it is ‘pretty,’ it is incorrect and impractical in a working dog. Balance is the important word. Exaggeration is impractical in a working Retriever. There is a large range of acceptable sizes in a Flat-Coat, from a 21-inch minimum for a small bitch up to 25½ inches at the maximum for a dog. The size range is because a larger or smaller dog might be advantageous in different hunting conditions. Animals outside of this size range should not be considered practical for the purpose of the breed. Too small, and the dog might not be able to easily carry a large bird; too large, it would take up too much room in a duck boat or blind. Big is not better.

The breed is named the ‘Flat-Coated Retriever.’ The coat is therefore very important to the breed. It is first a functional jacket; it must be sufficient to protect the dog in all sorts of weather and cover conditions. It is moderately thick, straight, and flat-lying with sufficient fullness, length, and texture to protect the dog. It is not fluffy, silly, or curly; it may be slightly wavy. This breed was once called the Wavy-Coated Retriever, and this type of coat still appears in the breed. As long as it is flat-lying, it is not penalized. When in full coat, the ears, front, chest, back of forelegs, hind legs, thighs, and bottom of the tail are feathered. The coat should not be excessive. Excessive coat will pick up more burrs and weeds and impede the dog’s ability to work in heavy cover. The dog may have a mane of thicker, longer coat over the neck, shoulders, and withers. Sometimes this ends in the middle of the back, giving the impression of a dip in the topline, which is not real.

Please use your hands to evaluate the topline if necessary. The standard requires that the dog be shown in as natural a coat as possible. He should not be penalized for lack of trimming as long as they are clean and well brushed. Tidying of the ears, feet, underline, and tip of the tail is acceptable. It has become fashionable in some countries to strip or shave the necks of Flat-Coats to just above the sternum; they think this helps to show the neck and emphasize the forechest. I’m hopeful that our North American judges can tell the difference between a puff of hair and the actual forechest on a dog. We want our Flat-Coats to be able to go hunting tomorrow. Stripping his neck of all of its hair removes protection from brush, bramble, and leaves the dog more open to cold water or injury.

The standard states that, ‘Shaving or barbering of the head, neck, or body coat must be severely penalized.’ Dogs that are severely barbered should not be awarded first-place ribbons, nor should they be given group placements. Dogs with a proper coat should not need to be barbered. Our dog is a working retriever; he needs the protection his natural coat provides. For the same reasons, whiskers should not be cut off our dogs; they are sensory organs and help to protect the dog’s face and eyes from injury. Several words have been used repeatedly in this article: strong, elegant, moderate, happy, and workmanlike. It is important that a winning Flat-Coat be all of those things.