Curly-Coated Retriever Breed Magazine features information, expert articles, and stunning photos from AKC judges, breeders, and owners.
RETRIEVER CURLY COATED
Let’s Talk Breed Education!
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Official Standard for the Curly-Coated Retriever General Appearance: This smartly upstanding, multi-purpose hunting retriever is recognized by most canine historians as one of the oldest of the retrieving breeds. Developed in England, the Curly was long a favorite of English gamekeepers. Prized for innate field ability, courage and indomitable perseverance, a correctly built and tempered Curly will work as long as there is work to be done, retrieving both fur and feather in the heaviest of cover and the iciest of waters. To work all day a Curly must be balanced and sound, strong and robust, and quick and agile. Outline, carriage and attitude all combine for a grace and elegance somewhat uncommon among the other retriever breeds, providing the unique, upstanding quality desired in the breed. In outline, the Curly is moderately angulated front and rear and, when comparing height to length, gives the impression of being higher on leg than the other retriever breeds. In carriage, the Curly is an erect, alert, self-confident dog. In motion, all parts blend into a smooth, powerful, harmonious symmetry. The coat, a hallmark of the breed, is of great importance for all Curlies, whether companion, hunting or show dogs. The perfect coat is a dense mass of small, tight, distinct, crisp curls. The Curly is wickedly smart and highly trainable and, as such, is cherished as much for his role as loyal companion at home as he is in the field. Size, Proportion, Substance: Ideal height at withers: dogs, 25 to 27 inches; bitches, 23 to 25 inches. A clearly superior Curly falling outside of this range should not be penalized because of size. The body proportions are slightly off square, meaning that the dog is slightly longer from prosternum to buttocks as he is from withers to ground. The Curly is both sturdy and elegant. The degree of substance is sufficient to ensure strength and endurance without sacrificing grace. Bone and substance are neither spindly nor massive and should be in proportion with weight and height and balanced throughout. Head: The head is a longer-than-wide wedge, readily distinguishable from that of all other retriever breeds, and of a size in balance with the body. Length of foreface is equal, or nearly equal, to length of backskull and, when viewed in profile, the planes are parallel. The stop is shallow and sloping. At the point of joining, the width of foreface may be slightly less than the width of the backskull but blending of the two should be smooth. The head has a nearly straight, continuous taper to the nose and is clean cut, not coarse, blocky or cheeky. Expression - Intelligent and alert. Eyes -Almond-shaped, rather large but not too prominent. Black or brown in black dogs and brown or amber in liver dogs. Harsh yellow eyes and loose haws are undesirable. Ears -Rather small, set on a line slightly above the corner of the eye, and lying close to the head. Backskull-Flat or nearly flat. Foreface- Muzzle is wedge-shaped with no hint of snipiness. The taper ends mildly, neither acutely pointed nor bluntly squared-off but rather slightly rounding at the bottom. Mouth is level and never wry. Jaws are long and strong. A scissors bite is preferred. Teeth set straight and even. The lips are tight and clean, not pendulous. The nose is fully pigmented; black on black dogs, brown on liver dogs. Nostrils are large. Neck, Topline, Body: Neck -Strong and slightly arched, of medium length, free from throatiness and flowing freely into moderately laid-back shoulders. Backline-The back, that portion of the
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body from the rear point of the withers to the beginning of the loin, is strong and level. The loin, that part of the body extending from the end of the rib cage to the start of the pelvis, is short and muscular. The croup, that portion of the body from the start of the pelvis to the tail set-on, is only slightly sloping. Body - Chest is decidedly deep and not too wide, oval in cross-section, with brisket reaching elbow. While the impression of the chest should be of depth not width, the chest is not pinched or narrow. The ribs are well-sprung, neither barrel-shaped nor slab-sided, and extend well back into a deep, powerful loin with a moderate tuck-up of flank. Tail -Carried straight or fairly straight, never docked, and reaching approximately to the hock. Never curled over the back and should not be kinked or crooked. Covered with curls and, if trimmed, tapering toward the point. Forequarters : Shoulder blades are very long, well covered with muscle, and are moderately laid back at about a 55 degree angle. The width between shoulder blades is adequate to allow enough flexibility to easily retrieve game. Upper arm bones are about equal in length with shoulder blades and laid back at approximately the same angle as the blades, meaning the forelegs are set under the withers. The equal length of shoulder blade and upper arm bone and the balanced angulation between the two allows for good extension of the front legs. The forelegs are straight with strong, true pasterns. Feet are round and compact, with well-arched toes and thick pads. Front dewclaws are generally removed. Hindquarters: Strong and in balance with front angulation. Thighs are powerful with muscling carrying well down into the second thigh. Stifle is of moderate bend. The hocks are strong and true, turning neither in nor out, with hock joint well let down. Rear dewclaws are generally removed. Coat: The coat is a distinguishing characteristic and quite different from that of any other breed. The body coat is a thick mass of small, tight, crisp curls, lying close to the skin, resilient, water resistant, and of sufficient density to provide protection against weather, water and punishing cover. Curls also extend up the entire neck to the occiput, down the thigh and back leg to at least the hock, and over the entire tail. Elsewhere, the coat is short, smooth and straight, including on the forehead, face, front of forelegs, and feet. A patch of uncurled hair behind the withers or bald patches anywhere on the body, including bald strips down the back of the legs or a triangular bald patch on the throat, should be severely penalized. A looser, more open curl is acceptable on the ears. Sparse, silky, fuzzy or very harsh, dry or brittle hair is a fault. Trimming-Feathering may be trimmed from the ears, belly, backs of forelegs, thighs, pasterns, hocks, and feet. On the tail, feathering should be removed. Short trimming of the coat on the ear is permitted but shearing of the body coat is undesirable. Color: Black or liver. Either color is correct. A prominent white patch is undesirable but a few white hairs are allowable in an otherwise good dog. Gait: The dual function of the Curly as both waterfowl retriever and upland game hunter demands a dog who moves with strength and power yet is quick and agile. The ground-covering stride is a well-coordinated melding of grace and power, neither mincing nor lumbering. The
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seemingly effortless trot is efficient and balanced front to rear. When viewed from the side, the reach in front and rear is free-flowing, not stilted or hackneyed. When viewed from the front or rear, movement is true: the front legs turn neither in nor out and the rear legs do not cross. Well- developed, muscular thighs and strong hocks do their full share of work, contributing to rear thrust and drive. The extension in front is strong and smooth and in balance with rear action. Balance in structure translates to balance in movement and is of great importance to ensure soundness and endurance; extremes of angulation and gait are not desirable. Temperament: Self-confident, steadfast and proud, this active, intelligent dog is a charming and gentle family companion and a determined, durable hunter. The Curly is alert, biddable and responsive to family and friends, whether at home or in the field. Of independent nature and discerning intelligence, a Curly sometimes appears aloof or self-willed, and, as such, is often less demonstrative, particularly toward strangers, than the other retriever breeds. The Curly ’ s independence and poise should not be confused with shyness or a lack of willingness to please. In the show ring, a correctly-tempered Curly will steadily stand his ground, submit easily to examination, and might or might not wag his tail when doing so. In the field, the Curly is eager, persistent and inherently courageous. At home, he is calm and affectionate. Shyness is a fault and any dog who shies away from show ring examination should be penalized. Minor allowances can be made for puppies who misbehave in the show ring due to overexuberance or lack of training or experience.
Approved October 12, 1993 Effective November 30, 1993
OfficialStandard for the CURLY-COA TED RETRIEVER CONTINUED COURTESY THE AMERICAN KENNEL CLUB
the body, including bald strips down the back of the legs or a triangular bald patch on the throat, should be severely penal- ized. A looser, more open curl is acceptable on the ears. Sparse, silky, fuzzy or very harsh, dry or brittle hair is a fault. Trimming-Feathering may be trimmed from the ears, belly, backs of forelegs, thighs, pasterns, hocks, and feet. On the tail, feathering should be removed. Short trimming of the coat on the ear is permitted but shearing of the body coat is unde- sirable. Color: Black or liver. Either color is correct. A prominent white patch is undesirable but a few white hairs are allowable in an otherwise good dog. Gait: The dual function of the Curly as both waterfowl retriev- er and upland game hunter demands a dog who moves with strength and power yet is quick and agile. The ground-cover- ing stride is a well-coordinated melding of grace and power, neither mincing nor lumbering. The seemingly effortless trot is efficient and balanced front to rear. When viewed from the side, the reach in front and rear is free-flowing, not stilted or hackneyed. When viewed from the front or rear, movement is true:the front legs turn neither in nor out and the rear legs do not cross. Well-developed, muscular thighs and strong hocks do their full share of work, contributing to rear thrust and drive. The extension in front is strong and smooth and in bal- ance with rear action. Balance in structure translates to bal-
ance in movement and is of great importance to ensure sound- ness and endurance; extremes of angulation and gait are not desirable. Temperament: Self-confident, steadfast and proud, this active, intelligent dog is a charming and gentle family companion and a determined, durable hunter. The Curly is alert, biddable and responsive to family and friends, whether at home or in the field. Of independent nature and discerning intelligence, a Curly sometimes appears aloof or self-willed, and, as such, is often less demonstrative, particularly toward strangers, than the other retriever breeds. The Curly’s independence and poise should not be confused with shyness or a lack of will- ingness to please. In the show ring, a correctly-tempered Curly will steadily stand his ground, submit easily to examina- tion, and might or might not wag his tail when doing so. In the field, the Curly is eager, persistent and inherently coura- geous. At home, he is calm and affectionate. Shyness is a fault and any dog who shies away from show ring examination should be penalized. Minor allowances can be made for pup- pies who misbehave in the show ring due to overexuberance or lack of training or experience.
Approved October 12, 1993 Effective November 30, 1993
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should have a crisp feel when touched and hug the body like a good jacket. Pressing lightly on the body coat, the small coat curls should have resilience, spring right back to former position. There should be sufficient density, as in hairs per square inch that provide the necessary protection. All of our breed specimens have white skin and the ability to see that white skin is never a good sign. These crisp curls are tightly wound and small which also aids in the feel of the coat, providing additional texture when felt by the judge. Looser, more open coats, and big curls are often soft to the touch and do not provide much protection in hunting environments. Coats that feel like an Irish Water Span- iel, American Water Spaniel or look like a Chesapeake Bay Retriever are all very incorrect for the Curly-Coated Retriev- er. Sheep-like or wooly coats, overly long coats, big curls, soft to the touch, poor coverage on the body or tail are all indicators of poor coat. Though a fully coated tail is part of the standard, we do have some young dogs who will exhibit a lack of hair on the tail scent gland until they reach maturity at 2-3 years
of age. However, a patch of uncurled hair behind the withers or bald patches anywhere on the body, including bald strips down the back of the legs or a triangular bald patch on the throat, should be severely penalized. (colored markers are sometimes used to miti- gate the appearance of the white skin). These bald strips and patches are the most heavily penalized items in our breed standard. Enhancement products and wet coats often ruin the texture and feel of the coats and can be used to mask the actual texture of the coat. Always remember that the distinctive coat is the hallmark of this breed and should be a high priority when judging the breed. Self-confident, steadfast and proud, this active, intelligent dog is a marvel- ous family companion, durable hunt- er, and adaptable to many different human activities. Though a charming and gentle family companion, bid- dable and responsive to family and friends, the Curly-Coated Retriever is often less demonstrative, particularly toward strangers, than other retriever breeds. Hence when judging the breed, a correctly-tempered Curly will steadily
stand his ground, submit easily to exam- ination, and might or might not wag his tail when doing so. They often appear somewhat “bored” or “not engaged” by the concept of a judge examina- tion. However, shyness is a fault and any breed specimen who shies away from show ring examination should be penalized. Minor allowances can be made for puppies who misbehave in the show ring due to over-exuber- ance or lack of training or experience. Any signs of aggression toward people or other dogs should be grounds for immediate excusal. Due to the breed’s loyal nature and the status of Curly-Coated Retrievers as a low entry breed, owners often show their own dogs. And the owner expe- rience levels in the show ring vary greatly, so judges should be prepared to have some patience to allow for a few glitches in presentation of the dogs which will be appreciated by the exhib- itors. As dog shows are a beauty con- test, all Curly-Coated Retrievers should be shown in a tidy, clean condition. The Curly-Coated Retriever is a won- derful breed that can be a rewarding judging experience.
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JUDGING THE CURLY-COATED RETRIEVER
T he Curly-Coated Retriev- er is a breed with a long and cherished history as one of the oldest of known retriever breeds. In the show ring, the breed should exemplify the virtues listed in the standard, and should never be judged as a “generic looking” retriever. Th is is a dis- tinct breed with speci fi c traits that provide the desired overall type that is sought by breed fanciers. First and foremost, the breed should exhibit Curly-Coated Retriever breed type. A good moving dog with little or no breed type is not a Curly-Coated Retriever. Th e overall fi rst impression of this breed should be of a balanced, athletic, durable hunting retriever. Th e breed should appear to have good length of leg, providing the necessary upstanding quality desired. An appearance of a squat or lower stationed to the ground dog does not re fl ect the upstanding appearance and is not typical of this retriever. Th e depth of chest from withers to elbow should be equal to the
By Kathryn Cowsert
length of leg from elbow to ground. Th e overall proportion is slightly o ff square with the deep ribcage going well back into the short loin. Th e mass and bone should never appear spindly or massive, but rather show a robust and strong balance exuding grace and symmetry. Th e breed standard calls for 23-25 inch bitches and 25-27 inch males. Th ey are allowed to be outside of this range only if they are “clearly superior” specimens of the breed, which entails having the proper outline and proportion, correct coat, and superior movement. In order to have cor- rect bone and mass, a bitch should weigh approximately 60-85 pounds and the males weighing approximately 70-95 pounds; weight being dependent on the height of the Curly-Coated Retriever at the withers. It is not uncommon for judges to be adju- dicating various height ranges in the same ring and same class. And judges should be mindful of selecting specimens possess- ing the best overall breed type rather than purely on size alone.
Upon fi rst examination of the Curly headpiece, the impression should be of a wedge-shaped head possessing paral- lel planes. Th e length of muzzle from tip of nose to center of stop should equal the length of backskull from the center of the shallow stop to the occiput. Th e breadth across the fl at or nearly fl at backskull at the occiput to the ears should equal the length of backskull. And the depth of the backskull on the side of head also should equal the length of backskull. All of these proportions give the headpiece a wedge-shaped outline. Th e slight tapering of the headpiece from backskull toward the muzzle is smooth with no inclina- tion toward any kind of cheekiness or dewlap. Th is smooth transition allows for good breadth of muzzle, open and large nostrils, and workman-like jaws able to carry large fowl or small furred game. Th e appearance of the wedge shape is apparent looking down from above as well as from the side, ending with a mild tapering of the muzzle at the nose.
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Th e breed standard states: “...A Curly sometimes appears aloof or self-willed, and, as such, is often less demon- strative, particularly toward strangers, than the other retriever breeds...” Best stated by Canadian Curly adorer, Melissa Kime, “While she is not as com- fortable being at the center of attention as her Labradorable siblings, she is extremely comfortable just being. She doesn’t want a ticker tape parade thrown in her honor, but she is happy to be there at the parade. A Labrador is not happy until the soiree thrown in his honor has begun while a Curly wonders ‘why all the fuss?’
She is not disinterested, she is uncon- cerned. She is not di ffi cult to train, she is quick to bore. She is not out of the pic- ture, she is happy to be a part of the back- ground, just squeak, squeak, squeaking her tennis ball. Th ere’s nothing fancy about my Curly. She is very happy to please so long as what pleases me also happens to please her.” Field Venue Presence Th ey are eligible to participate in many hunt tests and fi eld trials through AKC, UKC, and North American Hunting Retriever Association (NAHRA). Th ey
have recently been included in not only the retriever stakes of these tests, but the spaniel hunt tests as well, celebrating their attributes as an excellent upland hunter. Th ey are in the minority of numbers at many tests, but the trend is changing, more are representing all over the US each weekend. Th e Master Hunter (MH) title is the highest level in the AKC hunt test system. For perspective, the breed has only had 11 Master Hunters in its history, but 6 of them have earned their titles in the last fi ve years with more on the way to their titles this year. Evidence of their versatility, of the 11 Master Hunt- ers, 8 are conformation show Champions
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(Ch), one with a Grand Champion (GCH), and most have additional obedience, agil- ity, and therapy dog titles as well. Th ere are approximately 120 AKC Junior Hunters in the breed and 28 Senior Hunters, also num- bers that are steadily increasing. We recently had a GCH member of the breed earn the breed’s fi rst Quali fi ed All Age status at an all-breed fi eld trial and have had a hand- ful with fi eld trial ribbons throughout the breed’s history. Th e Curly-Coated Retriever Club of America hosts an annual all-breed AKC hunt test. Th e club also endorses three levels of working certi fi cate fi eld tests and an upland hunting certi fi cate test which are held by local clubs and in conjunction with the National Specialty each year. Larger numbers of curlies may never see an organized fi eld test, but are skilled hunting companions in homes and in fi elds all over the country. Th ey are uti- lized for both waterfowl (ducks and geese) and upland game (pheasant, grouse, quail, etc.) and can track wounded game as well. Th ey can be involved in hunting furred game as well such as rabbits and squirrels. Once an avid outdoorsman spends a day in the fi eld with a curly, they may never have another breed. Judging the Curly As a judge, analyze the standard for not just the what and the where, but also the why? Why is each part of the standard written, what is it advantage in the fi eld? Does that curly have a strong enough rear that can still propel them properly at 12 years old? Can the dog you are evaluating go all day in the fi eld? Not too many curl- ies are just standing around while hunting. Do they look functional while moving, not just stacked? Other Venues Th eir abilities are not just limited to the fi eld. As versatile, athletic dogs with a quick mind and a big heart, Curlies can be successful in agility, obedience, rally, lure coursing, dock diving, tracking, and many other venues. Th ey are loving, loyal com- panions to the niche of people who have them. And, take heed, Curlies are like potato chips, one usually leads to more!
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THE OUTLINE OF THE CURLY-COATED RETRIEVER
THE OUTLINE OF THE CURLY-COATED RETRIEVER
BY KATHRYN COWSERT
T he Curly-Coated Retriever has a unique profile that distinguishes it from other breeds. The characteristic silhouette of an erect, upstanding, athletic-appearing Curly-Coated Retriever is achieved through the body shape, proportion, and substance, coupled with the head and tail, that create a distinctive outline. In order to perform as a multi-purpose hunting retriever that is strong, robust, quick, and agile, the Curly must have the body of a true athlete. A Curly may be asked to retrieve large geese in freezing waters one day, and the next day be required to find, flush, and retrieve a pheasant or rabbit in the field or bog. All parts comprising the conformation of this canine ath- lete must aid in the accomplishment of its hunting tasks in variable environments. There is nothing frivolous or unnecessary in the compo- nents required for this workman-like breed. The distinctive Curly outline gives us our first impression of the power, athleticism, balance, and symmetry needed to be a functional hunting companion. The headpiece is wedge-shaped from the side, showing equal length between muzzle and backskull, with parallel planes. The neck is strong and slightly arched, flowing smoothly into moderately laid-back shoulders. The chest appears decidedly deep, with the forelegs set under those shoulders (withers). The ribcage extends well back into the body, with a moder- ate tuck-up underneath (flank) and a deep, muscular, short loin. The hindquarters consist of strong, powerful thighs, with a moderate bend of stifle and well-let-down hocks. The tail is straight. The overall body appearance or package should appear strong, robust, and athletic. Curly-Coated Retrievers are generally known as the tallest of the retrievers. You would deter- mine the height of a Curly by measuring from the ground, straight up the foreleg to the upper tips of the scapula, also known as the withers. At the highest point of the withers, males can range in size from 25 to 27 inches, and females are between 23 to 25 inches. To give a point of reference for this desired size range among other gundog breeds, the maximum height of a Golden Retriever or Labrador Retriever male is 25 inches, which is the minimum height for a Curly male. Hence, the Curly should appear taller than either of those breeds. Weimaraner males should be 25-27 inches and Gordon Setter males between 24-27 inches. This indicates that our Curly’s range of 25 to 27 inches for males suggests a taller than average, powerful gundog and the tallest of the Retrievers. Curlies are allowed to be outside of this desired range, but we have a necessary requirement in our standard, which states that Curlies outside of this desired range must be superior specimens in every other aspect of their conformation, with the key word here being “superior,” never ordinary.
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THE OUTLINE OF THE CURLY-COATED RETRIEVER
THE OVERALL IDEAL BODY LENGTH IS ACHIEVED BECAUSE THE RIBS EXTEND WELL BACK TO A SHORT LOIN, PROVIDING PLENTY OF LUNG ROOM FOR ARDUOUS DAYS OF HUNTING.
and the Gordon Setter, but not as much mass as a Bernese Mountain Dog or Mastiff. Hence, a 27-inch male would weigh about 95 pounds and the smallest 23 inch bitch should weigh at least 60 pounds. The Curly is not a lightly built or a bulky breed of dog. Rather, the breed displays the construction of an all-around athlete capable of spending grueling days retrieving in water or in the field in search of prey. All of these aspects of body, height, pro- portion, and substance blend together in a smooth, powerful, harmonious symmetry that gives the Curly-Coated Retriever its unique outline and silhouette. (As an interesting side note, the FCI standard and the entire rest of the world desires the Curly-Coated Retriever males to be 27 inches and bitches to be 25 inches. Only the AKC standard allows for a range of heights. Also, the FCI calls for a forechest that is visible.)
Proportion is an integral aspect of the outline. The Curly-Coated Retriever’s body appears slightly off-square, meaning it is only slightly longer from prosternum (promi- nent bump in the middle of forechest) to his buttocks than he is from withers to ground. The depth of chest from withers to elbow should equal the length of leg from elbow to ground. Hence, when comparing length to height, the Curly gives the impression of being higher on leg than other Retrievers, more upright, never appearing long or low-stationed. This characteristic upright appearance, or silhouette, adds to the smartly upstanding quality so desired in our breed. This upstanding feature gives the breed a certain nobility, a presence, if you will, and a proud carriage radiating self-confidence. Long cast, tubular appearing, long of loin or short of leg specimens are never desired. Additional, undesired length of body proportions usually come from too much length in the loin. And though these specimens with long loins may move well in the show ring, they are definitely not correct for the Curly-Coated Retriever. The overall ideal body length is achieved because the ribs extend well back to a short loin, providing plenty of lung room for arduous days of hunting. Additionally, Curly-Coated Retrievers must have sufficient bone, mass, and substance to balance their height as well as to benefit their power and durability in the field, navi- gating punishing cover, heavy currents, and difficult terrain. Their substance should be sturdy and robust, with nothing overdone, coarse or blocky. And neither should the Curly ever appear weedy, light of bone, frail or racy. Elegance and grace are achieved through the upstanding carriage and longer length of legs than the other Retrievers. The Curly will have more bone, mass, and substance than the Poodle, the Flat-Coated Retriever,
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Kathryn Cowsert is currently serving as Chairman of the Judges Education Committee for the Curly-Coated Retriever Club of America ( www.ccrca.org ) and has been involved with the breed since the early 1970’s. She is currently an AKC judge of all Sporting, Hound, and Non-Sporting breeds plus several Toy and Herding breeds.
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THE CURLY-COATED RETRIEVER
1. Your opinion of the current quality of purebred dogs in general, and your breed in particular. 2. The biggest concern you have about your breed, be it medical, structural, temperament-wise, or what. 3. The biggest problem facing you as a breeder. 4. Advice to a new breeder? 5. Advice to a new judge of your breed? 6. What’s the most common fault you see when traveling around the country? 7. Anything else you’d like to share—something you’ve learned as a breeder, exhibitor or judge or a particular point you’d like to make. 8. And for a bit of humor, what’s the funniest thing that you ever experienced at a dog show? IRIS ANDRE I live outside of Sacramento, California. Outside of dogs, I work for a healthcare organization and spend time with family. Overall, I feel that purebred dogs have improved and, in most part, due to advances in genetic testing, ability to access quality breed specimens across the world, and a high desire to focus on health of purebred dogs. The Curly Coated Retriever has made similar advances and we see this in improved coats, consistent type, and improved adherence to health testing. I have two concerns: First the mixed dog breeders espe- cially the Labradoodles who have become more popular than our small breed on a story and a song. They sell them as the best of two breeds but when a potential Curly owner meets our breed, the first thing they say is “Kinda like the Labradoodle but the Labradoodle is hypoallergenic?” Slogans for mixed breed to sell puppies and the popular movement away from pure bred dogs is a great concern. Second, overall breeding for proper structure and movement. We are seeing some lines become their own type due to close knit breeding decisions which is moving us away from our true standard. The biggest problem facing me as a breeder is taking the time to understand the pedigrees and potential health and temperament issues that might be present. Being a small club, we are pretty open with issues but as we move outside of our County and when we are adding new breeders, we sometimes miss important historical health and temperament information. Advice to a new breeder: take the time to get more than one person’s opinion and go outside your comfort zone of people to ask questions of longtime breeders. Advice to a new judge: As always use the standard for judg- ing our breed. Don’t let a lot of similar dogs in the ring make you believe that is the standard. First it is a Sporting Dog, fol- lowed by our key qualities: coat, structure/movement, type and temperament. Our breed is supposed to have a tail that is carried straight or fairly straight and never curled over the back. We have seen an increasing number of dogs with tails curled over
the back. We do not have consistent quality rears and need to continue to work at this. Curlies are generally shown by their owners and do allow some patience with some novice work in the ring by the handlers. We find our breeders enjoy showing in conforma- tion, hunting, obedience or agility and we don’t hand off our dogs easily. Remember to give them credit in the ring when excellent even though there is not a handler on the end of the leash. Curlies are a bit silly and mature late. I recall many a Curly when going around the ring will grab your dress and pull it down or rotate their head under your dress and lift it up for everyone to see. They do it with such ease and a smile on their face. SUE DAVIS I live in Vienna, Ohio and outside of dogs I am a director of admissions at a regional public university. I also enjoy going to amusement parks and traveling. I think we as a fancy know a lot more about breeding for health, structure, temperament, etc. then in the past. We have been able to improve purebreds as a result. We need to continue research and doing what is best for our specific breeds to insure they continue to thrive well into the future. I am concerned with the shrinking number of people getting in involved in breeding, showing, etc. Curlies are a rarer breed and we don’t have a lot of younger people get- ting involved in the breed. We need to encourage and foster young people. The biggest problem facing me as a breeder is finding appropriate Curlies to breed to is sometimes difficult due to the small numbers of dogs available. New breeders, please mentor with more than one person. Learn as much as you can from a variety of sources and opin- ions, and don’t be in such a rush to breed. Take your time and learn first. New judges—please become more familiar with the breed standard and also evaluate the structure of the dog along with the coat. It is not always all about the coat, the structure needs to be there too. The most common fault I see when traveling around the country is Probably lack of good fronts and/or rears. I have enjoyed very much showing as an owner handler. I would encourage anyone to actively compete as it helped me to become a better handler and showcase the dogs I bred. The funniest thing that I’ve ever experienced at a dog show? My husband owns a hearse and I once took it to a dog show. You can get a lot of crates and equipment in a hearse, but you sure do get some strange looks! KATHY KAIL We live in Southern California, not far from Disneyland. Our climate is almost ideal for one of my hobbies, which is working in our gardens as I love flowers! Which leads to
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curly-coated retriever Q&A WITH IRIS ANDRE, SUE DAVIS, KATHY KAIL, MEGAN MELLO, MARY KAY MOREL, LESLIE PUPPO, SCOTT SHIFFLETT, ANN SHINKLE AND BOB THOMPSON
another hobby, taking photos of wildflowers that I see during our travels. I love to drive to new show venues and see what I can find in the way of new-to-me wildflowers. My opinion of the current quality of purebred dogs in gen- eral, and my breed in particular: not good. Too much empha- sis has been put on presentation and “asking for the win”, and not enough on physical soundness. All of the sporting breeds still have a job, yet we see many BIS and NBISS win- ners with awful movement, weak rears, poor feet, incorrect coats and soft top lines. Judges in the show ring cannot evalu- ate whether a dog wants to do field work, but they certainly cannot evaluate if they can! More emphasis needs to be put on the dogs themselves and less on whether they are showy or how perfect their coats look. The biggest concern I have about my breed: the split between working and show. Like all other breeds, the show dogs are exaggerated—in our case, they are overly big, overly heavy and frequently too short bodied and/or too deep. The lack of balance and moderation means these dogs won’t last long and/or injure easily; many have trouble swimming! And this is only if they actually want to work since so many have little desire to retrieve or work with anyone. They make great pets as they lack drive and are more interested in socializing than anything else, which is very counter the correct Curly temperament or a working retriever. The biggest problem facing me as a breeder is finding worthwhile breeding stock, because of the above issues. Far too few dogs participate in any sports beyond the entry level, so it’s almost impossible to assess any of the needed char- acteristics of a working retriever. On top of that, due to the “popular sire syndrome” and the ability to ship semen world- wide, we have essentially no lines left without a certain pro- ducer of seizures, which is a health issue without a test and that is fairly late onset. Advice to the new breeder: Slow down! Study the breed, and dogs in general, before you even buy your first breeding stock. Learn about the health issues, if there are tests and how they are inherited. Study pedigrees beyond the first three to four generations; I had one breeder say that there were no dogs of my breeding in his pedigrees, yet there were three dogs of my breeding in the fourth and fifth generations in one of his dogs, and two in another plus more further back. How can someone avoid health and other issues if they don’t know what dogs are in the pedigrees of what they are breeding from? A good breeder not only knows where they want to go with their program, but also where they are com- ing from. Go see as many dogs as you can, especially those related to ones you own or are interested in buying/breeding to. Attend working tests beyond the entry level, obedience train and title your dogs so you can get a feel for the biddabil- ity and drives that are there, or, not there. Learn what physi- cal soundness is and why it is important; never excuse an ongoing fault. Advice to the new judge: Soundness and balance are always more important than details of type! I can’t emphasize that enough; unsound dogs with beautiful coats or a to die for head are worthless in the field. Unlike the popular quote, a judge should make his first cut based on soundness and his placements on type, especially in a breed that still has a job. Type is what allows you to tell what breed a dog is, details of type separate good dogs from great dogs if the dog is sound and balanced.
The most common fault I see when traveling around the country is cowhocks mostly, usually in dogs that are over- angulated in the rear. Also lack of angulation in the front, flat feet, wimpy temperaments. Apparently coat patterning— bald patches to the skin—is making a comeback too. Go watch dogs that are doing the jobs they were bred for. That more than anything else will teach judges and new breeders what is important in a breed as it will show what traits are needed to get the work done, and what faults will impede the dog from doing it. The funniest thing experienced at a dog show: well, it’s funny now. I was showing a dog in the group for someone else and was focused on making sure he was moving well and at the right speed, to the point that I ran smack into a con- crete post and knocked myself out! During the few seconds I was unconscious, I was told that I refused to let go of the dog’s lead; they thought they would have to pry my fingers open. Fortunately I wasn’t out long and not really damaged, and no, the dog didn’t even make the cut! MEGAN MELLO I’m an environmental compliance inspector and part-time dog show handler and live in Jacksonville, Florida. Growing up in the sport I have seen breeds change over time. Some have gone from good to bad and others from bad to good. For curly coats I have noticed that recently breed- ers are getting back to the breed standard. Curlies are bred to be an all-around dog, not just conformation or field work. It’s exciting when you can see a dog excel in all that it’s bred to do. Like every breed there are health concerns and things that need to be corrected. Luckily, the curly world is working together to hopefully bred out these issues. I have always said what is great about a Curly is you can shoot a gun off over the top of their head and they don’t flinch. However, if you do not work with a dog on anything that it doesn’t like you are for sure to have a problem on your hands. I for one do not like it when a dog is not approachable towards people. Coming from a handler’s standpoint this is a big issue and should be corrected. With time, patience, and lots of hands on practice the dog should easily be worked out of it. As a young person in this breed I have only bred one lit- ter. However, quoting from the breed standard, “To work all day a Curly must be balanced and sound, strong and robust, and quick and agile.” Sadly, I am starting to see some dogs that are losing these qualities. When breeding a litter, a breed- er should never go with the dogs that are easy to breed to whether its cost, time, or travel. The best dogs always take more effort but bring out the most reward. In a small breed like this the gene pool can be limited but if you do your home- work and look further back in the blood line you will find the answers you are looking for. It is not just what the sire and the dam look like. It’s also what the grandparents and great-grandparents looked like too and what they produced in other litters. Advice to a new judge: When judging this breed always go back to the breed standard if you are unsure of what to look for. Curlies are not like other retrievers, they are tall and should be tall, elegant, and have a sound movement. For a breed that is as a majority of the breed in the field a Curly should drive off its rear and have a solid body. For a judge, look for what you know and never guess on what you
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curly-coated retriever Q&A WITH IRIS ANDRE, SUE DAVIS, KATHY KAIL, MEGAN MELLO, MARY KAY MOREL, LESLIE PUPPO, SCOTT SHIFFLETT, ANN SHINKLE AND BOB THOMPSON
don’t know. Don’t ever be afraid to pull a breeder aside and ask more questions, we love talking about our breed. The most common fault I see right now in the breed is dogs that do not stand true and strong on their rear legs. May- be it is a pet peeve of mine but it is something that sticks out to me. I’ve grown up in this breed and will always have one in my house. They truly are the best family dog that is willing to please and work for you. I know sometimes it might be hard for a judge to give a Curly the recognition they deserve being a not so popular breed. Judges don’t be afraid, once you find a good Curly give it the honor it deserves. My first dog show was a fun match at six or seven years old. My father and I were showing two six month old Curly puppies, one of which was my first show dog and gave me some of the greatest wins ever. Anyways, I was in the front of the line and after all the judging was said and done and the judge was looking to pick the breed winner my father leaned over and said “Now remember who your father is.” Granted at that time he also had the top winning Curly of all times. However, being the smart kid that I am I replied back “Yeah dad, but he’s the judge (with a wink).” The judge laughed, my father laughed, and I won the breed. I think my dad knew at that point he had a handler in the makings. MARY KAY MOREL I live in Maineville (Cincinnati), Ohio. Overall, the quality of purebred dogs is high and the qual- ity of Curlies has improved significantly over the past 20 years or so. We are seeing better breed type and coats and much less coat patterning in the ring. With such a small gene pool, we have to be extremely careful when making breeding choices to avoid the risk of epilepsy. Until we have a reliable genetic test for it that can identify the combination of genes necessary to produce epi- lepsy, every Curly litter has some risk of the disease. After several generations of clear dogs, you can start to feel “safer,” but epilepsy is can crop up unexpectedly. Since it often does not appear until a dog is between two and six years old, the affected dog might have been bred or its sire and/or dam might have been bred again. It is also becoming increasingly more difficult to find Curlies that are clear for the genetic diseases that we can test for, such as PRA, EIC and GSDiiia. Breeders have to strive for more genetic diversity instead of only using a few popular sires. I have struggled with infertility in my years as a Curly breeder. The high emotional and financial cost of missed breedings and small litters makes breeding Curlies truly an act of love. My goal has never been to make money, just to breed some fine dogs and hopefully break even. I have suc- ceeded in terms of breeding some really nice Grand Champi- on and Champions that have also been versatile performance dogs, field dogs, therapy dogs, search and rescue dogs, and loving companions. However, I have lost thousands of dollars on each litter. The price breeders charge for Curly pups has not kept up with the market price for other “rare” breeds of dogs. Only about 100 Curly pups are produced in the entire Unit- ed States each year. Some long-time breeders are no longer breeding due to their own age, declining health, and the high financial cost of producing litters. Not enough “new” Curly breeders are stepping up to fill the void. I currently
have two really nice three-year-old finished Champion bitch- es that should be bred sooner versus later. Because I am no longer working, I have to make some hard decisions about when or whether to breed them because of the high financial cost involved. The best advice to a new breeder is to learn all you can from the long-time breeders about pedigrees in terms of health issues before you breed, and also not to expect to make any money doing it. My advice to judges is to really learn the breed standard, study the illustrated standard that is now available, and get their hands on as many good Curlies as they can. Attend the hands-on sessions offered at the CCRCA Nationals and the Michigan Sporting Dog Association Judges Ed seminars each year. Contact one of the sanctioned breed mentors in your area. Curly people are happy to help judges learn. And remember, the curly coat is the hallmark of the breed. Don’t put up patterned dogs. The most common fault I see when traveling around the country is high hocks and gay tails. Longish ears and bad feet are also pet peeves of mine. If you see an outstanding Curly in group, give it some recognition, please. Curlies will always find a way to have fun, and it can be embarrassing. While waiting for my first Curly to be exam- ined in Sporting Group in Indianapolis many years ago, she decided to duck under my calf-length flowing skirt and pro- ceeded do her rendition of a Chinese Dragon dance. My des- perate attempts to extricate her while keeping my skirt from being flipped above my waist had the crowd at ringside laugh- ing uproariously. That day taught me to always wear bicycle shorts as well as a slip under my skirt. Another time, the same Curly’s collar unsnapped from my show lead during the exam in Group and play bowed and whirled around several times playing “catch me” before I could grab her. Needless to say, we did not place in group in either instance. LESLIE PUPPO I’m originally from California, now live in North Carolina. I think that the quality of our breed has improved since I started in 1986. We have better coat and better breed type. My biggest concern for the breed is the fact that we have new people in the breed that do not want to learn from breed- ers who have been in the breed for years and have a wealth of knowledge. People who are breeding litters without hav- ing a good grasp of the breed standard. We are a small breed and it is not difficult to finish a championship on a Curly. Just because you can put a conformation title on a dog does not mean it should be bred. My other concern is that we don’t have breeders that are keeping more than a few dogs and are not growing several puppies up from a litter to make sure the best is retained and used in the breeding program. I feel this is a problem in other breeds as well. It is difficult for most people to keep numerous dogs. In the past I have partnered with other breeders and shared breeding stock so that one person did not need to keep as many dogs. I think overall our breed is very healthy compared to other retriever breeds. Personally I feel that GSD and EIC are not big issues for our breed, especially since there are tests available and feel that some people are ‘throwing the baby out with the bath water’ when excluding dogs that are carriers or affected from a breeding program.
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The biggest problem as a breeder is finding stud dogs. Advice to a new breeder. Take is slow, talk to the ‘oldtim- ers’ and listen to what they have to say, learn from their expe- rience. See as many dogs as you can before you decide to breed a litter. Go to nationals, ask people if you can go over their dogs Advice to a new judge. Don’t get stuck on one thing, look at the entire package. Understand what makes a Curly differ- ent from the other retrievers. Please don’t take a handler’s word for what is correct or not correct, talk to breeders. Most common fault, right now we have a real issue with rears, long hocks and cow hocks, and tail carriage. It seems that we have improved our fronts, but the rears have suffered. SCOTT SHIFFLETT I live in Maryland. Outside of my dogs, I ride horses, and enjoy cooking and visiting with friends. The quality of purebred dogs overall is in good shape. Interesting to see new breeds being accepted into the AKC and learning about them. Every show/event provides an opportunity to learn. Overall the Curly-Coated Retriever Breed is in good shape. Overall the breeders are doing a good job of preserving the breed and being true to the breed standard. The Curly-Coated Retriever Club of America (CCRCA) provides their members and breeders of current health concerns/risks in our breed. I believe over the last 10 years the quality of the CCR has improved. However, we cannot be complacent. We must be vigilant in breeding and watchful of any lingering issues. As a breeder of CCRs, we strive to ensure that this breed main- tains the suitability of hunting and conformation in one dog. I would not want to see the CCR split for field or conformation like some Breeds. Without good structure, I don’t believe you will have a dog that Can Hunt all day. We want to keep form and function as one. The biggest problem facing me as a breeder is the CCR gene pool is extremely small. This often times makes it chal- lenging to find suitable mates. One of the biggest problems that I and others have faced recently is getting the bitch preg- nant and /or carrying a litter to full term. Some of this may be overcome by working closely with a reproductive veteri- narian. My biggest concern is that breeders are not always mindful of issues whether it be health, structure or tem- perament in the lines that one is breeding. A better in-depth understanding of pedigrees is needed. One should seek out advice from other breeders and ask questions. The CCR has a small gene pool. One should be mindful and knowledgeable about issues in a line and strive to improve what you are breeding. New breeders and even experienced breeders should seek a mentor and don’t be afraid to ask questions. I also believe people have a tendency to want to breed to “the flavor of the month”. In my opinion this isn’t a good practice. Be subjective and be honest with yourself when looking to breed a litter. A litter is a breeder’s respon- sibility from the day they are born until the day they leave this earth. A big issue that we are facing are dogs with weak rears. It is unfortunate but often times judges will go for quite a long time before seeing a CCR. Judges who are new to judg- ing CCRs or just haven’t seen one for a while should review the breed standard. The CCRCA now has an Illustrated Breed Standard, which judges should request. Judges need
to remember that the tight crisp curl of the coat is in fact the Hallmark of the Breed. Patterning on the throat and hind legs should be considered a major fault. Also, the Curly Coat is considered the tallest of the retrievers. Breeders need to research the pedigrees and use as many sources as possible to research the pedigree to gain a better understanding of potential health issues, temperament issues or structure. A new breeder needs to seek out a mentor. Breeders need to understand what they are producing. Take your time and evaluate your litters as they progress through the life cycles. For me as a breeder, I am striving to improve my breeding stock by concentrating on health, temperament and structure according to the CCR breed standard. It is also important to attend the National Specialty to see dogs that are not in your area. We all need to develop and improve our network. Listen to people who have been in the breed for a long time. ANN SHINKLE I live in Florida. I believe that our Curlies have progressed well when it concerns the quality of coats, improvement of temperament (very few shy Curlies have I seen lately); working ability in all activities that AKC offers now, as well as many other subjects. However, I do wish to stress that we have gone downhill fast with tail carriage (some tails are now carried at a 90 degree angle). The tail set, as it comes off the rear end, on the whole, is fairly normal in most Curlies BUT not the carriage. l believe that it was 19 years ago that a well known Curly breeder and judge from England pointed this out to all of us when she judged Curly Sweepstakes at our Specialty that year. Unfor- tunately, some of us have not followed this very worthwhile advice. The whole outline of the Curly is not as it should be when that tail is curled over the back of up in air. BOB THOMPSON I live on ten acres in Spring Grove, Illinois. Outside of dogs, I travel and spend time with my grandkids. Most breeds are doing fine. The most disappointing breeds are those where the working breed and the show breed have separated in structure and substance or where breeding to a judge’s standard has resulted in dogs that can no longer per- form as intended. Luckily that is not terribly widespread. There has been only rare divergence between show dogs and true breed standard dogs in the Curly-Coated Retriever world. That is due in part to the diligence of most breeders and to the rarity of the breed. Biggest concern is they will be “Doodled”. There was a recent sale to a “fill in the blank” doodle breeder. That is very concerning. The biggest problem facing me as a breeder is finding the best homes. My advice to a new breeder is to seek advice from current breeders. Advice to a new judge: please, please, please read the stan- dard for our breed. Please recognize that most of our dogs are not shown by professional handlers. Please be sure you reward the dog/ bitch on their own merits. S HOW S IGHT M AGAZINE , M ARCH 2019 • 309
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