As remarked at the beginning of this chapter, the Curly-coated Retriever is not nearly so popular as his Flat-coated relative, and, in the writer's opinion, the genuine show article is not in general use with the gun. Nevertheless, he is a striking-looking member of the canine race, and though quantity is wanting, quality is well represented amongst the select few.

There seems to be a prevailing impression that the average disposition of the Curly-coated Retriever (Fig. 74) is not as sweet and benevolent as that of the more popular dog, and that he is less tractable. The writer's only experience of these animals is in the show-ring, and he confesses that he has always found the exhibits mild and friendly enough. Probably the real reason of their unpopularity lies in the fact that they are more or less a "fancy" breed, and that their beautiful astrachan coats, which constitute by far the most important item in the scale, require a deal of keeping in order and expert manipulation. Mr. S. Darbey used to be facile princeps as a breeder and an exhibitor. His Tiverton Beauties had a wonderful success in their own classes, and generally managed to squelch opposition, when opposed to even the very best Flat-coated specimens; whilst one or other of them often annexed special prizes for "the best dog or bitch in the show," or "the best sporting team." Messrs. Mason and Wood, too, have been very faithful to the breed, and have shown many specimens of the highest merit; but the writer thinks that they have a leaning towards the other variety, as they have taken to showing a good one now and then. The same remark applies to Mr. Duerdin Dutton, who, once one of the most enthusiastic supporters of the Astrachans, has now signified his intention of abandoning them in favour of the Flat-coats.

Mr. C. Flowitt owns perhaps the best specimen of the new century - Champion Belle Vue Nina to wit. She is almost perfection, and it was a great fight when she met Champion Black Quilt (who had just beaten Champion Wimpole Peter) for the National Challenge Bowl at the Birmingham Show, 1901. The respective judges could not agree, and a referee had to be called in, who, after much demur, gave the award to the flat-coated dog.

The points of conformation of the Curly-coated Retriever are, or should be, identical with those of the Flat-coat; but several variations are generally observable. The head is somewhat different in type and expression, it being more wedge-like, and the muzzle not so deep. As a rule, they have the advantage in showing a flatter skull, and nearly all of them have good dark eyes, generally a size smaller than those of the Flat-coat. They are apt to be more sprung in rib, hence their shoulders are heavier and less oblique, and they are wider in the chest; but better feet, legs, and hocks are found, on the average, than amongst the other variety, a remark which also applies to sterns.

The following scale indicates the relative value of points : coat ..• .. ..

It will be seen that a very large proportion of marks is allowed for coat, the excellence of which is, after all, a sine qua non in would-be prize winners of this variety. It should be a mass of even, short, tight curls extending all over the body as far as the base of the skull, where they suddenly cease, leaving the skull itself and the face covered with short fine hair which often shows a slight but crisp wave. There is feather neither on the legs nor on the stern, the latter being round and "roped" with the same astrachan curls.

In the last years of the nineteenth century a few enthusiasts banded themselves into a club for the encouragement of the breed; but their well-meant efforts have met with but slight success, if regard is had to the number of specimens exhibited, for, outside their own ranks, the dog-loving public and the ever-fickle Fancy have refused to boom the breed, and its splendid isolation remains as of yore.

As to the origin of the Curly-coated Retriever, the writer would be sorry to lay down the law; but he has a shrewd idea that the Poodle and the Irish Water-Spaniel had a look in somewhere, and it may have had its origin in the alliance of such with a Flat-coated Retriever or a Labrador. This is rank heresy in the ears of votaries of the breed, of course; for these enthusiasts claim that the Curly-coated variety existed in approximately its present type when yet the germs of the modern Flat-coated Retriever were reposing in the entity of the Setter and the Newfoundland or the Labrador. But "he laughs best who laughs last," and for the time being, at any rate, that smile is on the side of the far more numerous body who swear by the Flat-coat.

Fig. 74. - Mr. S. Darbey's Curly-Coated Retriever, Champion Tiverton Beauty II.

So far the question of colour in the Retriever has not been alluded to, the writer having purposely left it to the last. It goes without saying that black is the orthodox pattern which is almost universal; moreover, there seems to be a prevailing idea that any other colour is taboo. It may be that some Retriever experts hold to this doctrine; but personally, the writer is altogether at variance with such views, and red, liver-coloured, or even fawn dogs, if of sufficient high standard of excellence in points of conformity and action, would stand as good a chance under his aegis as a black; but he would draw the line at a parti-coloured dog - a line of action that would doubtless be endorsed by his confreres of the ring, and by readers and exhibitors at large.

It is certain that a really good liver-coloured or red dog - i.e. the colour of an Irish Setter - would be met with acclamation; but, strange to say, that although a goodly number of puppies of these colours are born, of the very choicest strains, we have yet to see a mature specimen that approaches the standard of the black champions. One of the strains that is apt to break out in this direction is that in which the name of Champion Taut appears in the lineal pedigree; but it is difficult to trace the why and the wherefore of this phenomenon, for apparently this sire traces back to the same tap-roots from which spring a race in which a "coloured" Retriever is a far greater rarity. The writer has bred dozens of these puppies, but he has never reared one that he considered up to the standard of first-class show form. On one or two occasions he has seen fawn or cream-coloured specimens, and he has been given to understand that these have their origin in a "throw-back" to an ancient strain which is, or was, in the possession of the Dukes of Leeds. The question of white markings on a black dog is quite a different matter, and here the boycott has been promptly applied. A small bunch of white hairs on the chest, or the same distributed singly on the coat and stern, is no great detriment; but a distinct white patch, white toes or feet, should constitute a disqualifying blemish. These remarks apply to both Flat- and Curly-coated Retrievers alike. At the end of the century a few of the leading breeders were anxious to see if an entry of red dogs could be gathered together, and one of these enthusiasts guaranteed classes at the Crystal Palace (Kennel Club Show) for such; but the result hardly justified the experiment, as the writer believes only one specimen was forthcoming, and that of very moderate quality.