Flat Coated Retriever And Labradors

[Dewclaws]

Hi just wondering if a flat coated retriever is much different to a Labrador in temperament , intelligence and activity levels .

Thanks .

[Dogsfevr]

I would live with a Flattie over a Lab any day .

Flatties i feel are more sensible & a better all round dog .

The flatties i have been around have been very active & also very chilled out, more calmer but still a very functioning out going active breed & very bright breed

[Steph M]

I have a flat coat, but I don't know how sensible he is TBH...haha.

He is very intelligent but with that comes the fact that if he gets bored with what we are learning or thinks he doesn't need to do it or the payoff isn't that great, he will tell me to jam it and wander off. Still super focused on pleasing people but does not suffer fools, which unfortunately I often am.

At the same time as being very clever I've seen him do some dumb dumb things. He has no road sense or sense of self preservation, he is prone to swimming until he drops and will take off at the mere smell of water, which always worries me and he is a shithead with other dogs in the most loving way possible. Not good at taking subtle or not so subtle hints that some might not be interested in his special (very exuberant) greetings and always surprised when they snap at him or tell him to bugger off. I choose his playmates carefully now, huskies and border collies seem most commonly uninterested in being licked and loved up.

He is almost 3 now and getting less interested in playing with other dogs, but when one takes his fancy he still approaches with his tongue and whole back end wagging, he does have a good recall but we worked very very hard on that, some are more headstrong and determined than others, Gus is pretty soft and forgiving.

The exuberance isn't reserved just for dogs either, he licks people. Has been known to get the backs of your knees when you're not paying attention, he also wags his whole back end and a few FC people have given up on coffee tables, we have lost a lot of glasses and the tail thwacking against the wall near the bed when he needs a wee at 4am is the worst sound, haha. We have all copped a big thick skull to the head/groin before and teaching him not to jump is a constant thing. Give an inch and he will take a mile.

That is the other thing, he licks. They all lick. We have FC days out every year and everyone gets licked by everyone's dogs, if that bugs you I would honestly say look elsewhere, it can be trained out but I've never met one that didn't have a sneaky tongue.

Around the house he is awesome, he spends a lot of his day asleep but he is always where you are. I don't think he would cope being an outside dog although he does also shed a lot too.

I haven't been to the loo alone in ooooh almost 3 years... he sleeps on your feet, or next to you on the couch/bed. We have a 5mth old baby and I often find him asleep on baby's rug in his room or when he wakes up licking his feet through the cot end while the baby giggles. He instantly adored the baby and for that reason I don't know if I will ever be without one, he loves everyone and everything (I've seen him approach a dropped sandwich with his tail/back end wagging)

The only thing I would point out is that just because they can be so chilled around the house does not mean they do not need a loooot of exercise, they can run on very little but ideally a really good outing every day with a decent training session and in a perfect world a swim. Sounds great in Summer but wet dog in winter is hard and it wears thin pretty quick, especially if you have an inside dog.

While forgiving they do act out when bored, as does every dog, but being slower to mature (I know a few still waiting for maturity at 8) there is so much mischief. Common complaints from other owners off the top of my head are counter surfing, digging, destroying hoses and pot plants, washing off the line, uprooting little trees and plants and lord knows mine still don't have an outside bed because they all get eaten. Even when they're stimulated enough I think there is just a cheeky streak that is always out for fun.

Another thing to consider is the reduced lifespan and potential illnesses, while the small set of AU breeders are doing all they can the cancer risk is real and it does happen a bit. I guess it's just a risk you run for all the good stuff.

I don't know much about labs but if you have any questions yell out, you're welcome to tag along for a beach trip one day with us if you're interested to meet one!

[Dewclaws]

Great to hear . I currently own a lab puppy ( who I adore ) and thinking of my next dog down the track . I want something similar to a lab but a bit different . Flat coats look so elegant and handsome . They seem slightly finer boned from the photos .

Not many breeders in Australia though .

[Steph M]

There isn't many, and the wait will be a while but it's quality over quantity. Most are just amazing with info too, any possible question can be answered by someone as there is many decades of experience floating about, it is one of those breeds where everyone seems to know everyone and everyone is super supportive.

I don't know about elegant, I've lived with mine and seen him act distinctly not elegantly for too long. Finer I guess depends on lines too, I've seen some fine labs and some blocky flatties, aesthetics is the last thing I would take into account really.

[Podengo]

All the flatties I know are bonkers (in the best way! :laugh: )

[Steph M]

All the flatties I know are bonkers (in the best way! :laugh: )

100% agree. Hahaha.

[The Spotted Devil]

All the flatties I know are bonkers (in the best way! :laugh: )

100% agree. Hahaha.

Definitely :laugh:

[Dewclaws]

Reading up on the history they say they have similar origins to labs but crossed with setters .i can kinda see the setter look . There seems to be three well established breeders in vic . I waited 5 years for the right time for a Labrador so waiting doesn't bother me .

I like bonkers lol . My whole family is already bonkers with 4 kids, three dogs,cats, birds and fish .

I love wiggly bums and sloppy kisses . Might be a match made in heaven !

Is there many entrants in shows ? Might go to the royal this year on the day their being shown to meet some in the flesh .

[Steph M]

Email the FCRAV

http://www.flatcoated.org.au/

Rhonda will be able to assist there!

[Dewclaws]

Thanks . Will be another 2 or 3 years before I seriously think of a new pup ( I only do one pup at a time ) but will look it at going to some shows to get a feel about them . My Labrador is only 16 weeks but he has fit in so well and is the most wonderful dog that I gave really fallen for retrievers . I have owned only terriers for the last 20 years so these lovely biddable natures has completely sucked me in .

A flat coat might just be different enough yet similar to be perfect .

[Dogsfevr]

[quote name='Dewclaws' timestamp='1456294473' post='6790821'

Is there many entrants in shows ? Might go to the royal this year on the day their being shown to meet some in the flesh .

I would wait & go to the shows just before Melb cup ,its a massive weekend of shows including the Gundog club of Vic & many breed shows plus a couple of All Breeds shoved in

[sandgrubber]

Svartberg did a major study on temperament of dogs by breed, based on a huge sample of Swedish pedigree dogs ... all went through a standardized temperament test/

His data shows Lab and flattie as both being exceptionally human-social, playful, and fearless (the goldie was nowhere near them in these respects). Ie., bonkers. In breed groupings, flatties cluster with Labs, boxers, and AmStaffs.

http://www.appliedanimalbehaviour.com/article/S0168-1591%2805%2900160-7/abstract

I used to have a link to this article for free . . . it's probably around somewhere.

Edited March 1, 2016 by sandgrubber