How much exercise does a Curly-Coated Retriever need?
Daily exercise minutes, the activities a Curly-Coated Retriever enjoys and signs of too much or too little.
Expect 1.5 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. They also do well in scent work, gundog training, tracking and agility.
Under-exercised Curlies may become restless and mouthy or invent games such as stealing laundry. Exercise-induced collapse, an inherited condition found in the breed, can cause sudden weakness in the hind legs after intense activity; any dog that wobbles, drags its back legs or collapses during hard exercise should stop at once and be seen by a vet.
Curly-Coated Retriever exercise in numbers
Activity ranges are editorial planning estimates. The five-minutes-per-month puppy rule lacks scientific evidence. Adapt activity to the individual and seek advice for pain or exercise difficulty. PDSA puppy exercise guidance.
Editorial activity estimate
90 to 120 min
Puppy activity
Individual plan
adapt to age, health and development
Senior activity
Individual plan
adapt to comfort and ability
Size
large
27 to 36 kg
Energy level
Playfulness
Handles heat
Handles cold