Curly-Coated Retriever
Also known as Curly-Coated Retriever, Curly, CCR
The Curly-Coated Retriever is a confident, athletic retriever whose short curly coat needs regular brushing, deshedding, and professional bath-and-brush grooming to stay clean, light, and naturally polished.
Overview
The Curly-Coated Retriever is a large, athletic sporting breed with a distinctive short curly coat in black or liver. It is one of the oldest retriever breeds and remains valued by hunters who want a confident, independent worker. Grooming for this breed centers on bath-and-brush work — not clipping or sculpting. The coat should finish fresh, light, and standing off the body with no loose hair remaining. High-velocity drying combined with rubber curry brushing is especially effective for removing shedding coat. A light coat polish at the finish enhances the natural shine of the curls. Most owners appreciate the breed's loyalty and versatility, but seasonal shedding still requires regular brushing and professional deshedding every 4–8 weeks.
Characteristics & Traits
Breed Traits
Physical Traits
Drooling level
Shedding level
Coat grooming frequency
Social & Family
Playfulness level
Adaptability level
Openness to strangers
Watchdog protective nature
Good with other dogs
Good with young children
Affectionate with family
Personality
Energy level
Barking level
Trainability level
Mental stimulation needs
For Pet Parents
The Curly-Coated Retriever is a confident, athletic retriever whose short curly coat needs regular brushing, deshedding, and professional bath-and-brush grooming to stay clean, light, and naturally polished.
Grooming Commitment
No haircut needed — but the curls still need regular brushing and professional deshedding.
The Curly's coat does not need a haircut, but seasonal shedding is real. Regular rubber curry brushing and professional deshedding keep the curls clean, light, and standing off the body.
- The Curly-Coated Retriever does not need a body clip — bath, brush, and deshed is the correct care.
- The curly coat should stand off the body when properly maintained.
- High-velocity drying and rubber curry work remove loose hair effectively.
- A light coat polish after grooming enhances natural curl shine.
- Professional grooming every 4–8 weeks keeps the coat fresh and comfortable.
At-Home Basics
- Difficulty
- moderate
- Shedding
- Moderate
- Brushing
- 1–3 times per week; more during shedding season
- Pro Grooming?
- Yes
- Pro Frequency
- Every 4–8 weeks
Caring for Your Curly-Coated Retriever at Home
Rubber curry the coat to remove loose fur
Rubber curry the coat to remove loose fur, especially during shedding season.
Drying after swimming
Dry the coat and ears thoroughly after swimming.
Feet & toe checks
Check feet and toes for debris after field or water work.
Professional grooming schedule
Schedule professional grooming before shedding becomes unmanageable.
Nail trimming
Trim nails between appointments when needed.
Ownership Profile
- First-time Owner
- Moderate
- Alone Time Tolerance
- Moderate
- Handling Sensitivity
- Moderate
- Apartment Friendly
- No
- City Friendly
- Yes
Best Suited For
- Active owners who enjoy outdoor exercise and water activities
- Hunters or retriever enthusiasts
- Owners comfortable with moderate shedding
- Homes with access to outdoor space
- Experienced dog owners who appreciate an independent temperament
May Not Suit
- Sedentary households seeking a low-activity dog
- Owners expecting a highly outgoing, social-with-everyone retriever
- Apartment living without substantial daily exercise
- Owners who want a stylized or clipper-maintained coat
Mistakes to Avoid
- Finishing the groom while significant loose undercoat remains in the coat.
- Leaving ears damp after bathing or swimming.
- Bathing too frequently and stripping natural coat oils unnecessarily.
When to Call in a Professional
Leave full grooming — bathing, complete drying, deshedding, and any trimming — to a professional groomer every 4–8 weeks. It keeps the coat healthy and comfortable between visits.
History
The Curly-Coated Retriever is among the oldest of the retriever breeds, with development traced to England in the 19th century. Breeders selected for a tight curly coat that protected the dog during cold water retrieval while remaining manageable through brushing rather than clipping. The breed predates the Labrador and Golden Retriever and remains less common but highly regarded by experienced sporting-dog handlers. Modern grooming preserves the natural curly outline through bath, brush, and deshed — never body clipping.
Temperament
Confident, intelligent, loyal, and independent with strong retrieving instincts.
Curly-Coated Retriever Coat
The Curly-Coated Retriever has a short, dense coat of tight curls in black or liver — one of the most distinctive coats in the Sporting Group.
The coat should look fresh, light, and stand off the body when properly groomed, with no loose hair remaining.
This is not a breed that requires body trimming or sculpting — maintenance centers on bathing, brushing, deshedding, and light foot neatening.
A light coat polish applied at the finish brings up the natural shine of the curls.
- Type
- Curly
- Family
- Curly coat
- Structure
- Single
- Density
- Moderate to high
- Undercoat
- No
- Shedding
- Moderate
- Seasonal Change
- Yes
- Matting Risk
- Low
- Drying Difficulty
- Moderate
- Water Retention
- Moderate
- Growth Pattern
- Seasonal
- Breakage Risk
- Low
Common Problem Areas
Groomer's Guide
Technical reference for professional groomers — specifications and standard operating procedures intended for certified groomers.
Goal: Maintain a fresh, clean, light coat that stands off the body
Tools Required
- Rubber curry
- Slicker brush
- Deshedding tool
- Carding tool
- Greyhound comb
- Professional clippers
- Thinning shears
- Small detailing shears
- High-velocity dryer
- Nail clippers or grinder
- Ear cleaning solution
- Cotton balls
- Styptic powder
Pre-Bath Prep
- Trim or grind nails as short as practical.
- Clean ears with a mild ear-cleaning solution and document any odor, redness, or discharge.
- Use a rubber curry on dry coat to loosen shedding hair and dander.
- Use a high-velocity dryer to lift dirt and loose coat before the bath.
- Remove whiskers only if the client requests.
- Assess whether feet, pads, or hocks need light neatening.
Before Grooming
- Shedding level and undercoat compaction
- Recent swimming or water exposure
- Ear condition and moisture
- Nail length and foot condition
- Skin condition under dense coat
- Odor level
- Whether feet or hocks need light neatening
Consultation Notes
- Confirm this is a bath-and-brush service, not a clipper trim.
- Ask about swimming frequency and home brushing routine.
- Check whether whisker removal is requested.
- Set expectations for seasonal shedding and deshedding time.
- Discuss ear care priorities for dogs that swim regularly.
Preparation Objectives
- Remove loose coat before bathing when possible
- Assess ears and feet after water work
- Confirm service scope with the owner
- Prepare for thorough deshedding
Recommended Actions
- Trim or grind nails as short as practical.
- Clean ears with a mild ear-cleaning solution and document any odor, redness, or discharge.
- Use a rubber curry on dry coat to loosen shedding hair and dander.
- Use a high-velocity dryer to lift dirt and loose coat before the bath.
- Remove whiskers only if the client requests.
- Assess whether feet, pads, or hocks need light neatening.
Preparation Warnings
- Do not clip or shave the body coat as a routine finish.
- Refer persistent ear or skin concerns to a veterinarian.
- Ensure complete drying after swimming to prevent odor and ear issues.
Objectives
- Clean the coat thoroughly after water work or outdoor activity
- Remove odor and debris
- Prepare the coat for complete drying and deshedding
Process
- Follow short double-coat bathing protocols.
- Fully saturate the dense coat to the skin.
- Use shampoo appropriate for skin and coat condition.
- Rinse thoroughly — dense coat holds product easily.
- Apply conditioner only when coat condition warrants it.
- Remove excess water without matting the coat.
Product Guidance
- Choose products based on skin sensitivity, not coat color alone.
- Insufficient rinsing can leave residue that irritates skin under dense coat.
- Heavy conditioning products may reduce the coat's natural stand-off quality.
Breed Specifics
- Follow short-coated bathing and drying protocols.
- A damp towel over the muzzle after bathing helps neaten the face when needed.
- The curly coat holds less moisture than long-coated breeds but still needs complete drying.
Drying Objectives
- Dry the coat completely to the skin
- Remove loosened undercoat with high-velocity airflow
- Separate coat so it stands off the body
- Prevent ear moisture retention
Drying Methods
- High-velocity drying in sections
- Rubber curry brushing during and after drying
- Comb check after the coat is fully dry
Drying — Breed Specifics
- High-velocity dryers are especially effective for removing excessive loose hair from the curls.
- Rubber curry work during drying helps separate curls and lift shedding coat.
- Do not consider the groom complete until loose coat removal has slowed significantly.
Drying Quality Standard
The coat should be fully dry, stand off the body, and free of loose shedding hair before finishing.
Techniques
- Bath and brush out
- Deshedding
- Rubber curry work
- Carding when undercoat is present
- Light foot and hock neatening when needed
Common Trims
- Bath and Brush Out
- Seasonal Deshedding Service
Clipper Areas
- Pad trimming when needed
- Sanitary trimming when requested
- Light hock neatening when coat is untidy
Scissor Areas
- Feet when needed
- Hocks when needed
Scissoring — Primary Areas
- Feet when needed
- Hocks when needed
Scissoring — Finish Goals
- Neat natural feet if coat extends beyond pads
- Clean hock area if longer coat is present
- No visible scissor lines
Scissoring — Breed Specifics
- Most Chessies need little to no scissor work — the short coat is naturally maintained.
- Thinning shears may help neaten hocks lightly when needed.
- Feet should look natural, not sculpted.
Clipper Work — Common Uses
- Pad trimming when needed
- Sanitary trimming when requested
- Light hock neatening when coat is untidy
Clipper Safety Notes
- Do not clip or shave the body coat — this breed is maintained through bath and brush only.
- Trim pads with a #10 blade when foot neatening is needed.
- Use a light touch on pads and between toes.
Equipment
- #10 blade for pads
- Thinning shears for light hock or foot neatening
Blade & Length Selection
- Whether feet or hocks need neatening
- Skin sensitivity
- Owner preference for foot appearance
Common Pet Trim Styles
- Bath and Brush Out — The standard and correct finish — a thorough bath, high-velocity dry, rubber curry deshedding, and light neatening of nails, ears, and feet as needed.
- Seasonal Deshedding Service — An extended bath-and-brush focused on removing compacted shedding coat during seasonal coat blow.
Style Selection Factors
- Seasonal shedding level
- Swimming frequency
- Home brushing routine
- Odor or coat condition after water work
Head
Keep the muzzle neat with a damp towel after bathing Remove whiskers only when the owner requests
Unnecessary clipping that alters the natural short-coat appearance
Ears
Inspect and dry ears thoroughly after bathing or swimming. Clean with appropriate ear solution when needed. Monitor for odor, redness, or discharge.
Do not diagnose or treat suspected ear infection. Refer odor, discharge, redness, swelling, or pain to a veterinarian. Ear moisture after swimming is a common concern for this breed.
Feet
Trim pads with a #10 blade when long hair extends beyond the pads. Neaten pads and feet if needed for a clean appearance. Trim nails as short as practical or grind.
Moisture and debris between toes after water work Over-trimming pads when coat is already short
Tail
Keep clean through bathing and drying No sculpting or trimming needed
Sanitary Area
Light sanitary neatening only when the owner requests Maintain natural appearance
ears
highMaintenance
- -Inspect and dry ears thoroughly after bathing or swimming.
- -Clean with appropriate ear solution when needed.
- -Monitor for odor, redness, or discharge.
Styles
- -Natural — no trimming required
Risks & Warnings
- -Do not diagnose or treat suspected ear infection.
- -Refer odor, discharge, redness, swelling, or pain to a veterinarian.
- -Ear moisture after swimming is a common concern for this breed.
feet
moderateMaintenance
- -Trim pads with a #10 blade when long hair extends beyond the pads.
- -Neaten pads and feet if needed for a clean appearance.
- -Trim nails as short as practical or grind.
Styles
- -Natural neat feet
- -Light pad and foot neatening when needed
Risks & Warnings
- -Moisture and debris between toes after water work
- -Over-trimming pads when coat is already short
head
lowGoals
- -Keep the muzzle neat with a damp towel after bathing
- -Remove whiskers only when the owner requests
Styles
- -Natural — no trimming required
Risks & Warnings
- -Unnecessary clipping that alters the natural short-coat appearance
tail
lowGoals
- -Keep clean through bathing and drying
- -No sculpting or trimming needed
Styles
- -Natural — no trimming required
sanitary Area
lowGoals
- -Light sanitary neatening only when the owner requests
- -Maintain natural appearance
High-Risk Areas
- Rear feathering during heavy shedding if coat is untypical
- Areas where wet coat has compacted after swimming
Challenges
- Heavy seasonal shedding that requires extended deshedding time
- Owner expectation of a clipper trim when bath-and-brush is correct
- Odor retention if coat is not dried thoroughly after swimming
- Large body size extending bath and dry time
- Ear issues related to frequent water work
- Clipper-cutting the body coat when bath-and-brush is the correct maintenance method.
- Using blades other than #10 for pad trimming.
Management Principles
- Deshed thoroughly before considering the groom complete.
- Use high-velocity drying and rubber curry work for maximum loose coat removal.
- Educate owners that this breed is not clipper-maintained.
- Dry ears completely after every swim-related service.
- Apply light coat polish for finishing shine when appropriate.
Pro Tips
- Use a rubber curry before and after the bath to maximize loose coat removal from the curls.
- High-velocity dryers work especially well for shedding on this breed.
- Do not clip the body — educate owners if they request a shave.
- Trim pads with a #10 blade only when foot hair extends beyond the pads.
- Apply a light coat polish at the end for added shine.
- Remove whiskers only when the client requests.
- Allow extra time during seasonal coat blow.
Assessment Priority
Remove loose coat and preserve the natural curl-standing finish
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