SportingEngland

Flat-Coated Retriever

The Peter Pan of retrievers.

Weight: 60–70 lbs
Height: 22–24 in
Lifespan: 8–10 yrs

In short

The Flat-Coated Retriever is a sporting breed from England, developed in the 1800s as a gamekeeper's retriever on land and water, weighing 60–70 lbs and living 8–10 years. It stays playful and puppyish for years, and cancer is the breed's biggest health risk.

Is it right for you?

A great match if you…

want a happy, people-loving dog
love swimming, hiking or retrieving
enjoy a goofy, playful companion

Think twice if you…

want a calm, mature dog quickly
can't give it 90 minutes a day
want a long-lived breed

The daily plan

Exercise: 90–120 min
Training: 3–5 × 5–10 min
Treat limit: 135–150 kcal

At a glance

TrainabilityQuick study8.0/10

EnergyAthlete9.0/10

Calm at homeCalm indoors9.5/10

SheddingSheds seasonally6.0/10

What sets it apart

01
Long, flat glossy coat
The shiny black or liver coat needs weekly brushing and feathering care.
02
Lifelong puppy
Flat-Coats mature slowly and stay goofy and bouncy well into adulthood.
03
Wagging tail
Their constant tail wag reflects a cheerful, people-loving nature.

Size & coat

Specification	Male	Female
Weight	60–70 lbs	60–70 lbs
Height	23–24 in	22–23 in
Lifespan	8–10 yrs
Coat	Dense, flat, glossy coat with feathering on legs and tail

Side profile 22–24 in at the shoulder

Back in stock soon

Personality

Flat-Coats are joyful, outgoing and endlessly optimistic. They love people and want to be included in everything. Their energy and enthusiasm can be a lot for calm households.

With kids

Great with kids, though their bounciness can knock over toddlers.

With other pets

Usually friendly with dogs and cats.

With strangers

Friendly with almost everyone; not a guard dog.

Alone time

Prefer company and can become anxious or destructive when left too long.

Training

Flat-Coats are smart and eager but easily distracted. Short, fun sessions with lots of praise keep them focused.

How often

3–5 short sessions a day of 5–10 minutes each.
Socialize early (8–16 weeks)

Between 8 and 16 weeks, cover people, places and handling, and teach calm greetings early.
Self-control

Teach polite greetings and a calm wait before retrieves to manage their enthusiasm.
What it works for

Retrieving and play are top rewards. Small, high-value pieces help with new skills, with treats kept within 10% of daily calories.

Exercise

Flat-Coats need hard daily exercise, ideally with swimming or retrieving.

Exercise a day 90–120 min

CouchModerateAthlete

Good outlets

Swimming
Retrieving
Hiking or running

Brain work

Field or hunt training
Scent work
Agility

Best home

A house with a yard and room to run; apartments only with a very active owner.

Watch for Keep puppies off repetitive jumping and long runs until growth plates close.

Feeding

Adult maintenance for a typical Flat-Coated Retriever (60–70 lbs) lands around 1,325–1,500 kcal a day. Feed to body condition, not the bag's chart alone, and keep treats inside the 10% rule.

Puppy (to 12 mo)

Daily calories: 1,675–1,875 kcal
Protein: 26–30%
Fat: 16–20%
Treat limit, all treats: 170–190 kcal
Saylor's liver, suggested: 8–9 pieces a day

Adult Maintenance

Daily calories: 1,325–1,500 kcal
Protein: 24–28%
Fat: 14–18%
Treat limit, all treats: 135–150 kcal
Saylor's liver, suggested: 7–8 pieces a day

Active / Working

Daily calories: 1,825–2,050 kcal
Protein: 26–30%
Fat: 18–22%
Treat limit, all treats: 185–205 kcal
Saylor's liver, suggested: 9–10 pieces a day

Senior

Daily calories: 1,175–1,300 kcal
Protein: 24–28%
Fat: 12–16%
Treat limit, all treats: 120–130 kcal
Saylor's liver, suggested: 6–7 pieces a day

Compare every life stage

Life stage	Daily calories	Protein	Fat	Treat limit (all treats)	Saylor's liver, suggested / day
Puppy (to 12 mo)	1,675–1,875 kcal	26–30%	16–20%	170–190 kcal	8–9 pieces
Adult Maintenance	1,325–1,500 kcal	24–28%	14–18%	135–150 kcal	7–8 pieces
Active / Working	1,825–2,050 kcal	26–30%	18–22%	185–205 kcal	9–10 pieces
Senior	1,175–1,300 kcal	24–28%	12–16%	120–130 kcal	6–7 pieces

The treat limit is the 10% rule for every treat combined. Saylor's liver is suggested at about 2% of daily calories, as a small topper: liver is very rich in vitamin A, so it should not become a staple. Check with your vet if your dog has a health condition or a special diet.

Health & grooming

Cancer is the leading health concern, along with hip dysplasia, eye disease and luxating patella. Regular vet checks and early attention to lumps help most.

Watch for	Ask the breeder or vet for	When
Hip dysplasia	OFA or PennHIP hip evaluation	Once, in breeding dogs (ask the breeder)
Inherited eye disease	CAER eye exam by a veterinary ophthalmologist	Yearly in breeding dogs (ask the breeder)
Luxating patella	OFA patella exam	Once, in breeding dogs (ask the breeder)

Official health tests for breeding dogs

The OFA's CHIC program asks Flat-Coated Retriever breeders to test for these. Ask to see the results before you buy a puppy.

Eye exam (ophthalmologist)
Kneecap (patella) check
Hip evaluation

See the full list on OFA.org

Grooming Moderate year-round, heavier seasonally

Brush weekly and trim feathering as needed. Bathe as needed. Trim nails every 2–3 weeks, check ears weekly and brush teeth several times a week.

History

Mid-1800s

Gamekeeper's dog

English breeders developed the Flat-Coat from retrievers and setters for shooting estates.
Late 1800s

Peak popularity

They were the most popular gamekeeper's retriever in England.
1900s–today

Near loss and revival

Labs and Goldens overtook them, and numbers fell after World War II, but dedicated breeders revived the breed.

Questions owners ask

Are Flat-Coated Retrievers easy to train?

Yes. They are eager to please and smart, but easily distracted, so keep sessions short and fun.

Are Flat-Coated Retrievers good with kids and other pets?

Yes. They are friendly with kids, dogs and cats, though their bounciness needs supervision with toddlers.

How much exercise does a Flat-Coated Retriever need?

Plan on 90–120 minutes a day, ideally with swimming or retrieving.

Do Flat-Coated Retrievers shed?

Yes, moderately. Weekly brushing and trimming of feathering keeps the coat in good shape.

What health problems do Flat-Coated Retrievers have, and how long do they live?

They typically live 8–10 years. Cancer is the biggest concern, along with hip dysplasia and eye disease.

Is a Flat-Coated Retriever good for apartments or first-time owners?

Sometimes. They are friendly and trainable, but their energy needs space and an active owner.

Freeze Dried Beef Liver Dog Treats

Back in stock soon

We're restocking. When it's back, a Flat-Coated Retriever needs only 7–8 pieces a day, well inside the 135–150 kcal treat limit.

See the product

Where the Flat-Coated Retriever ranks

Health tests follow the OFA's CHIC program. The treat limit is 10% of daily calories for all treats combined. Every dog is different, so use this as a starting point and ask your vet about yours.