Grooming a Curly Coated Retriever

Hair type: Curlies are a single coated breed with no undercoat. The water-resistant coat is very distinct with small, tight curls that cover every part of the body except for the forehead, face, front of forelegs and feet. The coat protects the dog from brambles and icy waters. Coat colours come in black or liver. The coat may have a small white patch, but it is not desired in the show ring.

Daily coat care: The curly coat is easy to care for. Bathe when necessary. Brushing and combing is not recommended as it makes the coat frizzy; if this happens simply wet the coat again and let it air dry. Some minimal scissoring may be desirable to tidy up scraggly hairs. It does need regular brushing during its shedding seasons. This breed is an average shedder.

Recommended groom frequency: Curly Coated Retrievers are relatively easy to maintain but should be professionally groomed every 2-3 months to ensure their nails, eyes, ears and coat are in good condition.

At Petmania Grooming Studios we have a full range of treatments available for your Curly Coated Retriever. If you get puppy, we recommend our Puppy’s First Visit at around four months, once your puppy has received all his vaccinations.

Diet

Depending on the age, size and activity level of your Curly Coated Retriever, you can expect to feed between 300g and 500g of high-quality dry food a day, divided into two meals. This breed does have a tendency towards weight gain and bloating so take care not to overfeed.

To help you choose the right food for your dog, speak with our Pet Care Advisors instore today any they will talk you through the best options available.

Activity Level

This is a high energy breed which needs a lot of exercise. Daily Long walks are necessary to keep the dog healthy both physically and mentally. These should be supplemented with jogging, running and swimming on a regular basis. However, it should not be let off the leash in an open area as it has a tendency to chase small animals.

Where to get a Curly Coated Retriever

There are lots of places offering dogs or puppies for sale in Ireland, but we would always ask that you consider adopting a dog first. Our animal rescue partners have 100’s of rescue dogs and puppies seeking a forever home and would be delighted to introduce you to them.

However, if a rescue dog is not for you, we do recommend that you choose a registered breeder and seek Irish Kennel Club registration papers which will confirm that the dog has been bred to their strict code of ethics.