Page 245 - ShowSight - February 2020

my shoes every morning. But in reality, she probably hid them as often as she found them! She loved this game.
What about my breed makes them an ideal companion? A real plus is that they are able to “chill” indoors. When I rest inside, they rest inside. But they do need at least one hour of exercise a day. A good walk or hike or a romp at the dog park will do the trick. If owners are very active, they will quickly adapt and Curlies have tremendous endurance. They can go all day hunting or hiking if they are in decent shape. They are quite keen to be a part of a fam- ily. They do not do well in kennels or crated a lot. They prefer to be freely interacting with their family. Most Curlies that are crated a lot or kenneled develop some form of neurotic behavior.
Are there any misconceptions about my breed? There are some Curlies that have lost their natural hunting drive and retrieving desire. Some hunters have had Curlies that won’t go in the water. This has led to rumors that the Curly-Coated Retriever is not a good hunting dog. It’s important to understand that this is a breeder fault and not a Curly-Coated Retriever fault. Breeding dogs that retain their natural hunting abilities is as important as breeding for health. There are many Curlies that have strong hunting instincts and love the water. Make sure you get a Curly from a reputable breeder.
What special challenges do CCR breeders face? The costs of raising a high quality litter have gone up. Even for a natural breed- ing, good nutrition, proper vet care, and thorough health evalua- tions have become expensive. With Curlies, there is the added costs of importing dogs and semen to maintain genetic diversity. Invari- ably artificial insemination with frozen semen from abroad results in small litters which triggers C sections and a whole cascade of factors that make it challenging to keep puppy costs affordable for the average person.
At what age do I start to see definite signs of show-worthiness? I am very spoiled in that I have Pat Hastings nearby to help me evaluate the conformation of my pups. However, as my experience grows, I can say that I see show quality very early on. Coat quality becomes apparent even in three to four week old pups. The classic wedge shaped head is visible at three weeks. General balance and front and rear construction can be seen at three to four weeks. But ultimately I agree with Pat that the ratios of bone lengths and gen- eral construction is best seen at eight weeks. However, in Curlies, another window of opportunity shows itself at three to four months where for a brief one to two weeks the dog will show you again what you have.
Is there a good show/pet market for my breed? There is a great pet market for Curlies. There is not a great show market for Curlies. Nevertheless I see a lot of younger folks with their first Curly taking an interest in conformation and field competitions It’s very exciting to see the energy and enthusiasm of this younger generation.
What is the most important thing about my breed for a new judge to keep in mind? This is a breed that should be able to hunt all day. Look for balance, ease and efficiency in gait. Look for dogs who are carrying weight over a well constructed shoulder. They need this to negotiate heavy cover, large game and tough swimming conditions. The coat is so important. Not all curly coats are equal. Coats should:
1. Be thick
2. Push back against your hand when you touch it (springy)
3. Be made of tight full curls the size of a dime
4. Cover all areas outlined in the standard
Finally, the breed is described in the standard as having the most
“grace and elegance” of all the retriever breeds. When you approach a Curly, you should feel the dog exudes this description.
What’s the best way to attract newcomers to my breed and to the sport? Have good relations with your puppy buyers. Provide lots of advice when asked and be as supportive as possible.
What is my ultimate goal for my breed? I would like to see hunt- ers with families actively seeking out Curlies because they are a breed that can be both a great hunting companion and an awesome family dog.
My favorite dog show memory? When my Curly was trotting around the ring at the 2019 National Specialty and tons of my fel- low Curly exhibitors clapped for my dog. I will be forever grateful for that moment.
Anything else you’d like to share about the breed? I have had Curlies all my adult life. I have never even considered another breed. That says a lot right there.
LORI WALTON
I live in Thurmont, Maryland which is a small town outside of Frederick, Maryland. Frederick is conveniently located an hour away from D.C., an hour away from Baltimore, has mountains within a 15 minute commute; the Potomac and Monocacy for river sports and the Eastern Shore for the ocean. Three major airports to go anywhere in the world and AKC dog events within a one to three hour drive almost every weekend. (Can you tell I really like the area?) For a living I am employed by the Department of the Army, work at Ft. Detrick, Maryland and my organization develops vac- cines, drugs and devices for the warfighter in a chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear environment. The most recent achievement I like to brag about is our organization provided the validated assay, used by outside agencies, to determine the efficacy of the recently approved Ebola vaccines. Successful research and development efforts really require coordinated cooperation among many orga- nizations contributing their respective strengths to achieve results. That should be the mantra for many other activities—not just research and development
Do I hope the breed’s popularity will change or am I comfort- able with the placement? “Statistics are like bikinis. What they reveal is suggestive, but what they conceal is vital.” (Aaron Leven- stein, 1913–86; author and Professor of Business Administration at Baruch College). The current ranking needs to be in context with what comprises that ranking—the number of registrations (litter or individual AKC registration) for that year. That ranking and those breeds with rankings in the lower end of the recognized breeds can change based on one breeder deciding to whelp out one or three litters in a year and then not breeding again for another number of years. Ideally, the pool of breeders would consistently produce and the number of breeders would increase—due to accessibility of that breed, to yield a stable supply of breeding dogs to current and new enthusiasts. And as new enthusiasts come on to the curly com- munity, those enthusiasts would reduce reliance on the older breed- ers, increase the number of breeders and ensuring the potential for growth of the breed popularity. My preference for where Curlies would be in the ranking would be where one or two additional lit- ters per year don’t greatly affect the overall placement number in the current ranking year.
Does the average person on the street recognize the breed? That would be a funny question, except it’s not. How many times has a Curly owner been asked if this beautiful, well bred, health clearanc- es on its parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, nieces, nephews etc., well-researched bloodlines that go back many generations, is a Labradoodle? One of our specialty t-shirts had a Curly-head on it which said, “This ain’t no Doodle”. I warn all of my new to Curlies, puppy owners that they will be asked this question incessantly when they go on their walks with their puppies/dogs and that they are to respond to each inquiry with a pleasant canned response, “No, this is Curly-Coated Retriever, the oldest and most elegant of the Retriever breed.” I also have contemplated sending them home with t-shirts similar to those mentioned above.
Curly-Coated Retriever Q & A
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