Fun Flat-coated Retriever Facts For Kids

Moumita Dutta
Nov 14, 2022 By Moumita Dutta
Originally Published on Aug 05, 2021
Edited by Monisha Kochhar
Flat-Coated retriever facts about the dog breed are very interesting.

If you are a dog lover then you must already be eager to know more about this Flat-Coated Retriever. In this article, you will find all that there is to know about this Flat-Coated Retriever dog species.

This will help you know more about the dog breed in case you are looking to adopt one. It will also help you find information on how to give the Flat-Coated Retriever the best life.

Flat-Coated Retrievers are the retriever breeds that originated around the start of the 19th century. The Flat-Coated Retrievers are recognized as one of the world's foremost sporting breeds.

The Flat-Coated Retriever is as hard-working as hunting dogs but they are not always as serious. They love to stay at home. The Flat-Coated Retriever is a large dog and comes with a longish skull formation.

This retriever dog breed's eyes are dark, almond-shaped, and set widely apart. One of the most famous retriever breeds is the golden retriever and the Flat-Coated Retriever is often confused with them.

Flat-Coated Retrievers have flat and thick black coats. These coats are shiny.

Large heads are also a distinctive feature of these dogs. Golden Retrievers dog breeds, on the other hand, have double coats and are golden in color with long hair.

The similarity in both these species is also observed in their friendly nature and the overall need for activity. Both have high energy levels and need to burn off their extra energy while walking or playing. The Flat-Coated Retrievers shed in moderation and it is very easy to maintain and groom them.

The dogs of this breed need regular exercise and freshwater to replenish their energy constantly. Read ahead to know more about the Flat-Coated Retriever mix breed.

If you like this article about the Flat-Coated Retriever facts, you may also want to check our other animal facts articles on the Rottweiler Lab Mix and Victorian bulldog.

Flat-Coated Retriever Interesting Facts

What type of animal is a Flat-Coated Retriever?

The Flat-Coated Retriever is a type of dog.

What class of animal does a Flat-Coated Retriever belong to?

The Flat-Coated Retriever belongs to the class of Mammalia and the Canidae family.

How many Flat-Coated Retrievers are there in the world?

The Flat-Coated Retriever is a sporting gun dog breed that was developed in the 19th century to be able to stay on land as well as in water. There are plenty of them today and they enjoy good health as many dog owners love them and their friendly nature.

Where does a Flat-Coated Retriever live?

The Flat-Coated Retriever can live in grass plains and regions with moderate temperatures. This sporting breed is very well suited to live in farms and domestic houses. Extreme conditions put this Flat-Coated Retriever dog breed at health risks.

What is a Flat-Coated Retriever's habitat?

This sporting breed is very commonly found in European countries. Since they have moderately thick skin, they prefer moderate temperatures. They can easily live in houses and farmlands.

Who do Flat-Coated Retrievers live with?

Flat-Coated Retrievers are social and eager-to-please animals. Flat-Coated Retrievers need a lot of exercise to keep their best health. You can use their playtime for such exercise. When they are kept alone for a long time, they can start becoming destructive since they get bored.

They love to live in a family with fellow humans. They can also mingle with other dogs if they are trained properly from an early age. They are quick learners and thus, easy to train.

How long does a Flat-Coated Retriever live?

Unfortunately, this eager-to-please furry friend does not have a long life span. It is around 10 years.

If your furry friend lives till 13-14 years, it has quite a long life span for this breed. Since this dog is quite large, they are prone to several health conditions, especially related to muscle and bone. You need to pay special attention to their nutrition and health conditions.

How do they reproduce?

There are specialized breeding centers where the family owner can take these dogs for mating. The female tends to be fertile when they are in their heat cycle (two times a year).

The gestation period is around 63 days. The eggs remain viable for around 48 hours. During mating, the male dogs can show athleticism and healthy coat, but they can also get rowdy.

What is their conservation status?

The conservation status of the Flat-Coated Retriever is categorized as Not Listed. The primary reason for this being they are a popular breed of dogs and are often adopted or bought by dog-loving families across the world.

You can find plenty of them in European households. The only issue with the dogs of this breed could be health issues that need to be taken care of if you are thinking of adopting them.

Flat-Coated Retriever Fun Facts

What do Flat-Coated Retrievers look like?

The Flat-Coated Retriever is a great addition to the family. It is a hunting retriever that was mostly bred for those purposes. Their solid black or liver color and large body structure are majestic and strong.

Some of them can be dark brown in color. You should be wary of breeders who advertise yellow-colored Flat-Coated Retrievers. The Flat-Coated Retriever dog is taller than your average dog. It has strong and muscular jaws.

They have a flat thick coat. The tail and legs of this dog breed are well feathered. Waving tail, alert attitude, high energy levels are some of the typical flat coat retriever traits.

How cute are they?

Flat-Coated Retriever dog has distinctive features and powerful physique that make these creatures look extremely appealing. Flat-Coated Retriever puppies with their high energy level and rich colors are very cute to look at. Flat-Coated Retriever temperament is also very calm which makes them endearing. All in all, the Flat Coats are a pretty cute dog breed.

How do they communicate?

The Flat-Coated Retriever is a quick learner and an obedient dog. If it is staying with humans then it tends to respond and communicate with the owner by following the instructions.

Flat-Coated Retriever mostly barks loudly if they are hungry or angry. They also get restless when they get bored or are not having enough playtime.

They express their boredom through barks or wailing. Excitement is generally indicated by the excessive wagging of tails. Heavy breaths and palpitation are generally a sign to convey they are thirsty.

They have a usual tendency to chew things and run all around the house to express their displeasure. With proper training and guidance, the owner can make this dog very obedient and easy to communicate with.

How big is a Flat-Coated Retriever?

The flat coats are considered to be dogs of moderate length. The length of the body from the point of the shoulder to the rear parts of the upper thigh is slightly more than the height at the withers.

The female is generally slightly longer to accommodate the carrying of puppies better. A healthy Flat-Coated Retriever is 37-42 in (94-107 cm) long and 22.2-24.2 in (56.5-61.5 cm) tall.

Their sizes may vary because of nutrition and other health factors.

It is important for the Flat-Coated Retrievers to be in this size range for them to lead proper growth and healthy life. It is best to take your Flat-Coated Retrievers to a good doctor from a very young age if you notice any abnormalities in the size as it may lead to other problems ahead.

How fast can a Flat-Coated Retriever run?

They are a breed that was developed for hunting purposes back in the day and hence are very active and playful. The Flat-Coated Retriever has the ability to co-ordinate its body movement well.

They take long strides and have strong reflexes which help them maintain balance while running at higher speeds. They maintain a flow of their body while running and it comes naturally to them.

They can run at speeds as high as 31 mph (50 kmph). Higher speeds are achieved when this dog breed is extremely happy or excited and even when they sense real danger around them.

How much does a Flat-Coated Retriever weigh?

A healthy Flat-Coated Retriever generally has a  weight of 55-79 lb (25-36 kg). A lot of factors like nutrition and health issues influence the weight of this species.

So, if they are not in the specified range then it is best to consult a veterinary doctor. Since the Flat-Coated Retriever is a working hunting retriever it should ideally be lean and free of excess weight.

What are their male and female names of the species?

The scientific name for the species is Canis but there are no specific individuals names given to each of their genders.

What would you call a baby Flat-Coated Retriever?

The baby Flat-Coated Retriever is called a puppy or a retriever puppy. A bunch of them are called puppies.

What do they eat?

Most adult Flat-Coated Retrievers will need between three and four cups of food each day. They should be given food in small quantities multiple times a day.

This has got a lot to do with their nature. These dogs are known to grow slowly and hence their dietary changes need to be modified at that pace.

Since they are very playful, they would need food at small intervals of time to regain the lost energy level from activity and playtime. They are omnivores and eat fruits, vegetables, eggs, and meat.

A high protein diet is a must for these dogs in order to keep up their powerful body structure as well as gain more muscular mass and strength.

They also need plenty of fresh water to keep themselves hydrated. They love ice and cold water during summers.

Are they slobbery?

Flat-Coated Retrievers do not take too much maintenance. Only weekly brushing would be required unless they shed too much. They are moderately slobbery and generally do not cause any trouble.

The slobbering increases when they are hungry or thirsty. They also tend to drool more when they look at food.

These dogs can also drool if they sense danger or are anxious. A comfortable safe place for them reduces the amount of slobbering. If the dog slobbering more despite this then it is best to consult a doctor since it could be a symptom of some health issues that the dog might be facing.

Would they make a good pet?

Flatcoated Retriever dogs are intelligent, friendly, and affectionate, making them ideal family companions. They have a puppy-like playful temperament and are active dogs.

Flat-Coated Retriever dogs are well suited to country life with plenty of exercise. The owners need to provide the Flat-Coated Retriever dog with at least two hours of exercise a day for their good health. The retriever dogs of this breed may need a lot of your attention, warmth, and most importantly time.

Also, they would need more open spaces since they like to move around and run. Houses with swimming pools and large gardens are heaven for such dogs.

Did you know...

Paddy Petch is a very well-known author of books about dogs. He famously once said that the dogs of this breed are like the 'Peter Pan' of dogs owing to their puppy-like nature.

The Flat-Coated Retriever puppy and dog breeds faced possible extinction by the end of World War II post which their numbers steadily recovered.

These Flat-Coated Retrievers are also known to take part in various dog shows.  These dogs excel in tracking items and also do great in agility tests.

Flat-Coated Retrievers have a very reduced chance of hip dysplasia and other ailments when compared with other large breeds.

How much should a Flat-Coated Retriever weigh?

The weight of this species differs when it comes to gender specifically. The males are slightly heavier than the females.

Ideally, the weight of females should be roughly in the range of 55-70 lb (25-32 kg) whereas the weight of males can be anything in between 59-79 lb (27-36 kg). Dietary factors, exercise, and health conditions can influence the weight of these retriever dog breeds. The dogs may vary in size due to such factors.

How trainable is a Flat-Coated Retriever?

Flatcoated Retriever is a very inquisitive and intelligent among the retriever dog breeds. They are quick learners and moreover eager to learn new things. You have to provide the puppy with proper socialization training alongside obedience training for them to become their best selves. Their puppy-like playful nature also makes these dogs eager to please and hence very trainable.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other mammals including golden retriever Husky mix, or golden dox.

You can even occupy yourself at home by drawing one on our Flat coated Retriever coloring pages.

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Written by Moumita Dutta

Bachelor of Arts specializing in Journalism and Mass Communication, Postgraduate Diploma in Sports Management

Moumita Dutta picture

Moumita DuttaBachelor of Arts specializing in Journalism and Mass Communication, Postgraduate Diploma in Sports Management

A content writer and editor with a passion for sports, Moumita has honed her skills in producing compelling match reports and stories about sporting heroes. She holds a degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the Indian Institute of Social Welfare and Business Management, Calcutta University, alongside a postgraduate diploma in Sports Management.

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