Breed History
The Curly-Coated Retriever is the oldest of the retrieving breeds alive and recognized today, and has been performing its vital task in England since the early to mid-18th century....
No written account of the development of the breed exists, but experts are fairly confident the dog descends from the Old English Water Dog, Irish Water Spaniel and Newfoundland. Yet another water loving breed, the Poodle, was added to the mix during the 19th century, and served to accentuate the Curly-Coated Retrievers characteristic curly coat.The Curly-Coated Retriever enjoyed its greatest popularity during the mid-19th century, when it was the most widely used retrieving dog in England. Around this time, the dog was introduced to Australia and New Zealand, where it achieved great success as a retriever of California quail and duck. The first Curly-Coated Retriever was brought to America in 1907, and the breed received AKC recognition in 1924. The Curly-Coated Retriever never caught on in America, and its popularity in England fell during the 20th century in England as well; the breed remains a rarity both in the field and the home.