Temperament
Energetic, Eager, Clownish, Reserved with strangers.
Health problems to know about
- Hip dysplasia
- Elbow dysplasia
- Seizures (epilepsy)
- Reactions to sulfa drugs
- Ear infections
Ask breeders for the parents' health test results, and check what your national breed club recommends screening for.
Daily care
Two hours or more of exercise a day, ideally with swimming and retrieving. Brush and comb the curls a few times a week and dry the ears after swims. Ask your vet to flag the sulfa-drug sensitivity on file.
A good fit for
Active outdoor people, gundog or water work, families with time for lots of exercise.
Probably not ideal for
Flats, low-energy homes, owners who dislike grooming or wet dogs.
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.
