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generations of breeding have attempted to remove all waviness from the coat, it is still possible to find the slight wave on some dogs. The legs are feathered in much the same as golden retrievers and setters, although the feathering is much more moderate on the flat-coat. The closest approximation to this feathering could be found on some working-type golden retrievers, which also have more moderate feathering.

Choosing a Flat-coat

Flat-coats can be good family dogs, but they do require more exercise and mental stimulation than typical show-type goldens or Labradors. They also can be slightly more difficult to train, but this breed is generally a rather easy dog to work with. Like all dogs that have been bred for a purpose, their instinctual natures will appear. These dogs have a strong genetic tendency towards carrying things in their mouths, and fetching objects to the point of obsession. They also may not be friendly feathered pets, such as parrots and budgies. One would hate see the family dog carry around the family parrot in its mouth! They can, however, learn to leave these pets alone.

If one feels that a flat-coat is for you, one should find a flat-coat breeder or check out any retriever or flat-coat specific rescue organization. When selecting a breeder, choose from someone who trials and/or shows his or her stock. The presence of these activities shows that the breeder evaluates his or her stock in the show ring or in trials. The breeder should do screenings for the dog's hearts, eyes, elbows and hips to check for inherited conditions.
The activities that a breeder might use to evaluate his or her dogs include field trials, working certificate tests, hunting tests, tracking tests, obedience trials, and agility trials, as well as conformation shows. A breeder who does not do these things may not be breeding for a particular goal, which also means that the breeder may not have checked for genetic conditions like hip and elbow dysplasia.

Choosing a male or a female really is a matter of preference, because both sexes tend to be easily trained and active. Males can be a little more stubborn and defiant than females when they enter into "canine adolescence" from four months to two years of age. However, both sexes make equally rewarding companions. Unlike more aggressive breeds, there are no large differences in behavior between the sexes in retriever breeds, with the possible exceptions of the curl-coated retriever and the Chesapeake Bay retriever.

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