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The Flat Coated Retriever boasts several breeds in its ancestry including St Johns Water Dog, setters, sheepdogs and spaniels. The founder of the modern Flat Coat is generally regarded as Mr Sewallis Eevelyn Shirley (1844-1904) who founded the Kennel Club in 1873. The breed came about because of the need for an efficient retriever. At first known as the Wavy Coated Retriever, the name was later changed. In 1864, awards were given in British shows to two working bitches owned by J Hull, a game-keeper. The stock from these two dogs formed the nucleus of the breed with S E Shirley consolidating the progeny into a fixed type.

The elegance, quality and exceptional working ability of the Flat Coated Retriever made them very popular during the 1870s. By 1918, the Labrador Retriever had taken over in popularity and then the Golden Retriever usurped both breeds. Following World War II the Flat Coated Retriever was in danger of extinction. Thanks to the efforts of Stanley O'Neill, one of the great authorities on the breed, it was kept alive until the mid 1960s saw a resurgence of its popularity.

Arguably the most famous patron of the Flat Coat was H R Cooke who, for over 70 years owned the Riverside Kennels which was unique in numbers of quality dogs kept, and awards won. In 1915 the breed was registered with the American Kennel Club.

The functional Flat Coated Retriever is named for his dense coat which should lie as flat as possible. He only comes in two colours either black or liver. The fine to medium textured coat has a high lustre but requires very little in the way of grooming. A daily brush with attention paid to the feathers and feet for mud or debris collected during his ramblings, and regular checks of eyes and ears is about all that is required. Ideally the coat will have very little wave and will not be curly, woolly or silky. It should provide insulation and protection from all types of weather as well as from water and different types of terrain. The ears, front, chest, backs of legs and the lower surface of the tail should be thickly feathered with a longer, heavier mane over the withers and shoulders.

His clean lines, intelligent expression and happy disposition make him a handsome dog and an entertaining companion. He is elegant but strong with a proud carriage and always, always that gently waving tail.

The Flat-Coat ranges from 22 to 24 inches depending on sex and age. His life expectancy is around eight to ten years. He is slightly longer than high, of

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