Posted on 11/30/2009 9:06:14 AM PST by Nachum
After we rescued a beautiful black haired dog from our local animal shelter, we were were told it was "half Labrador Retriever and half "Golden Retriever". I happened to be watching a dog show video on Hulu.com and lo and behold, there was our dog. They called it a " Black Flat Coat Retriever".
We googled the breed and sure enough, the pictures left no room for doubt, that was our dog. Now that we are 99% sure that is the breed, a lot of the behaviors of the dog make sense. It is an extremely high energy dog. As a hunting breed, one site said it need 1 to 2 hours of hard exercise a day.
When we rescued her, we could not understand how such a beutiful animal was abandoned. A friend suggested that it might have been "dumped" by a breeder who thought the dog was unsellable at its age which was approx. a year when she was adopted.
Any tips out there from former owners of the breed?
There was a “curly coat” retriever (at first glace, I thought it was a big poodle) at a hunting club I used to frequent in Minnesota.
Maybe my neighbor does?
Beautiful dogs. We’ve never owned one, but have known people who have.
They are, as you note, a working breed. They need a job and a role to play. Train her well and be sure she always has plenty to do and lots of space to run around. She’ll reward you with a lifetime of devotion and heart.
Very Beautiful. She loves people too. They, apparently stay puppies in behavior for a long time. (which I can attest to)
yeah, I did. They’re a lot like Labradors. If you like drool, and a lot of exuberance, and the dog’s own personal view that it is an indoor lap dog, then the Flat-Coated Retriever is for you.
That's my theory, and I'm sticking to it. But then, as a long-time Weimaraner owner, I am utterly unqualified to discuss other breeds.
Your dog is the result of two of the sweetest dogs on earth. We have been intimately involved in Labradors for about thirty years and have known several Goldens. Having trained and hunted labs, I can vouch for their hardiness and devotion. I think the Goldens are not up to the Labs, but fine dogs.
I have seen a lot of them at AKC dog shows. I also know someone who breeds them. Go to the AKC website and I am sure there are links to provide info.
Most labs are high energy dogs. The breed standard on the AKC website will give you a good overview of the dog.
“friend suggested that it might have been “dumped” by a breeder “
Not by a reputable breeder. Reputable breeders normally have clauses in their sales that if a buyer changes his mind, if there is a health issue, etc., the dog goes back to the breeder. The reputable breeder out there takes responsibility for the dogs they bring into this world.
Did the shelter you adopted from have any other history? It’s quite possible that she got loose, perhaps when traveling, and the previous owner never managed to find her.
Many dogs that are Heinz 57 types get confused for a Flat Coated Retriever. Many black lab, golden retriever mixes are mistaken for a FC. Black lab/aussie mixes can also be mistaken as a FC.
Forgot to mention Newfie mixes also are confused for FCs.
I have a flat coated retriever. He’s all black and beautiful and very very sweet and laid back. He’s named in honor of the fourth of the baseball playing Alou brothers. The one who never made it to the major leagues. His name is Boog.
E-mail me if you have any questions. He is the greatest dog I’ve ever had and I’ve had dogs my entire life. We rescured him 24 hours away from the needle. What a tragic waste that would have been.
I agree. If nothing else, make him get the newspaper for you. They really love having a job.
Haven’t posted on FR in awhile, but had to chime in on this thread. We had a beautiful Flat Coat Retriever for almost 12 years, “Baloo.” Regrettably, we had to euthanize him just a couple of weeks ago as he had cancer. It was devastating for us. He was just the greatest dog...so well behaved, playful, and very friendly toward strangers. Everonye loved Baloo, and Baloo loved everyone. We also have a Bernese Mountain Dog, “Cosmo,” and now a new 3 month old Engish/American Golden Retriever puppy “Gracie.” It may seem weird that we got a new dog so soon after losing our Flat Coat, but Berners need companionship. Our home is truly the House of Dog.
Flat coated retrievers are the ancestors of Golden Retrievers. Flats were one of the breeds originally mixed to produce the Golden. They look alike because they’re directly related.
He was fearless (climbed to the top of a fire lookout tower up iron grid stairs on the third day I owned him, just to be with me), protective (defeated a 120 lb. German Shepherd who broke through a storm door to try and get at my paperboy brother), accomplished (he could catch a frisbee in flight at a full gallop), well traveled (accompanied me on several cross-country journeys and saw most of the lower 48 states).
He lived to be around 16 years old when the cancer finally took him. Most loyal and best dog friend I ever had. I miss him.
That picture is our dog. (Maxi).
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