Maintaining two of the most outstanding three dog breeds in the United States, retrievers are amazingly popular due to their energetic personalities and tender demeanors.
Retrievers are categorized by the AKC (American Kennel Club) as sporting dogs, as they’re bred for hunting birds, especially ducks and many other waterfowl.
But how many different types of retrievers do you know? While Golden Retrievers and Labrador Retrievers are the most popular types in this group, we have six different types of retrievers.
These retrievers are similar in temperament and look, but they also have specific differences too.
Here is a list of Retrievers you might be interested in;
1. Labrador Retriever
Labradors are the most popular dog breed in the United States. They’ve held this position since 1991; according to the American Kennel Club, Labrador Retrievers are very social and intelligent dogs.
They have black, chocolate, or yellow coats and weigh about 55-80 pounds, depending on the retriever’s sex.
Labradors are famous food their short, dense coat, a good temperament, a very friendly nature, and an otter-like tail that’s amazingly strong.
Labrador retrievers are said to have shared a long history with fishermen in Newfoundland, where they began to quickly become popular in the early 1800s as English noblemen took the breed back to their country.
2. Chesapeake Bay Retriever
Also referred to as “Chessies,” he is a stout dog and very strong. This breed is naturally larger and ruggedly built than the other known retrievers. Their coat is wavy, dense, and waterproof.
Chesapeake Bay Retriever comes in three known colors-red-gold(sedge), chocolate brown, and straw (dead grass), but their eyes are always amber hue or yellowish.
They come in three colors—chocolate brown, sedge (red-gold), and dead grass (straw), but their eyes are always a yellowish or amber hue.
Due to Chesapeake retriever’s popularity along the Chesapeake Bay, the breed got its name from owners of duck clubs in the 19th century.
Chessies retrieved ducks expertly and would navigate chilly waters with ease due to their oily coat.
This breed is the third-most-famous type of retriever in the U.S, but their rank falls far below the Labradors and Golden retrievers.
Nevertheless, Chesapeake Bay Retrievers display a familiar bright, happy disposition and impeccable intelligence.
3. Golden Retriever
Even though Golden Retriever isn’t as popular or physically outstanding as Labrador retrievers, they still manage to win the hearts of many in the United States of America, and they hold the no.3 spot as the most popular breed, according to the AKC.
Its straight muzzle and broadhead can characterize the breed, asides from being very friendly and strong.
This amazing pet was initially bred in Scotland in the mid-19th century. While the Golden retriever has three different variations- Canada, American, and British- they all have what seems like a thick golden-yellow coat.
This dog requires consistent grooming, especially since their water-repellant double-thick-coat sheds easily and regularly. This is more evident during the twice-a-year obvious shedding event.
Brushing their coat daily or weekly minimizes the amount of shedding that naturally occurs.
4. Flat-Coated Retriever
The kind, cheerful, and energetic Retriever has, as the name implies, a flat-looking coat that can neither be said to be liver or black.
Like their immediate cousins, Golden Retrievers, this breed requires weekly brushing to discourage shedding.
The breeding of the Flat-Coated retrievers didn’t start until the mid-1800 and was called the “Gamekeeper’s Dog.” Before Golden and Labradors took its popularity spot, Flat-Coated Retrievers had the hearts of many people from Britain.
During both major World Wars, the breeding of Flat-coated Retrievers reached a very low level to the point where extinction was inevitable. Fortunately, their population began to rise in the 1960s.
Flat-Coated Retrievers don’t reach full maturity until 3-5 years old, but they are very easy to train. Because of their slow growth rate, they are generally referred to as the “Peter Pan” of retrievers.
5. Curly-Coated Retriever
The Curly-Coated Retrievers is said to be the oldest of all retriever breeds, as it first appeared in the late 1700s. Curly-Coated Retrievers have liver or black coats that are curly and waterproof.
Unlike other retrievers with their distinct features, the Curly-Coated has a wedge-shaped, tapered head. This retriever displays more independence than others, even though it is very playful and friendly with loved ones.
Curly-Coated Retrievers are descendants of two extinct dog breeds, the Retrieving Setter and the English Water Spaniel.
Still, there’s also speculation that the selective, low-shedding curls are from a cross with the Poodle.
6. Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever
You might be quick to assume that the Nova Scotia duck tolling retriever doesn’t grow at all, but they are the smallest of the retrievers.
This beautiful dog can be characterized by its compact body and dense double coat.
They have colors ranging from copper red to golden red on the body, with white patches on the chest, face, and paws.
Due to its thick double coat, the Tolling Retriever needs weekly brushing year-round and daily brushing when it’s shedding season.
As the name implies, the Tolling Retriever was bred in Nova Scotia, and they have an inquisitive nature and can quickly catch waterfowls.
Which among these retrievers do you own or would like to own? How many retrievers have you come across? Please share your thoughts with us in the comments below.
