Retriever dogs are dogs that are trained to retrieve game, usually birds. Therefore, these dogs are trained to be obedient, responsive, and eager to please. They were also bred for physical strength, as fowl hunting is often done in inclement weather, and the dogs often have to throw themselves into cold water to catch a duck or a Goose.
Retrievers also have a keen sense of smell, a good memory and a “soft mouth”, meaning they have a a D or quail without biting or dropping it and return it to the hunter. Many retriever dogs are quite large or medium-sized, although there are also small retriever breeds, such as spaniels. Read on to learn about the different types of retriever dogs.
1. Chesapeake Bay Retriever
This hardworking dog was developed in the United States in the 1800s to retrieve waterfowl. Legend has it that the Chessie was descended from two puppies that were shipwrecked off the coast of Maryland and trained as retrievers. Simple looking but known for being reliable and sturdy, this retriever is also prized for the dense coat that protects him from the cold waters of the bay. It has a broad, rounded head, thin lips, pendulous ears, and powerful hindquarters and webbed toes that help it swim. It is a medium sized dog standing between 22 and 26 high at the shoulder and weighing between 55 and 75 pounds. Like other dogs of its size, the Chessie lives about 12 years.
To go here to learn more about the Chessie.
2. Gordon Setter
Of the different types of retriever dogs, the Gordon Setter is the only one with a black and tan coloration. It is also the only Scottish Setter. It is known for its silky, luxurious coat that can be straight or slightly wavy. Developed by the Duke of Richmond and Gordon in the 1600s to catch game birds, the Gordon Setter is powerful, loyal and gentle despite its glamorous appearance.
In addition to the coat, which needs to be brushed and detangled quite regularly, the Gordon Setter has a long muzzle, a deep head with a distinct stop and long ears. There is feathering on the tail, chest, abdomen and legs, and the feathering on the tail is arranged so that the dog’s tail looks triangular. The Gordon Setter stands between 24.5 and 26 inches high at the shoulder and weighs between 56 and 65 pounds. Like many retrievers, he needs a lot of exercise and doesn’t do well in an apartment. It lives for about 10 to 12 years.
Read this for more information on the Gordon Setter.
3. Curly Coated Retriever
This retriever is very similar to the Chesapeake Bay retriever, although it is slightly larger, measuring between 25 and 27 inches in height and weighing between 70 and 80 pounds. Another difference, of course, is that he has a tightly curled and dense coat all over, except on his face, which is smooth. Like the Chessie, he was bred to retrieve waterfowl, and his coat, which can be black or liver-colored, dries quickly. His story begins in Great Britain in the 1800s, although no one knows exactly how.
The dog’s lop-eared ears are short, the front legs are straight, and like other dogs that fetch in the water, it has a powerful hindquarters that propel it forward as it swims. His shoulders are deep and his feet are round and webbed. Despite the coat’s unusual texture, it does not require trimming or stripping and grooming is simple. This dog will live to be between 8 and 12 years old.
For more information about the curly coated retriever, visit here.
4. Flat Coated Retriever
This dog, with its feathered tail, ears, front legs and belly, looks like a fancier version of the Chesapeake Bay retriever, although it was developed in Britain in the 1800s from the Labrador retriever and the Newfoundland. Aside from the feathering, the coat is flat, finely textured and dense. It has a longer head and a flatter skull than the Chessie, with straight forelegs and strong feet arched toward the toes. It is about the size of other retrievers mentioned and stands 22 to 23 inches in height with a weight between 60 and 70 pounds.
A wonderful family dog, it is good around children and loves nothing more than a game of fetch. But like other retrievers, he needs at least a yard to run around in. The lifespan of the flat-coated retriever is about 10 years.
Read this for more information about the Flat Coated Retriever.
5. Golden Retriever
Of the different types of retriever dogs, the golden one is one of the most popular. Developed in 19th century Scotland, born to please their people, this strong dog stands 20 to 24 inches in height and weighs between 60 and 80 pounds. There are flat-haired and wavy types, but both have a broad, rounded skull with a well-defined stop and a powerful muzzle. Despite this, the golden beak must have a soft mouth to retrieve the birds it was trained to retrieve.
Like other retrievers, he needs space to run around in, but makes an excellent family dog. It gets its name from its glossy coat, which can range from cre
am
to gold, but not red when the dog is shown. The coat does require regular grooming, especially when the dog is shedding. The Golden Retriever has a lifespan of about 10 to 12 years and, unlike other retrievers, can thrive in an apartment if given enough exercise.
To learn more about the gold, read: this.
6. Labrador Retriever
The Lab is another wildly popular retriever, not only because of his talent for helping fishermen pull their nets out of the water, but because of his lively and friendly personality. The Lab also has an excellent sense of smell and is used to detect contraband and explosives.
The dog is about the size of most retrievers, standing 21.5 to 22.5 inches in height and weighing 55 to 75 pounds. It is a muscular dog, with a deep chest, thick neck, long shoulders and a barrel-shaped ribcage. His hindquarters, as with much larger retrievers, are powerful. Its tail is thick at the root and then tapers. The double coat that helps the dog tolerate cold water can come in black, chocolate or yellow. Although the Lab was developed in the 19th century Canada, it comes in English and American types, with the English Lab being bulkier. The lifespan of this sociable dog is 10 to 12 years.
To go here for more information about the Labrador retriever.
7. English Cocker Spaniel
One of the small retriever breeds, the cocker spaniel was developed in Wales and southwest England to flush and retrieve woodcock, a small game bird. It has a beautiful, long, silky coat that can come in a variety of colors. His body is compact and strong, he has a powerful neck, sloping shoulders and straight front legs with lots of feathering. His ears are so long that the owner should check them to make sure they are free of debris, and the luscious coat should be combed and brushed regularly, and bathed when needed.
The Cocker Spaniel stands only 15 to 16 inches high at the shoulder and weighs between 28 and 32 pounds. This makes it an excellent dog in front of an apartment. He has a gentle and affectionate nature and is good with young children and other pets. A bonus of having one of the small retriever breeds is that they live longer than the larger breeds. The life span of the cocker spaniel is 12 to 15 years.
To learn more about the cocker spaniel, read: this.
8. Retriever Mixes
To be fair, most purebred retrievers started out as mixes. For example, the beloved Golden Retriever descends from a mishmash of the Flat-Coated Retriever, the Tweed Water Spaniel, the Lab, the Irish Setter and the bloodhound. Newer retriever mixes not yet recognized by all those kennel clubs are becoming more and more popular. Many share their retriever parents’ eagerness and hardness to please. They contain:
- Golden Labrador. This dog is a cross between the Golden Retriever and the Labrador Retriever. Also called the goldador, this dog has a double coat and is unfortunately quite a heavy shedder. It lives about as long as its parents which is about 10 to 12 years and has a weight between 55 and 80 pounds and a height between 21.5 and 25.5 inches. Read here about the golden labrador.
- corky. This little dog is a cross between a american cocker spaniel and a Yorkshire terrier. It is a moderately energetic, small to medium sized dog that can live up to 15 years. For more information about the Corkie, visit here.
- labmaraner. This elegant mix is the result of a Labrador retriever and a Weimaraner, two sporting dogs. It is a medium sized dog standing 23 to 24 inches in height and can weigh between 60 and 100 pounds. Also referred to as the Weimador, the dog is energetic, hardworking and handsome and lives 10 to 12 years. Read this for more information about the Labmaraner.
9. Portuguese Water Dog
When it comes to different retriever breeds, the Portuguese Water Dog is probably the most different. It is a retriever, but it differs from the other breeds in what it is like to retrieve. Basically, it was bred to jump into the ocean to retrieve items its master dropped overboard. When it didn’t, it gleefully jumped into the depths to deliver messages to the captain and crew of a nearby ship.
Interestingly, this dog does not have an undercoat to keep it warm. The coat can be long with soft curls or short and thick with tight curls. The dog, also called the Cão de Água, was developed in Portugal in the 1500s. It is not large and can be considered one of the small retriever breeds measuring 16 to 22 inches in height and 33 to 35 pounds. But it has powerful legs and a deep chest connected to a strong, straight neck. The dog’s coat is sometimes trimmed like the poodle, another dog who does waterwork. Lively, loving and a little crazy, this dog is small enough to live well in an apartment. The life span is 10 to 14 years. By the way, the Obama’s dog was a Portuguese water dog named Bo.
Next one: Do grasshoppers bite?