Curly Coated Retriever as family dog?

[gnook]

Hi there.  We are looking for a family dog (our daughter is 13) and are keen to hear your thoughts on Curly Coated Retrievers.  

 

I guess our ideal dog would be mid-large size, intelligent, trainable, affectionate, playful without being boisterous, a good watchdog without being aggressive, moderately active with low-maintenance / low shedding coat.  And while we understand the need for training, exercise and stimulation, we have to be realistic in that we are all at work / school full time, so the dog would likely be on it's own from around 8.30-3.30.

 

We have looked closely at Lagottos, Labs & Standard Poodles.  But for now the CCR seems best fit.  

What do you think?

 

[RuralPug]

You MIGHT get a good fit with an adult dog of this breed but I doubt that this is the best breed for you to look for a puppy.
Their puppyhood is extended, that is to say that they remain boisterous and exuberant longer than the other breeds on your list. 
They need extensive socialisation when young plus massive amounts of exercise. Not as easily trainable as a Labrador or Golden Retreriver, but certainly can be trained. A really dedicated family willing to give up several hours each day every day to training socialising and exercising the dog could certainly rear a puppy without problems, but the chances are that the average family at work/school every weekday will end up with a bored, destructive and timid dog.
You could contact the breed club in Victoria for more information. but based on your list this breed doesn't tick enough of your boxes for a puppy purchase to work.

The CCR is low maintenance for coat but does shed. To be realistic, you will need to choose EITHER low maintenance OR low shedding because no breed that I can think of is both. The hairless breeds need a fair amount of skin care, so are not low maintenance. The woolly breeds that shed very little need regular clipping and brushing between salon visits.

Of all the dogs on your list, I would say the Labrador Retriever, especially an adult, would be the closest match. But they DO shed, a LOT. And they are going to be boisterous as puppies, just like any other puppy. But they are the easiest to train of all those dogs on your list and the most adaptable and unlikely to become neurotic if constantly left alone during school hours. But they mostly make excellent alert dogs i.e. they will bark at a stranger trying to enter the property, but will lick him to death once in! 

And you might also want to consider Greyhounds, although they are not generally regarded as watchdogs as they are almost never aggressive to people. They shed, of course. but not as much as a Labrador or Golden Retriever. They are the ultimate coach potatoes LOL  so would be the closest to your "moderately active" requirement. They are certainly intelligent, but, like most of the sighthounds can be distracted by prey-like movement so should not be allowed to exercise off leash except in a safely fenced area.

Everything I've said about breeds refer to the average puppy in that breed. If you choose an adult you might find one that has all the pluses and none of the minuses, sometimes for busy families, let's face it, a puppy can be too much work and that is the time to consider an adult being rehomed for whatever reason.
 

[Rebanne]

Greyhounds are not allowed off lead basically anywhere in Vic except for private property. (or a slipping track if you have one near you or at a sanctioned Dogs Vic event)

[Rascalmyshadow]

While I've never owned the breed, over the years of grooming the ones I have dealt with have had terrible temperaments (much like the lagotto) including two that were owned by separate friends.

They are one of the few breeds I would watch very closely and not let my guard down while grooming, I found them to be snappy, timid and very quick to react badly to anything that was unfamiliar or they didn't like.

[Chloe08]

Hi

i don't know anything about curly coated retrievers but we have a standard poodle as a family pet and love her. She requires a daily walk/play and we do obedience each week. She needed a lot of stimulation particularly in her first year. She is very intelligent and affectionate. We have had a few issues with leash reactivity which I think is unusual for the breed (not unusual in general), as I know other people with standard poodles who haven't had these issues. We have her clipped every six weeks in a short manageable clip and it's easy to maintain. She is great with my kids. Good luck in your search. 

[Airedaler]

I've had a few CCR's over the years. Personally from my experience I disagree with many of the sentiments here. Clearly it is as people have found them however, my experience is vastly different.

They are a highly intelligent breed and tend to be aloof but love to be part of the family and to please you. There are some dodgy temperaments but there is in any breed. They are independent and can tend to be a one person dog. Ours never were although they did favour  one person in the house. One of ours was very protective. No one would have gone in the back yard before being introduced to the dog and she tended to want to be the one that instigated any contact with a new person. Her breeding was not the best lines.

I guess living with Airedales for many years gave me an idea of how difficult a dog can be to train, CCR's were easy compared with the Airedale. 

One thing that was a negative is that they can be escape artists. They do not like being confined. As a rule ours was fine in the back yard but try to put them in a crate and they would break out of it. I'm sure not all are like that though.

I did not find the puppy period particularly extended but then again I have Airedales. I would much prefer to have a CCR from a puppy than get an adult however, having said that there are some wonderful CCR's looking for a new home through the CCR Club of Victoria.

 

You do need to be very careful of where you buy the dog, the main breeders should be fine but do  not be tempted to go to a lesser known or BYB.

 

They do shed, but it tends to be in "tumbleweeds" not constant loose hair like a lab. 

Ours lived to a ripe old age and did not have any major health issues. Blot can be an issue with this breed.

Gnook, feel free to PM me if I can be of any help with contacts etc.

 

They are my second favourite breed.

Edited May 9, 2017 by Airedaler

[Dogsfevr]

I think it depends what you consider "Playful but not boisterous"

[gnook]

Thanks so much for the replies - I really appreciate your advice & will take it all seriously.

 

I spent quite a lot of time meeting CCR dogs, club members and breeders at the Dog Lover's Show and came away with a positive impression similar to Airedaler's post above.  I guess club members are always going to be breed advocates to an extent, but my understanding was that CCRs:

• Need exercise, but not an excessive amount - one 30-45 min session p.d. is sufficient, but two 20-30 min sessions ideal.
• Have an independent & mischievous streak, but are eager to please, hence trainable (though not as food-focused as Labs).
• Can be left at home during the working day without becoming destructive (according to owners of a 12 month old male who are away from home 9-10 hours p.d.)
• Shed seasonally (once p.a. for males / twice p.a. for females) with slight tumbleweed effect, otherwise are pretty much wash & wear.
• Make an effective guard dog, being more aloof than Labs and having an impressive bark.

So I will need to do my due diligence and reconcile this against some of the less positive posts above.

 

For the less enthusiastic posters - it would be useful if you could please let me know the extent of direct experience you have had with the breed.

Edited May 9, 2017 by gnook

[Dogsfevr]

I believe any good bred advocate should inform anyone of the cons of a breed ,no breed is perfect .

Just because one person has a 12 month old that sits home for many hrs happily doesn't mean thats true to the breed .

I own Gundogs have friends who show Curlies .

I am very up front about the cons of our breed & the issues the wrong home can face if the breed isn't in the right home.

This does not mean the breed is not the right fit for you ,it just means learning about all that can make the breed(any breed the wrong fit is just as important)

 

They are a powerful breed ,i have handled a couple varying from the most boring ,no personality dog to the over the top powerful ,fun loving male .I am use to strong dogs so the power did not worry me .

 

My advice find a breeder who is very honest about selling to a i gather a suburban household,picking a puppy that will best fit living to that lifestyle is a must ,many who  breed them live on properties with space,dams & birds so the dogs fit well. The same advice would apply to the other breeds just as much .

I live on a property so know my dogs can enjoy a very free  running life ,when i lived in the burbs it did require alot more effort which did not worry me .

 

A must is making sure the breeder health tests for hips/elbows & PRA in Curlies ( i have no doubt there are other tests )

Wait for the right breeder .

[RuralPug]

Most of my experience with curlies has been with the problem ones, helping families who are at their wits end with a destructive and timid (so reactive to strangers in various ways) dog. I have never actually had one as a grooming client, so can't speak to that. None of the curlies I have seen at shows have looked like problem dogs, all looked well socialised and confident,

 When you have a very large property where they can run all day rearing them is not usually a problem. If you have multiple dogs with similar play styles (which would be the case with most breeders) they stimulate each other and again, they don't develop problems.
Try asking the breeders if they can refer a puppy buyer to you, one who has a similar household situation and property size who had the puppy as an only dog and has successfully raised it to maturity. Then you can chat to that person and ask them their experiences.

[Pawfect Jewelry]

Hi,

I am new to the forum, when I seen curly coated retriever my ears pricked. I spend the first seventeen years with a curly, she was my best friend. When I was born she laid under my crib, when I started to walk she was by my side. Mum said i used to sit on her and pull her ears but she never growled. Susy we called her, would swim with me, fetch the ball, build sandcastles what wonderful times we had. Susy waited outside the front gate every day for me to get home from school, we would have afternoon tea together. Whenever i got sick she slept beside my bed if she could sneak past Mum. As time passed her back legs got weak but she still was with me everywhere I went.. Sadly on my 17th birthday Susy passed away, it was like losing a family member, she had been with me seventeen years. It took a long time for me to heal, but I have wonderful memories of my curly coat retriever who was loyal,gentle,intelligent and loving. How couldn't I not recommend a curly.

[PANDI-GIRL]

 We were in town last week and had a stop at the local park , a lady there had a Curly coat retriever, she told me he was very cranky with small dogs , so don't come to close, we had a chat about our dogs, lady said she found him difficult too manage some times at home & in public 

but that is the only ccr that i have met

[Airedaler]

Maybe this says more about the owner than the breed as a whole.

[PANDI-GIRL]

Yes quite right, Curlys  are just like people , some very nice , some not so nice