Flat coated Retriever

Like every breed, the Flat coated Retriever is not the right fit for every home. Based on the breed’s typical traits:

• Use plenty of food and toy rewards.
• Include tugging, retrieving and scent games to keep them engaged.
• Keep sessions rewarding, fun and varied rather than repetitive.
• Work on recall together, as there are tempting scents everywhere for them to explore.

• Children

  Usually better with older, calmer children.

• Other dogs

  Usually sociable with other dogs.

• Flats and smaller homes

  Usually needs a roomy home.

• Garden

  A secure garden is strongly advised.

• Being left alone

  Usually copes only with short periods alone.

• First-time owners

  Some dog experience helps.

Not yet reviewed by a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice: speak to your vet about your own dog’s health.

• Glaucoma

  A painful condition in which pressure builds up in the eye. The Royal Kennel Club strongly recommends eye testing, including gonioscopy for pectinate ligament abnormality, under the BVA/KC/ISDS Eye Scheme before breeding.

• Histiocytic sarcoma

  A serious type of cancer that starts in a particular type of immune cell.

• Hip dysplasia

  The hip joint does not develop properly. Hip testing under the BVA/KC Hip Dysplasia Scheme is recommended.

• Elbow dysplasia

  Abnormal development of the elbow joint. Elbow testing under the BVA/KC Elbow Dysplasia Scheme is recommended.

• Bloating and stomach problems

  The breed is prone to bloating and stomach problems, and smaller, more frequent meals can help reduce the risk.

Responsible breeders and rescues are happy to talk about health, and any pressure to decide quickly is a reason to walk away. Before taking a Flat coated Retriever home, it is reasonable to ask about:

• Health testing of the parents. Ask which health tests the parents have had for conditions known in the breed, and to see the results.
• Veterinary and vaccination records. Puppies should have had a first vaccination and a vet check, with records you can take home.
• Microchip information. In England, Scotland and Wales puppies must be microchipped and registered by eight weeks old. Ask who the chip is registered to and how the transfer works.
• Registration paperwork. Registration papers, where they apply, record pedigree. They do not by themselves prove health or how a puppy was raised.

There are two costs: bringing a Flat coated Retriever home, and looking after one well. Puppy prices depend on the breeder, health testing and demand; the adverts below show what sellers are asking today.

Ongoing costs are the ones new owners most often underestimate: food, insurance (which usually rises with age), routine vet care, vaccinations and parasite treatment, dental care, grooming, training, bedding and equipment, and boarding or a sitter for holidays. Budget for the whole of the dog’s life, typically up to 10 years, not just the first year.

If you have decided the Flat coated Retriever suits your life, take the same care choosing where your dog comes from. Meet the puppy in person, see it with its mother, and look at how the litter is raised.

• Check who you are dealing with: every Mypetzilla advert shows the seller type and what we have checked.
• Ask about health testing, vaccinations and the microchip before you commit.
• Take your time. Do not be rushed by deposits or "last one left" stories.
• Meet in person before paying anything, and keep conversations on Mypetzilla.

Flat coated Retrievers do come up for adoption, through rescue organisations, breed rescues and private rehoming, often because an owner’s circumstances have changed rather than any fault of the dog. An adult dog arrives as a known quantity: its size, coat and character are already on show.

Rescues will usually talk you through the dog’s history, any medical care, and the home it needs, including children, other animals and time alone. Be honest about your circumstances: a good rescue would rather place a dog once, well.