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- From: rpd-info@netcom.com (Cindy Tittle Moore)
- Subject: rec.pets.dogs: Flat-Coated Retrievers Breed-FAQ
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- =======
- There are many FAQ's available for this group. For a complete
- listing of these, get the "Complete List of RPD FAQs". This article
- is posted bimonthly in rec.pets.dogs, and is available via anonymous ftp
- to rtfm.mit.edu under pub/usenet/news.answers/dogs-faq/faq-list, via
- the Web at http://www.k9web.com/dog-faqs/lists/faq-list.html, or
- via email by sending your message to mail-server@rtfm.mit.edu with
- send usenet/news.answers/dogs-faq/faq-list
- in the body of the message.
-
- This article is Copyright 1997 by the Author(s) listed below.
- It may be freely distributed on the Internet in its entirety without
- alteration provided that this copyright notice is not removed.
- It may NOT reside at another website (use links, please) other
- than the URL listed above without the permission of the Author(s).
- This article may not be sold for profit nor incorporated in other
- documents without he Author(s)'s permission and is provided "as is"
- without express or implied warranty.
- ==========
-
-
- Flat-Coated Retrievers
-
- Author
-
- Cindy Tittle Moore, January 1995.
-
- With the invaluable help of:
- * Alison Taub, cane@io.com
- For her generous loan of books and materials on the FCR.
- * Mike Richman, richman@trumpkin.ou.edu
- 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
- mbbissig@interl.net
- 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
- wenmac@island.net
-
- 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 (obedreq@trumpkin.ou.edu) maintains a mailing list for
- those interested in the FCR. To join, send email to
- listproc@trumpkin.ou.edu 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
- majordomo@law.uark.edu, 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 listserv@tamu.edu 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, fsmsp1@aurora.alaska.edu
- + Pacific Northwest (Oregon, Washington)
- o Northwest Flat-Coated Retriever Club (aff.)
- No online contact currently available
- o June Fuget, junefuget@aol.com
- o Alice Ellis, aellis2397@aol.com
- o Jennifer Stanley, 75211.2722@CompuServe.COM
- + Northern California
- o Northern California Flat-Coated Retriever Club (unaff.)
- Chris Butler, cjb@frame.com
- o Kyla Carlson, kycarlson@pcc.ziff.com
- Kathy Blanchard, kablanchard@ucdavis.edu
-
- Southwestern US
-
- + Southern California, Arizona, Nevada
- o Great Western Flat-Coated Retriever Club (aff.)
- Alison Taub (Secretary), alisont@netcom.com
- Cynthia Trotter, hollystar@aol.com
- + New Mexico
- o Janice Anthes, janice.anthes@west.sun.com
-
- Northern (Central) US
-
- + Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa
- o Midwest Waterways Flat-Coated Retriever Club (aff.)
- Kathy Barton (Secretary) katefire@aol.com
- Kathee Beebe (Treasurer), katheeb590@aol.com
- Karen Bloom (member), asr@ssc.wisc.edu
- Marybeth Bissig (member), mbbissig@interl.net
- + Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, North and South Dakota
- o Upper Midwest Flat-Coated Retriever Club (aff.)
- Ernie Rudolph, erudolph@dsmnet.com
- Phyllis Barks, pbarks@sunflowr.usd.edu
-
- Western (Central) US
-
- + Colorado/Rockies, Utah, Wyoming
- o Don Freeman, donfcr@aol.com
-
- Southern (Central) US
-
- + Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma
- o David and Lamora Cole dmcole@amoco.com or
- 72270.1104@compuserve.com
-
- Northeastern US
-
- + Maryland, Virginia, District of Columbia
- o Capital Region Flat-Coated Retriever Club (aff.)
- Dawn M. Buttion, (President) dawn@onion.jhuapl.edu
- Judy Delventhal, (VP) victoryret@aol.com Marke Reynolds
- (club member) mark.reynolds@american.edu
- + Pennsylvania, New Jersey
- o Mid-Atlantic Flat-Coated Retriever Club (aff.)
- Diane Husic, dhusic@esu.edu
- + New England, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont, New
- Hampshire
- o Northeast Flat-Coated Retriever Club (aff.)
- Kurt Anderson (President), 73210,136@compuserve.com
- Jennifer Andrews, huntlane@snet.net
- + New York State
- o Diane Cornell, dogs4fun@aol.com
-
- Southeastern US
-
- + Joyce Leonard, joycel@okeechobee.com
-
- _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, rpd-info@netcom.com
-
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