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There are many FAQ's available for this group. For a complete
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This article is Copyright 1997 by the Author(s) listed below.
It may be freely distributed on the Internet in its entirety without
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It may NOT reside at another website (use links, please) other
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==========

Flat-Coated Retrievers

Author

Cindy Tittle Moore, January 1995.

With the invaluable help of:
* Alison Taub, [email protected]
For her generous loan of books and materials on the FCR.
* Mike Richman, [email protected]
For maintaining the FCR-L mailing list.
* The comments on preliminary drafts made by Kurt Anderson, Mary
Beth Bissig, Eleanor Brown, and Mark Reynolds.
* The books all listed in the Resources section below.
* Handouts and articles available from the Flat Coated Retriever
Society of America.

Revision history:
* Nov 1995: Web sites added.

This article is Copyright 1995 by Cindy Tittle Moore. All rights are
reserved. Individuals may download and print a copy for their personal
use. Distribution is encouraged, but not for profit. FCR rescue
organizations, FCR breed clubs, and FCR breeders all have express
permission to freely distribute this article, provided this Copyright
and the article remain intact, and provided the recipient is not
required to pay for it.
_________________________________________________________________

Table of Contents

* History
* The Flat-Coated Retriever Today
* Characteristics and Temperament
* Care and Training
* Frequently Asked Questions
* Standards for the Flat-Coated Retriever
+ AKC Standard, 1990
+ British Standard, 1985
* Health and Medical Problems
+ Patellar Luxation
+ Elbow and Hip Dysplasia
+ Thyroid
+ Cancer
* Resources
+ Breed Books
+ Retriever Training Books
+ Periodicals, Pamphlets
+ Breed Clubs in the US
+ Breed Clubs in Canada
+ Breed Clubs in the UK
+ Field and Hunting Clubs
+ Breed Rescue
+ Breeders
+ Email List and Web Sites
+ Contacts Online

_________________________________________________________________

History

Due to the increasing popularity of shooting flying birds (and the
corresponding need to _find_ the birds) in the mid 19th century, the
initial Retriever breeds were developed. Some breeds, such as the
Golden, were carefully bred for by a single individual, others such as
the Labrador were isolated in one or two kennels for their
development. Still others were developed as gundog fanciers tried
breeding the "best to the best" and intermixing a wide variety of
breeds and abilities. The general confusion over the origins of the
Retrievers partly lies in the fact that at this time the word
"retriever" referred to the function rather than the breed of dog, and
so any dog that proved itself capable of retrieving was considered
one, whether purebred, crossbred or mongrel.

Spaniels, setters, and waterdogs quickly proved themselves the best at
this type of work and provided the foundation for all of today's
Retrievers, in varying proportions. However, the exact sequence of
development is in many cases lost in the distance of history; even
many contemporary accounts are considered flawed and mistaken today.

It seems clear that the St. John's Water Dog from Newfoundland, played
a significant role in the general development of the retriever breeds,
though no one is quite certain of the dogs used in developing this
breed. Nancy Martin's recent _The Versatile Labrador Retriever_ (1994)
contains perhaps the most comprehensive summary of the St. John's
Water Dog's known and surmised history.

By all accounts, the development of the modern Flat-Coated Retriever
is credited to Mr. S. E. Shirley in the early 1870s. St. John's Water
Dogs, water spaniels, and possibly Scotch collies were all used to
develop the Flat-Coat. He stabilized the wavy or curly-coated
retriever and fixed the type of the flat coated retriever. Shirley
himself did not use Setters in his development of the Flat-Coat, but
it is probable that the retriever mixes at that point already had
infusions of Setter blood from earlier in the century. He is known to
have used Labradors once they became available outside the Buccleugh
and Malmesbury kennels.

Mr. Shirley is well-known also for founding the Kennel Club in 1873.
The breed's close association with this man meant that they were bred
at the onset for both showing and hunting unlike other breeds that
were privately bred by estates with their own grounds and
gameskeepers.

Given the depletion of breeding stock, especially after the second
World War, Flat-Coats and Labradors were widely interbred to broaden
the gene pool and increase the number of dogs to a safer level. For
example, the Labrador CH. Horton Max, a well-regarded Labrador at the
turn of the century was actually an interbred, sired by the
influential CH Darenth, a Flat-Coat. For some reason, while those
breeders in Flat-Coats are aware of this mixing, many Labrador
breeders are not.

The next influential patron of the breed was Mr. H. Reginald Cooke,
born in 1860 who saw some of the first dogs that Shirley established,
their hey day during the turn of the century, their uncertain fortune
through the World Wars and finally their decline in numbers
afterwards. His kennel, Riverside, dominated the show scene for over
sixty years. He also collected wins in field trials. This domination
was both fortunate in keeping the breed on an even keel and
unfortunate in keeping other patrons out. He was an advocate of a
medium-sized dog as being the best for work; and was concerned about
keeping the hunting ability alive in the show dogs. Contrary to
popular supposition, though, Cooke purchased many dogs bred by others
and there was no exclusive 'Riverside' strain of flat-coats.

The Flat-Coated Retriever's decline directly coincides with the
Labrador Retriever's almost meteoric post-war rise in popularity. The
Labrador was considered superior to the Flat-Coat in the field trials.
The domination of the Flat-Coats by the Riverside kennel may have also
helped to limit the possible growth that the Flat-Coat might have
otherwise enjoyed alongside the Labrador; it is unclear whether this
was beneficial or detrimental to the breed in the long run. There are
risks in being wildly popular or in being too rare.
_________________________________________________________________

The Flat-Coated Retriever Today

The Flat-Coated Retriever is perhaps unique among the retriever breeds
for being both a show dog and a working hunting retriever for the
duration of its existence. This background in both venues has resulted
in a breed that to this day has a strong tradition of being a
dual-purpose dog, that is, both shown and hunted. You will find that
most show dogs have AKC hunting test titles as well as HRC and NAHRA
titles; far more so than in other retriever breeds except possibly for
the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever. The converse is also true:
most of the Flat-Coats that you see in the hunting tests are also
being shown in breed. You will not find that the breed is split
between show lines and hunting lines as is so unfortunately true of
many other retriever breeds. However, they are largely not present in
competitive Field Trials, which is dominated by the field-bred
Labrador Retriever.

The Flat-Coated Retriever remains a modestly popular and relatively
rare breed, which most breeders and owners prefer. The last 10 years
registration numbers for FCRs in the AKC:

Year 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993

Dogs Registered 301 361 360 372 338 415 442 531 491 485
Litters 58 78 57 69 71 69 87 88 78 96

1994 Flat-Coated Retriever New Titles
Awards Issue CH OTCH CD CDX UD UDX TD TDX JH SH MH

Jan 1- June 30
**TOTALS** 76 2 46 11 4 0 8 3 19 3 1

_________________________________________________________________

Characteristics and Temperament

Flat-Coats are absolutely unfailingly cheerful and often maintain a
youthful outlook on life and a rather immature character (Paddy Petch
called them the "Peter Pan" of dogs.)

Most Flat-Coats feel that the primary purpose in life is to be "your
buddy." They can become quite despondent when left alone or neglected
for periods of time. They thrive on human companionship, and while
they do love a good run or walk, games of fetch, etc., they are mostly
content just to be with you. In general Flat-Coats are very happy dogs
throughout their whole lives and only their immediate families will
notice the gradual slowing down they do get as they age. To most
outsiders (and Flat-Coats love EVERYONE) they are very happy, friendly
dogs.

As with most of the retriever breeds, they seem to feel that they are
"at their best" when they have something (anything for most of them)
in their mouth. When their mouth is full, their whole body exudes
happiness.

Many are confirmed poop eaters, although some grow out of it.
Sometimes the activity seems seasonal or even food-related. Bitches
seem to be worse about it, especially after having a litter.

In general, they make good pets for houses with kids, but don't expect
the kids not to get bruised. It will not be intentional, but they are
big dogs.

Flat-Coats are unabashed people dogs. They do not do well in kennel
situations at all and they do not do well in families continually on
the go -- unless they get to go as well! This is absolutely not a
breed you can leave out in the backyard all the time.

These dogs are very intelligent, and can be very creative in their
destruction. They will do almost anything to get your attention, so
unless they are in a situation where they are going to get a lot of
attention, they can become chewers and diggers and they do have a lot
of energy. They are not couch potato dogs.

Flat-Coats are very stoic and do not show when they are in pain very
often. They put up with a lot before they let you in on it. In this
sense they make bad patients, as they are often up and around much too
early for their own good after an injury.
_________________________________________________________________

Care and Training

Because they have such boundless energy, obedience training is _highly_
recommended. In particular, prospective owners new to the breed should
take advantage of local kindergarten puppy classes as well as the
obedience classes so that their cute pup does not become an unruly
adolescent brat.

They seem to take criticism (harsh voice or collar corrections) to
heart and can get their feelings hurt easily. They often "shut down"
when this happens and it can be very aggravating. You have to "make
up" with the dog before they get going again sometimes. Non-coercive
training methods work especially well with this breed.
_________________________________________________________________

Frequently Asked Questions

_Are they hyper?_

A properly bred Flat-Coat will not be hyper. However, this is an
active retrieving breed. Their need for exercise is enormous and
without an outlet for this need, they will become destructive and
hard to handle. And even when properly exercised, their unflagging
good spirits and refusal to age as they grow older mean that they
will still be exuberant, cheerful dogs always ready to jump into
activities with you. If you are leaning toward a sedate dog, this
breed is probably not for you!

_Are they good with children?_

As with most breeds, especially with the retriever breeds, yes,
they are good with children provided that both are supervised to
make sure they don't accidentally injure each other. Because
Flat-Coats are such exuberant dogs, they can easily knock children
over without having the slightest intention of hurting them. All
contact between children and dogs should be supervised no matter
how good the dog (or child) is, and this is doubly true if
accidental injury is a good possibility. You may want to wait until
your children are a little older and not as easily frightened by a
large, happy dog (or consider a more sedate breed).

_Is this a black Golden? How are they different from Labs or Goldens?_

While these breeds are fairly closely related (especially the
Flat-Coat and the Lab), they each have distinct differences. All
three are retrievers, people friendly and generally non-aggressive
to either dogs or people. However, in _general_, Labs tend to be
stubborn, Goldens tend to be soft and anxious to please, and
Flat-Coats tend to be quirkily happy and content to be with their
person. Labs tend to be hard workers and will have a business-like
and independent attitude towared what they are doing. Goldens tend
to work hard if their owner wants them to, and they can be nearly
anxious about trying to please their owner. Flat-Coats have a
blissfully happy, even silly, attitude about everything, though
they can be perfectly stubborn when they choose to be.

They are also physically distinct. The Labrador has a short coat
and generally a stockier build than the Flat-Coat. They usually
have a different head with a deeper stop although some poorly bred
(at least from the conformation aspect) ones can have heads very
nearly like the Flat-Coat. Labs can come in black, chocolate
(liver), and yellow. The Golden Retriever has a long coat, but it
tends to be more abundant than the Flat-Coats and may have a
harsher texture. They always come in shades of yellow and gold,
never black or liver. Their heads are also very different from
Flat-Coats, being more massive, domed on top and not filled in at
the cheeks or stop.

_I got my dog from the shelter, but he looks just like a Flat-Coated
Retriever! What are the chances this is true?_

Most Labrador Retriever or Golden Retriever mixes can look like
FCR's and they are much more common than the relatively rare FCR.
Chances are high your dog is such a mix. If you really think your
dog might be an FCR, then you should find a local breeder to look
your dog over. It is certainly worth trying to ILP your dog as an
FCR if you want to do obedience or agility work with him.

_I understand that there can be yellow Flat-Coated Retrievers. What is
the story with them?_

Yellow is a disqualifying fault in the FCR. Many long-time breeders
are extremely vehement in keeping yellow out, believing that health
problems automatically come with the color. Reported health
problems include skin sensitivities, and foot problems. Yellows are
considered to have poor coats, and poor pigmentation (leathery nose
and eye rims). Strictly speaking, it is unclear if these problems
are inherent in the color or are simply because the little stock
left carrying yellow is generally poor. Any reputable breeder
offering a yellow Flat-Coat for sale should insist on a spay-neuter
clause at the minimum if the dog is not already so altered. While
they are rare, they are not valuable, and should not command any
kind of a high price.

_How does the color inheritance work?_

Disregarding the yellow color, livers are recessive to blacks
meaning that a liver Flat-Coat has both parents with at least one
gene for the liver color though in appearance they may be black or
liver. A liver only has genes for the liver color. Two livers can
only produce livers, never blacks. If yellows are considered as
well, it is likely that the mode of inheritance is the same as that
of the Labrador Retriever, which is described in more detail in
Labrador Retriever books and its FAQ.

_________________________________________________________________

Standards for the Flat-Coated Retriever

AKC Standard, 1990

The Standard is the physical "blueprint" of the breed. It describes
the physical appearance and other desired qualities of the breed
otherwise known as _type_. Some characteristics, such as size, coat
quality, and movement, are based on the original (or current) function
for the dog. Other characteristics are more cosmetic such as eye
color; but taken together they set this breed apart from all others.
The Standard describes an _ideal_ representive of the breed. No
individual dog is perfect, but the Standard provides an ideal for the
breeder to strive towards.

Because of copyright concerns over the collection of all the Standards
at any single site storing all the faqs, AKC Standards are not
typically included in the Breed faqs. The reader is referred to the
publications at the end of this document or to the National Breed Club
for a copy of the Standard.

British Standard, 1985

HEAD AND SKULL
The head should be long and nicely moulded. This moulding is
characteristic of the breed. There is a gradual tapering form a
moderately broad flat skull towards the muzzle, there being a notable
absense of cheekiness. The change of level between the line of the
skull and muzzle shoudl be slight, giving a minimal amount of drop or
'stop'. In fact the face is fairly well filled in between the eyes
which are set widely apart. The muzzle should be long although not
necessarily equal to the length of skull as formerly. It should be
strong, with the capacity of carrying a heavy hare and possess large
open nostrils for easy scenting, and well braced lips to obviate the
collection of feathers. The teeth should be regular and ideally show a
complete scissor bite, the upper teeth closely overlapping the lower
teeth, but a level bite should not be unduly penalised, as should be
an under- or over- shot mouth.

EYES
Should be of medium size, dark brown or hazel (defined as reddish
brown) with a very intelligent expression. A yellow or goosberry eye
is a decided fault as is a round or prominent one, and the eyes should
not be obliquely placed. The lower eyelids should not be so slack as
to favour the collection of foreign bodies in the field.

EARS
Should be small and well set on, close to the side of the head.

NECK
The head should be well set in the neck, and the latter should be
reasonably long and free from throatiness, symmetrically set and
obliquely placed in shoulders sloping well into the back to allow of
easily seeking for the trail.

FOREQUARTERS
The chest should be deep and fairly broad, with a well defined
brisket, on which the elbows should work cleanly and evenly. The legs
are of the greatest importance, the forelegs should be perfectly
straight with bone of good quality carried right down to the feet and
when the dog is in full coat the legs should be well feathered.

BODY
The fore-ribs should be fairly flat showing a gradual spring and well
arched in the centre of the body but rather lighter towards the
quarters. Open couplings are to be ruthlessly condemned. The back
should be strong and the loins short and square.

HINDQUARTERS
Should be muscular. The stifle and hock should not be too straight or
too bent and the dog must neither be cow-hocked nor move widely
behind; in fact he must stand square and move true on legs and feet
all round. The legs should be well feathered. He should move straight
with drive and fluency.

FEET
Should be round and strong with toes close and well arched, the soles
being thick and strong.

TAIL
Short, straight and well set on, carried gaily but never much above
the level of the back. Should be well feathered.

GAIT
Free and flowing, straight and true as seen from front and rear.

COAT
Should be dense, of fine to medium quality and texture, flat as
possible. Legs and tail well feathered. A good dog at maturity shows
full furnishings to complete his elegant appearance.

COLOUR
Black or liver only.

WEIGHT
In hard condition should be between 60 to 80 lbs for dogs and 55 to 70
lbs for bitches.

HEIGHT
Dogs 23-24 inches. Bitches 22-23 inches.

TEMPERAMENT
Confident and kindly. Characterised by a constantly wagging tail.
_________________________________________________________________

Health and Medical Problems

Patellar Luxation

This is a fairly serious problem, as it is genetic, but it is not
really widespread. This is a condition in which the dog's kneecap will
slip out of the joint and lock the leg straight. It can be surgically
treated to keep the dog comfortable, but of course the dog should then
be neutered. You should make sure the parents of any Flat-Coat puppy
you consider has been cleared of Patellar Luxation by OFA.

Elbow and Hip Dysplasia

Flat-Coats may be prone to elbow and/or hip dysplasia, just as the
rest of the retriever breeds generally are. In fact, according to OFA,
the Flat-Coat is one of only four breeds in which the incidence of CHD
is on the rise. The level has doubled from about 10 years ago and
while is still low, the upward trend is troubling. Note that the
overall incidence in, for example, the Golden is much higher; however,
their rates have been decreasing in the same time period.

To minimize the risk, all breeding stock must be x-rayed and certified
clear of hip or elbow dysplasia by OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for
Animals) in the US; there are equivalent programs in other countries.

Hip dysplasia is a malformation of the ball and socket, with varying
degrees of presentation. Symptoms can range from none to severe
crippling. Only an xray can give you a definitive diagnosis of this
disease. While environmental factors have been found to play a role in
determining the degree of visible symptoms, the causes are believed to
be genetic. For more information on this disease, please see the
medical information FAQ or consult with your veterinarian.

Thyroid

Some Flat-Coats may have low thyroid levels. Allergies, poor coat, etc
may indicate low thyroid levels. It does not seem to be a widespread
problem in the breed.

Cancer

Cancer is a troubling and complex presence in this breed. The age of
onset seems to be about four years and different areas may be
affected. Inquire about the general longevity in the lines of the
puppy or dog you may be considering.

Research into this problem is ongoing. Send tissue samples from
affected FCR's for analysis and research to: Drs. Couto, Hammer and
McLoughlin
Veterinary Teaching Hospital
The Ohio State University
601 Vernon L. Tharp Street
Columbus, OH 43210
Phone: 614-292-3551
Fax: 614-292-0895

Send samples in a well-sealed and labeled container in 10%
formalin. Put in a ziplock bag for extra protection: Be sure to
include infomration such as: sex, age, where tumor came from, how
long it had been present, whether it had been rapidly growing, etc
(brief history). Include also your name, address, and phone/fax as
well as your veterinarian's name, address and phone/fax. Include
also a copy of the pedigree, if it is available. If you have older
copies of biopsy reports, they can be sent in place of a formalin
sample. The same information must accompany biopsy reports.

_________________________________________________________________

Resources

Breed Books

Laughton, Nancy. _A Review of the Flat-Coated Retriever_. Second
Edition, 1980. Pelham Books Ltd, 44 Bedford Square, London WC1B 3DU,
United Kingdom. ISBN 0 7207 1228 9.

While dated, this is generally the best regarded book on
Flat-Coated Retrievers. It is hard to find, especially outside the
UK, but some are available. The author is a long time breeder in
FCR's and has a good deal of history and old pedigrees in the book.
Many lovely old photographs as well. Out of print, copies may be
ordered from Mrs. S.M. Johnson, Shardelows Farm, Cowlinge,
Newmarket, Suffolk CB8 9HP for a 10 pounds Sterling cheque made out
to the Flat-Coated Retriever Society. Copies also available from
the FCRSA for $27.50, checks payable to FCRSA, Inc and mail to
FCRSA Ways and Means (see address below; call to check
availability).

Petch, Paddy. _The Complete Flat-Coated Retriever_. Boydell Press, PO
Box 9, Woodbridge, Suffolk IP12 3DF and 27 South Main St., Wolfeboro
NH 03894-2069. ISBN 0 85115 463 8. 1988.

This is a very nice book though somewhat outdated as well. It does
not contain the same wealth of information as the Laughton book,
but may be more accessible to the lay person. It is now out of
print, and it is not clear if her book will be updated or not. The
current rumor is that Joan Mason in England is working on a new
book about the FCR.

_1994 Flat-Coated Retriever Directory of North American Dogs_.

Fourth edition. Includes Breed Standard, sixteen years of specialty
winners, guide to bench, field trial and obedience awards and
indices to owners, breeders and dogs. Photographs, pedigrees on 437
North American Flat-coats. $38 plus S&H (US book rate: $3, first
class: $5; CAN book rate: $410, first class $6.18; EUR sea: $4, air
$18) per book. Checks payable to Mark Cavallo, 7230 Peachtree
Dunwoody Road, Atlanta, GA 30328.

Retriever Training Books

Bailey, Joan. _How to Help Gun Dogs Train Themselves_. Swan Valley
Press 2401 NE Cornell Rd., # 140 Hillsboro, OR 97124 (1-800-356-9315).

Good coverage of the first year in the life of versatile and
pointing dogs.

Free, James Lamb. _Training Retrievers_.

A classic. It outlines the long-standing training methods for field
dogs. A good book even if some of it is outdated. An excellent
description of training a dog to handle.

Mueller, Larry. _Speed Train your Gun Dog_.

Rutherford,, Clarice and Cherylon Loveland. _Retriever Puppy Training:
The Right Start for Hunting_, Alpine Publications, 1992?.

Good step-by-step training methods, explained and illustrated
clearly.

Rutherford, Clarice, Barbara Brandstad, and Sandra Whicker. _Retriever
Working Certificate Training_. Alpine Publications, 1994?.

An excellently written book on how to get your dog ready for the WC
test. While they have written it for the one put on by the Golden
Retriever Club, it is equally applicable for the LRC one.
Informative and illustrated with b/w photos.

Spencer, James B. _Training Retrievers for the Marshes and Meadows_.
Denlinger Publications in Fairfax, VA.

It starts with puppy selection and goes on up to advanced marks and
blinds. It is oriented toward the amateur gundog trainer and is
well written and comprehensive.

Spencer, James B. _Retriever Training Tests_. Prentice Hall Press.

Helps you to set up training situations and teaches you how the dog
should react to things like hills, cover, land-water-land
retrieves, how the wind affects them, etc. Lots of good problem
solving material.

Periodicals, Pamphlets

_FCRSA Newsletter_
Mary Beth Bissig
[email protected]
128 GLendale Drive
Burlington, IA 52601-1502
319-754-4169

This is a quarterly publication averaging about 100 pages per
issue. It includes Society business, advertising, information
articles and breed statistics, including upcoming litters.
Subscriptions are available for the newsletter for $30 annually
(FCRSA members get a copy as a benefit of membership).

_"The Flat-Coated Retriever"_
Brochure available from FCRSA's Ways and Means (see below).

_Information Booklet_ by the Flat-Coated Retriever Society (see
address below).

Flat-Coated Retriever Society Newsletter
Annual. Sent to all members.

_Gun Dog_, P. O. Box 343 Mt. Morris, IL 61054-0343. 1-800-800-7724
(phone number also for _Wing & Shot_ and _Wildfowl_). Articles on all
types of bird dogs and gun dogs.

_The Shooting Sportsman_, Circulation Department P. O. Box 5024
Brentwood, TN 37204. 1-800-331-8947

Breed Clubs in the US

_Flat-Coated Retriever Society of America, Inc._

_Membership Secretary,_ Miriam Krum
16705 W. 32th Street
Paola, KS 66071
913-849-3218
_Ways and Means_ Ann Yuhasz
5601 Liberty Road
Chagrin Falls, OH 44022
216-248-5365

Affiliated breed clubs include:
* _Northeast Flat-Coated Retriever Club (Mainly New England)_
* _Mid Atlantic Flat-Coated Retriever Club (New Jersey, PA)_
* _Capital Region Flat-Coated Retriever Club (Maryland, Virginia,
District of Columbia)_
* _Midwest Waterways Flat-Coated Retriever Club (Great Lakes Region)_
* _Upper Midwest Flat-Coated Retriever Club (Minnesota)_
* _Great Western Flat-Coated Retriever Club (Mainly Southern
California)_
* _Northwest Flat-Coated Retriever Club (Oregon/Washington area)_

For an extensive list of online contacts for most regions, see the
Contacts Online section below.

Breed Clubs in Canada

_Flat-Coated Retriever Society of Canada_

Wendy MacDonald
3985 Rock City Road
Nanaimo, British Columbia
V9T 4L6
250-758-5121
[email protected]

Breed Clubs in the UK

_Flat-Coated Retriever Club of Scotland_

Hon Secretary: Mrs. Margaret Scougal
Tel: 0968 73808

_Flat-Coated Retriever Society_

_Hon Secretary:_ (information) Mrs. Joan Muade
The old Vicarage, Blackford, Wedmore, Somerset BS28 4NN Tel: 0934
712213
_Membership Secretary:_ Mrs. Sally McComb
Pennywise, Hyndford Bridge, Lanarkshire, Scotland ML11 8SQ
Tel: 0555 662526

Field and Hunting Clubs

_Hunting Retriever Club_ (HRC)
United Kennel Club, Inc.
100 E. Kilgore Road
Kalamazoo, MI 49001-5592
This organization also puts out a magazine.

_National Shoot To Retrieve Association_ (NSTRA-GD)
226 North Mill Street #2
Plainfield, IN 46168
317-839-4059

_North American Hunting Retriever Association_ (NAHRA)
P.O. Box 1590
Stafford, VA 22555
Tel: 800-421-4026
(they can direct you to clubs in your area)

_North American Versatile Hunting Dog Association_ (NAVHDA)
Box 520
Arlington Heights, IL 60006

_Quail Unlimited National Headquarters_
P. O. Box 610
Edgefield, SC 29824-0610
For information about starting your own local chapter, if one does not
already exist in your locale, direct your query to Winona Overholt,
Assistant Director of Chapter Development at the same address or phone
1-803-637-5731.

Breed Rescue

Joyce Rein
13588 104th Avenue
Grand Haven, MI 49417
616-846-0773

Breeders

To find a good breeder near you, contact your local breed club to see
if they keep a list of affiliated breeders. Some clubs have a code of
ethics for member breeders; others do not. Membership or presence on a
club list of breeders does not automatically confer reputability. You
must check with each breeder individually and see if they meet your
standards.

Even if the local breed club does not keep a list of breeders, you
will still be able to come into contact with local breeders and you
should get to know them if you are serious about getting a Flat-Coat.
Taking the time now in this respect will stand you in good stead when
you actually get the puppy -- you will know who is having a litter,
you will know what you are looking for, and the breeders will know you
as someone sincerely interested in a puppy and a good prospective
owner to boot.

A breeder's list is available from the FCRSA, but as with any such
list, it is up to you to determine if a breeder is the one for you.

Email List and Web Sites

Mike Richman ([email protected]) maintains a mailing list for
those interested in the FCR. To join, send email to
[email protected] with no subject line and the single line

SUBSCRIBE FCR-L Firstname Lastname

in the body of the message.

Other mailing lists include:
* The Hunting Retriever mailing list. Send email to
[email protected], with subscribe HUNTING-RETRIEVER in the
body of the mail message to join.
* The Gundog-L mailing list (gatewayed to rec.hunting.dogs). Send
email to [email protected] with subscribe GUNDOG-L yourfirstname
yourlastname in the body of the mail message to join.

Web sites of interest include:
* The Flat Coated Retreiver Homepage, at
http://www.io.com/~cane/fcr/fcrhome.html
* Working Retriever Central, at http://working-retriever.com/
* North American Hunting Retriever Association, at
http://www.cvm.okstate.edu/~ACVA/nahra/nahrafaq.htm

Contacts Online

The people listed below are willing to answer your e-mail and provide
information about the nearest Flat-Coat club in your area, if one
exists. They may also have information about upcoming Field events,
Supported Shows, club meetings and Flat-Coat fun days where you could
meet Flat-Coats and Flat-Coat owners and find out more. Contacts are
organized by country: USA, Canada, Great Britain, and Finland.

_Regional Contacts for the USA_

Listed geographically, from "left to right" or west to east:

Northwestern US

+ Alaska
o Mark and Jo-Anne Prins, [email protected]
+ Pacific Northwest (Oregon, Washington)
o Northwest Flat-Coated Retriever Club (aff.)
No online contact currently available
o June Fuget, [email protected]
o Alice Ellis, [email protected]
o Jennifer Stanley, [email protected]
+ Northern California
o Northern California Flat-Coated Retriever Club (unaff.)
Chris Butler, [email protected]
o Kyla Carlson, [email protected]
Kathy Blanchard, [email protected]

Southwestern US

+ Southern California, Arizona, Nevada
o Great Western Flat-Coated Retriever Club (aff.)
Alison Taub (Secretary), [email protected]
Cynthia Trotter, [email protected]
+ New Mexico
o Janice Anthes, [email protected]

Northern (Central) US

+ Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa
o Midwest Waterways Flat-Coated Retriever Club (aff.)
Kathy Barton (Secretary) [email protected]
Kathee Beebe (Treasurer), [email protected]
Karen Bloom (member), [email protected]
Marybeth Bissig (member), [email protected]
+ Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, North and South Dakota
o Upper Midwest Flat-Coated Retriever Club (aff.)
Ernie Rudolph, [email protected]
Phyllis Barks, [email protected]

Western (Central) US

+ Colorado/Rockies, Utah, Wyoming
o Don Freeman, [email protected]

Southern (Central) US

+ Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma
o David and Lamora Cole [email protected] or
[email protected]

Northeastern US

+ Maryland, Virginia, District of Columbia
o Capital Region Flat-Coated Retriever Club (aff.)
Dawn M. Buttion, (President) [email protected]
Judy Delventhal, (VP) [email protected] Marke Reynolds
(club member) [email protected]
+ Pennsylvania, New Jersey
o Mid-Atlantic Flat-Coated Retriever Club (aff.)
Diane Husic, [email protected]
+ New England, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont, New
Hampshire
o Northeast Flat-Coated Retriever Club (aff.)
Kurt Anderson (President), 73210,[email protected]
Jennifer Andrews, [email protected]
+ New York State
o Diane Cornell, [email protected]

Southeastern US

+ Joyce Leonard, [email protected]

_Regional Contacts for Canada - Not Compiled Yet._

_Regional Contacts for Great Britain - Not Compiled Yet._

_Regional Contacts for Finland - Not Compiled Yet_
_________________________________________________________________

Flat-Coated Retriever FAQ
Cindy Tittle Moore, [email protected]

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