Items14The creator’s order
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Portuguese Water DogThe Algarve's fishing dog was trained to herd fish into nets, dive for lost tackle and carry messages from boat to boat, and its webbed toes and steady stroke still show it. The single-layer curly coat barely sheds but never stops growing, so budget for regular clipping; many owners keep a short…0i - 2
Newfoundland dogThe big dog of Newfoundland's fishing coast hauled nets and became famous for pulling people out of the water, and breed clubs still run water-rescue tests today. Webbed paws, a dense oily double coat and sheer bulk make it a powerful, unhurried swimmer for cold lakes and the Atlantic, but that…0i - 3
Labrador RetrieverLabradors descend from the St John's water dogs that worked with Newfoundland's fishermen, and they kept the kit: fully webbed paws, a thick otter tail that steers like a rudder and a short waterproof coat that sheds most of the lake with one good shake. That makes the Lab the easiest all-rounder…0i - 4
Chesapeake Bay RetrieverBred around Maryland's Chesapeake Bay from two Newfoundland-type pups rescued from a sinking ship in 1807, the Chessie worked for market hunters who needed a dog to smash through ice and fetch ducks all day. Its wavy, oily coat sheds water like a duck's back, which is also why it smells faintly…0i - 5
Golden RetrieverDeveloped in the Scottish Highlands in the mid-1800s to fetch shot game from land and water, the Golden owes part of its swimming urge to the Tweed Water Spaniel in its founding pair. It is the gentlest family choice on this list, happy to paddle beside children at the shore, but the feathered coat…0i - 6
Nova Scotia Duck Tolling RetrieverThe smallest retriever has the oddest water job: it dashes and plays along the shoreline so curious ducks paddle closer to watch, then swims out to fetch the birds once the hunter has shot. Webbed feet and a water-repellent double coat were bred for the icy inlets of Yarmouth County, Nova Scotia,…0i - 7
Curly-coated RetrieverOne of the first two retriever breeds recognised in England and the tallest of them all, the Curly was a gamekeeper's gun dog for upland birds and wildfowl. Its tight, crisp curls repel water and burrs, and the care routine is refreshingly simple: skip the brush, which pulls the curls into frizz,…0i - 8
Flat-coated RetrieverEngland's land-and-water retriever is the clown of the family, keeping its puppyish bounce well into middle age and launching itself into lakes with real enthusiasm. The glossy, feathered coat is easier than it looks, though the feathering behind the ears and legs collects burrs and weed, so comb…0i - 9
PoodlePick the Standard size for water work. Before the show ring, the Poodle was a water retriever in Germany and France, and even its famous clip began as a working cut: short where hair would drag in the water, full over the joints and chest for warmth. For a swimming dog, ask the groomer for an even…0i - 10
Spanish Water DogSpain's all-purpose farm and fishing dog herded livestock, retrieved game from marshland and helped inshore fishermen on the Cantabrian coast, so it suits owners who want a swimmer with a herding brain and a job-hungry attitude. The woolly coat is not brushed: it is traditionally clipped in one…0i
