Curly Coated Retriever Club of Victoria
 

BREED STANDARD

🐾 Breed Standard

At the Curly Coated Retriever Club of Victoria, we are dedicated to preserving and promoting the integrity of the Curly Coated Retriever breed. Below is the official breed standard, outlining the ideal characteristics, structure, and temperament of this remarkable dog.

General Appearance

A strong, upstanding dog with a degree of elegance. Distinguished by its distinctive coat of small, tight curls that lie close to the skin.

Characteristics

Intelligent, steady, and reliable.

Temperament

Bold, friendly, self-confident, and independent. May appear aloof with strangers.

Head and Skull

  • Wedge-shaped in both side and front profiles, in proportion to body size.

  • Slight stop; foreface and skull of equal length.

  • Skull and muzzle planes parallel.

  • Nose black in black dogs, brown in liver dogs.

Eyes

  • Large, not prominent, oval-shaped, and obliquely set.

  • Dark brown in black dogs; brown tone to blend with coat in liver dogs.

Ears

Rather small, set slightly above the level of the eyes, lying close to the head and covered with small curls.

Mouth

Strong jaws with a perfect, regular, and complete scissor bite—upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to the jaw.

Neck

Strong, slightly arched, of medium length, free from throatiness, flowing smoothly into well laid-back shoulders.

Forequarters

  • Shoulders well laid back and muscular.

  • Upper arm and shoulder blade approximately equal in length.

  • Forelegs straight with strong pasterns, set well under the body.

Body

  • Chest deep with well-sprung ribs; oval in cross-section with brisket reaching the elbow.

  • Forechest visible.

  • Ribs extend well back into a short, deep, and powerful loin.

  • Slight tuck-up to the flank.

  • Topline strong and level.

  • Slightly longer in body (point of shoulder to point of buttock) than in height (withers to ground).

Hindquarters

Strong and muscular with moderate turn of stifle. Hocks well let down and well bent.

Feet

Round, tight, with well-arched toes.

Tail

Flows from the topline, reaching approximately to the hock. Carried straight on a level with the topline when moving.

Gait/Movement

Effortless, powerful gait with good extension and drive. Parallel movement; at speed, legs tend to converge.

Coat

Body coat a thick mass of small, tight, crisp curls lying close to the skin, extending from occiput to tip of tail. No undercoat or bare patches. Hair smooth elsewhere.

Colour

Solid black or liver.

Size

  • Dogs: 69 cm (27 inches) at the withers

  • Bitches: 64 cm (25 inches) at the withers

Faults

Any departure from the above points should be considered a fault, with its seriousness judged in proportion to its degree and its effect on the health and welfare of the dog.

Notes

Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.


Contact Details

Melinda Naughton
Taradale, VIC, Australia
Phone : 0401 138 905
Email : naumel@bigpond.com