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Oakwood Flat Coated
Retrievers |
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Breed
Info--Right dog for you?--Pros
and Cons If you wish to receive
more information about the breed, please contact the FCRSA club secretary at
devrfcr@ aol.com. For $6.00 she will mail out information about flat-coats
including what to look for in a breeder, a current list of breeders in your area,
and a list of planned or expected litters. The FCRSA also has a breed rescue - if you are interested in possibly rescuing a Flat Coat in need, contact the National Breed Rescue Chair at maplemanse@aol.com
Is
this the right dog for you?
by Sally Terroux The Flat-Coated Retriever is extremely versatile as a hunting-flushing retriever and are a responsive family companion. As a pet, the Flat-Coat is an active dog who adapts well to city life but requires considerable daily exercise and activity with family members. The typical Flat-Coat feels more "worthwhile" and expects to be admired when he is carrying something (anything) in his mouth. He enjoys playing in water, but is basically clean and requires only weekly brushing. He barks at strangers at a distance, but needs to be trained to not jump up joyfully on your guests. He is good natured and loves to play with children but usually needs training to play more gently with toddlers. His natural instincts are strong and he likes to dig and chew, but usually not to excess. He is a bright dog whose intelligence can get him into trouble if not channeled in the right direction. He is a happy dog who keeps his youthful outlook on life into old age. In the field the Flat-Coat is birdy and usually responsive, but he can be headstrong because of enthusiasm, birdiness or enjoyment of the run. He is very versatile and adaptable and at his best when challenged the most. Slow to mature (three years or more) early puppy play training is encouraged and good manners can be strictly enforced, but formal training should be kept brief, cheerful and enthusiastic. Flat-Coats are bright, catch on quickly and are easily bored. Bad habits should be PREVENTED through a combination of personal supervision and confinement combined with adequate exercise and attention. The gene pool is quite small since the breed almost died out in Great Britain during World War II. Breeders have experienced some problems with the patella joint, hip dysplasia and cancer. Breeding stock should be selected and bred only with great care and knowledge. The Flat-Coated Retriever Society of America encourages breeding for the original purpose of the breed (the hunting retriever) in order to preserve its hardiness, longevity and temperament. The
Flat-Coat is a charming dog to live with and can be trained to excel in a wide What to look
for in a breeder http://www.hsus.org/ace/11758 Responsibilities of ownership Again--the links below give more information more concisely than I can! http://www.dogscouts.com/responsibleowners.shtml |