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AKC: Curly-Coated Retriever breed overview

Sporting group · England

Curly-Coated Retriever

Also called Curly, CCR

The tallest and perhaps most independent retriever, wrapped in a waterproof coat of tight curls you should never brush.

The Curly-Coated Retriever is one of the oldest retriever breeds, developed in England to fetch waterfowl and gamebirds. Its coat looks high maintenance but is surprisingly easy once you know the rules. Curlies are loyal and athletic, slower to mature than Labradors or Goldens, and more reserved with strangers.

Original AI-generated breed illustration

Weight

27 to 36 kg

59 to 79 lb

Height

58 to 69 cm

at the shoulder

Life expectancy

10 to 12 yrs

Activity estimate

90 to 120 min

editorial daily planning range

Adult-size estimate

30 months

approximate model input

Life with a Curly-Coated Retriever

Most people who meet a Curly ask whether it is a Poodle cross. It isn't. The breed was an established retriever in England well before the Labrador or the Golden, prized by gamekeepers for fetching ducks from cold water and pheasants from thick cover. Its ancestors are often said to include the old English Water Spaniel and the retrieving setter, with Poodle and St John's water dog blood possibly added during the 1800s.

The coat is the breed's signature and its most misunderstood feature. Thousands of tight, small curls cover the body, trapping air and shedding water so the skin stays dry after a swim. The face, forehead and front of the legs are smooth. Unlike a Poodle, the Curly needs no clipping, and unlike a Golden it should not be brushed: a brush breaks the curls into a frizzy mass that loses its waterproofing.

In temperament, Curlies sit between the classic eager retriever and a more independent hunting dog. They are affectionate, calm indoors when exercised and good with children who respect them, but often reserved with strangers. In the field they think for themselves and work well at a distance. They mature slowly, and many owners say the breed only truly settles at around three years old.

What stands out

Grooming

Here is the counterintuitive part: do not brush a Curly's body coat. After a muddy walk, rinse with clean water, towel lightly and let the curls re-form as the coat dries naturally. During the seasonal shed, which usually comes once or twice a year, dampen the coat and work loose hair out with your fingers or a wide-toothed comb used sparingly.

Read the full grooming guide

Illustrative grooming schedule based on our editorial coat-care score. Adjust it to the individual coat and professional advice.

Brushing
Once a week
Bathing
Every 2 to 3 months, or when dirty
Shedding
Light
Nail trim
Every 3 to 4 weeks

A great match for

active owners who swim, hike or do gundog work
families with school-age children
people who want a retriever that isn't everyone's best friend
owners who prefer a coat that needs no clipping

Think twice if

slow to mature, often puppyish until three
can be aloof or wary with strangers
some develop patchy thinning of the coat
rare breed, so waiting lists can be long
brushing ruins the curls

Personality and needs at a glance

Living together

Good with children

Good with other dogs

Open with strangers

Apartment friendly

Copes with alone time

Energy and character

Energy level

Playfulness

Easy to train

Barking

5 means very vocal

Care and climate

Grooming needs

Shedding

Drooling

Handles cold

Handles heat

How much a Curly-Coated Retriever eats

Illustrative calculations for neutered adults at midpoint breed weights, with food at 370 kcal per 100 g and 100 g per cup. These are not measured breed requirements. Use actual weight, the food label and veterinary body-condition advice.

Dog	Weight	Calories	Dry food
Female, relaxed lifestyle	30 kg	1240 kcal	335 g (3.3 cups)
Female, typical pet	30 kg	1420 kcal	385 g (3.8 cups)
Male, typical pet	34 kg	1580 kcal	425 g (4.3 cups)
Male, very active	34 kg	1970 kcal	535 g (5.3 cups)

Full Curly-Coated Retriever feeding guide Calculate for my dog

Care guides for the Curly-Coated Retriever

Feeding5 cups, in two meals. Working dogs during the shooting season or regular winter swimmers can need 20 to 30 percent more, while companions on moderate exercise often need less.Read more Puppy growthCurlies grow steadily and reach adult height at around 12 to 15 months, but chest depth, muscle and coat density keep developing until two to three years. Puppy coats are softer and looser, and the tight adult curls often arrive between 10 and 18 months, sometimes after an awkward, patchy stage.Read more Exercise5 to 2 hours of activity a day for an adult, ideally with some of it off lead in safe open country and some in water. Curlies are outstanding swimmers and love retrieving dummies from lakes or the sea.Read more TrainingCurlies are intelligent and cooperative but less eager to please than Labradors. They need a reason, and variety helps enormously.Read more HealthThe Curly-Coated Retriever is predisposed to hip and elbow dysplasia, several inherited eye conditions, glycogen storage disease type IIIa, exercise-induced collapse and some cancers, as well as a follicular condition that causes patchy coat loss. Bloat is also seen.Read more

Things owners are often surprised by

1Among the breeds shown at one of England's first dog shows, in Birmingham in 1860
2Tallest of the retrievers, with males up to about 69 cm (27 in) at the shoulder
3The curls trap air and shed water, keeping the skin dry after a winter swim
4Only black or liver are accepted colors
5Known among gundog people for working independently at a distance

Curly-Coated Retriever questions

Is the Curly-Coated Retriever hypoallergenic?

No. Curlies shed less than many retrievers, and loose hair tends to stay caught in the curls rather than covering the floor, but they still produce dander and saliva like any dog. Some mildly allergic people tolerate them better than a Labrador. Spending time with adult Curlies before committing is the only reliable way to find out how you react.

Why shouldn't you brush a Curly-Coated Retriever?

Brushing pulls the tight curls apart into fluffy strands. The coat then loses its structure and water resistance and can look frizzy for weeks. Owners instead dampen the coat so the curls re-form, and remove dead hair by hand or with a wide-toothed comb only during a shed. Leaving the coat natural is exactly what makes this breed fairly easy to keep.

Are Curly-Coated Retrievers good family dogs?

Yes, for active families who understand the breed. They are affectionate and gentle with their own children and usually get on with other dogs. They need plenty of exercise and can be boisterous and mouthy through a long adolescence. Unlike some retrievers they are often reserved with visitors, which some families appreciate and others find surprising.

Why are Curly-Coated Retrievers so rare?

In the early 20th century the breed was overtaken in popularity by the Flat-Coated Retriever and then by the Labrador and Golden, which were easier to find and quicker to train. Two world wars reduced numbers further. Litters remain few and far between in most countries, so expect to join a waiting list and to travel to meet breeders.

Do Curly-Coated Retrievers shed?

They shed lightly for most of the year and more heavily once or twice a year. Because the curls hold loose hair, you notice less on the floor than with many breeds, although tufts can gather in corners during a coat change. Dampening the coat and working it through with your fingers during a shed removes dead hair without breaking the curls.

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