by Scottie Westfall

Created on: July 17, 2008

"Is that a black golden retriever?" is an all too common question for flat-coated retriever owners. In reality, the flat-coated retriever is a different breed of dog from the golden. It is known for its livelier, more setter-like temperament. It can be slightly harder to train than its blond or red-haired cousin, and it is known for its high energy level. Unlike many goldens, flat-coats maintain much of their working instincts and behaviors. They also have not split into "show" and "field" varieties, which has already happened in both the golden and Labrador. The flat-coat is typically a hard-driving retriever with a great need for exercise to satisfy its high energy and training to channel its quick mind. For those who like a retriever dog with lots of energy and great sense of fun, look no further than the flat-coat.

Origins

Flat-coats and goldens share a close common ancestry. Both are derived from the wavy-coated retriever, which was an early retriever breed that was rather popular among the British sportsmen. It resulted from crossing the ancestral Labrador, the St. John's Water Dog from Newfoundland, with setters of various types. The St. John's Water dog is often referred to as the Newfoundland in nineteenth century texts, and this nomenclature often appears in official breed histories. However, this breed is a bit different from the modern Newfoundland dog, which resembles a molosser. The St. John's Water dog is the progenitor of that breed, but its form was much more like a Labrador retriever. It should be referred to as the St. Johns Water Dog in modern texts to avoid confusion with the modern breed called the Newfoundland.

In the nineteenth century, there were more breeds of setter than there are today. Among these was the Welsh black setter, which resembled an English setter with a solid black coat. Gordon setters were also probably used. Gordon setters are typically black and tan dogs today, but in their development, they came in a wide variety colors, including solid red. When one reads of red setters during the nineteenth century, especially in Scotland, one should not assume that the writer means "Irish setter." It could mean that breed or the red Gordon. Water spaniels crossed in, as were working collies, ancestors of the modern border collie. Both of these breeds gave the wavy-coat its signature long, wavy coat, which was trimmed with moderate feathering, which is similar to the feathering on the modern flat-coat and golden retriever
breeds today.

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