Temperament
Intelligent, Steady, Independent, Gentle.
Health problems to know about
- Hip dysplasia
- Glycogen storage disease type IIIa
- Progressive retinal atrophy (cord1-PRA)
- Epilepsy
- Exercise-induced collapse
Ask breeders for the parents' health test results, and check what your national breed club recommends screening for.
Daily care
Plenty of daily exercise, ideally with swimming or retrieving. Occasional brushing and baths; the coat has little odour. Gentle, positive training and patience, since Curlies are slow to grow up.
A good fit for
Active owners who enjoy water work, families with older children, and people who like an independent thinker.
Probably not ideal for
Owners expecting instant obedience, homes with toddlers and no time to manage a bouncy youngster, and people with little time to exercise.
Sources
Popularity: AKC 2025 registration rankings (US); Royal Kennel Club 2025 registrations (UK, ranked by us). Breed traits are tendencies, not guarantees. Individual dogs vary, and mixed breeds and rescues can be wonderful fits too.
