Flat Coated Retriever: How should an owner handle adolescent behaviour changes?
When a young Flat Coated Retriever becomes less reliable, return to the last version of the behaviour that was working and rebuild from there. Schedule the first attempt after the dog's normal age-appropriate outlet, not at peak excitement. Return to easier cues, shorten sessions, increase reinforcement, and manage the environment while skills are rebuilt. Keep the easier version in the routine while reliability returns; do not test the hardest version every day.
What can change during adolescence
Flat Coated Retriever's exercise is recorded as The Flat-Coat is an active sporting breed and requires ample exercise every day for his physical and mental well-being. Here, that matters because it changes the amount and timing of movement, stimulation, and recovery this situation needs.
Rebuild the behaviour you want
- Return to easier cues, shorten sessions, increase reinforcement, and manage the environment while skills are rebuilt.
- Use this exercise note (The Flat-Coat is an active sporting breed and requires ample exercise every day for his physical and mental well-being) to choose the starting amount of movement and the length of the recovery period.
- Keep the easier version in the routine while reliability returns; do not test the hardest version every day.
Arrange an assessment if
Escalate for sudden personality change, pain, disorientation, or aggression that cannot be safely managed.
References
Height: 23-24.5 inches (male), 22-23.5 inches (female)
AKC page PageMap DataObject > height
Weight: 60-70 pounds
AKC page PageMap DataObject > weight
Life expectancy: 8-10 years
AKC page PageMap DataObject > life_expectancy
Grooming: The Flat-Coat's moderate-length coat requires a weekly grooming with a brush and a metal dog comb to remove dirt and loose hair and keep the dog looking his best. The ears should be regularly inspected and cleaned if needed. The nails should be trimmed often, as overly long nails can cause the dog discomfort and problems walking and running.
AKC page Grooming > official section copy
Exercise: The Flat-Coat is an active sporting breed and requires ample exercise every day for his physical and mental well-being. This can come in the form of long daily walks and play sessions with his owner. The breed also exercises mind and body by participating in obedience, tracking, agility, rally, and other activities that can be enjoyed by dog and owner.
AKC page Exercise > official section copy
Training: Flat-Coats are very intelligent, responsive, and eager to please, so they are generally easy to train. They have a sensitive nature and don't respond well to harsh corrections or training methods. A Flat-Coat wants to be with his family, and undesirable behaviors can result if he is regularly left alone for long periods of time. Early socialization and…
AKC page Training > official section copy
Official breed description: The Peter Pan of the Sporting Group, the forever-young Flat-Coated Retriever is a gundog of relatively recent origin. Happy, self-assured, and willing to please, a good Flat-Coat will retrieve a duck or a show ribbon with equal aplomb.
AKC page About the Breed > official breed description
Recommended parent-club health tests: ['Patella Evaluation', 'Hip Evaluation', 'Ophthalmologist Evaluation']
AKC page Health > Recommended Health Tests From the National Breed Club
Official breed standard: http://images.akc.org/pdf/breeds/standards/FlatCoatedRetriever.pdf
AKC page The Breed Standard > View Full Breed Standard
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