Curly-coated Retriever

One 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, and just wet the coat down and let it dry. Curlies are more independent than a Lab and less common, which suits an owner who wants a retriever with a bit of character and a coat that copes with brambly lake edges.