Anyone Use Flatcoat Retriever?

[Turner89]

I am going to buy a new duck dog this spring, and thinking about a flatcoat. I have always had black labs, but heard good things about flatcoats. 

[Happy Gilmore]

I am going to buy a new duck dog this spring, and thinking about a flatcoat. I have always had black labs, but heard good things about flatcoats.

There is only one lady in Canada to consider buying a flat coat from. Judy something? I can find her if you want. She's bred the only recent flatcoat to get a master hunter title and the only flat coat in recent history to complete a field trial. (in canada)

Most flat coats I've seen are pretty soft and not the most "ambitious" retrievers around by any stretch. Bred too heavily for coat to look good on TV for the dog shows. For a duck dog, if you've had a lab, you might be disapointed with a flat coat unless you really find a good breeder which isn't easy. They, like Chessies are a small breed in numbers.

[wildweeds]

I had a flatcoat about 27 years ago,the dog would hit the water hard,and was a frisbee catching machine.I ruined the dog myself by using the "gun club/shooting around the food bowl" method that many on here seem to think is the red hot ticket.I got my ass peeled on another thread about gunbreaking.It is something I'm passionate about because of the flatcoat ,she was a very good dog that I ruined.My best guess is that Happy is talking about the woman in Agassiz B.C. My dog decended from her breeding program,was very birdy and did AWESOME on pheasants............until a gun was involved(preseason training). A possible contact info would be Foreverton Farms in Maple falls WA,that's where I got my flatcoat from and she new the woman from B.C. quite well.

[Stilly bay]

using the "gun club/shooting around the food bowl" method that many on here seem to think is the red hot ticket.

philistines....

I would love to see flatcoats make a bigger splash in the U.S. when a flat coat has the proper breeding and training they are great dogs. I have only met a couple but they had great temperaments.

turner89, listen to these guys, and do your research. don't listen anecdotal internet stories and make your decision on that alone.

[Happy Gilmore]

Here's a picture of my Chesapeake with Judy's Flatcoats in Victoria. I have her name and email somewhere....can dig it up if you're interested. No stories here. Trained with her and her dogs, had wine with her every night for 4 days. Judy and her friend stayed in the cabin at the grounds. She had the Standard Poodles. Pretty nice dogs.

[Happy Gilmore]

Can you tell she felt like an outcast among them?

[Stilly bay]

very cool pics Happy!

[Turner89]

Yea she looks a little bit uncomfortable     Yea if you guys have any #s of breeders I would apreciate it.
   Always owned labs, and have had very good luck.  I saw a flat coat at a hunt test in monroe about ten years ago and was impressed, so maybe we will give one a try.

[Happy Gilmore]

Yea she looks a little bit uncomfortable     Yea if you guys have any #s of breeders I would apreciate it.
   Always owned labs, and have had very good luck.  I saw a flat coat at a hunt test in monroe about ten years ago and was impressed, so maybe we will give one a try.

Likely from Judy's line of dogs. Sending you a PM with her email address...She'll be a good source for advice. She's a very nice lady.

[Turner89]

Thanks Happy!

[Wacenturion]

You have had black labs and now you want a flatcoat.....curious as to why?  Did you have bad experiences with labs.  As far as retriever comparisons go, black labs to flatcoats would be in my mind like Cadillac's to Chevrolet or less in my mind.  Nothing personal against Flatcoats, just not the potential retriever a lab is, based on similar backgrounds with good bloodlines, costing similar dollars.

No offense to Flatcoats intended.  Just curious is all.

[Turner89]

You have had black labs and now you want a flatcoat.....curious as to why?  Did you have bad experiences with labs.  As far as retriever comparisons go, black labs to flatcoats would be in my mind like Cadillac's to Chevrolet or less in my mind.  Nothing personal against Flatcoats, just not the potential retriever a lab is, based on similar backgrounds with good bloodlines, costing similar dollars.

No offense to Flatcoats intended.  Just curious is all.

Yea she looks a little bit uncomfortable     Yea if you guys have any #s of breeders I would apreciate it.
   Always owned labs, and have had very good luck.  I saw a flat coat at a hunt test in monroe about ten years ago and was impressed, so maybe we will give one a try.

No I have had very good luck with labs.  I think that the flatcoats are a good looking dog, and I really liked the ONE that I saw at the hunt test. Aside from that I really dont know alot about them.
 

[Dhoey07]

My wife's college roommates parent's, lol, breed them.  I'm pretty sure they breed more for show that anything else but i could inquire if you would like.  From talking to her about them, i guess they have a temperment similar to a golden.  Great looking dogs though!