The flat-coated retriever belongs to group 8: Game retrievers, game retrievers and water dogs. Dogs in this group were primarily bred to hunt, retrieve, or retrieve game shot while hunting at the hunter's command. Hence the name “retrievers”. They have a highly developed nose for following tracks. Sometimes they can get completely lost. They are also dogs that bark quickly, because during the hunt they had to let their master know that they had found the game.

The flat-coated retriever was popularized in England in the 19th century, primarily as a hunting dog. The breed is said to have originated from the crossing of setters and collies, among others. The first dogs of these crossbreeds were called curly-coated retrievers, but after further crossbreeding, the flat-coated retriever was born. Due to the popularity of related breeds such as the golden retriever and the Labrador, the breed was almost extinct by the first half of the 20th century. In the sixties the breed saw a rise in popularity and the breed became popular again for hunting, but also as a companion dog. The breed is still quite rare.

The Flat-Coated Retriever has a refined head with a flat skull. There is a slight stop between the eyes, but it is not accentuated. The nose is a good size with open nostrils. The jaws are long and strong. The eyes are medium sized and can be dark brown or hazel in color. The ears are small and on the side of the head. The body is short and rectangular. The front feet are straight and firm, the hind feet are slightly curved and well muscled. The neck is quite long and symmetrical. The tail is short and straight. The coat of the Flat-Coated Retriever is dense and, of course, very flat. On the feet and tail, the hair is a little longer. The coat can only be black or liver colored. The way the race moves can be described as fluid. The male has a height of 59-61.5 cm and an average weight of 27-36 kg, the female has a height of 56.5-59 cm and an average weight of 25-32 kg.

The Flat-Coated Retriever has some health problems that are common in other similar breeds. Like most large dogs, they suffer from joint disorders, such as hip dysplasia, a condition that causes injuries to the femoral head and hip joints. Certain eye conditions, such as progressive retinal atrophy and glaucoma, are also common. Additionally, they may suffer from deafness and epilepsy. The condition that affects this breed more than other breeds is cancer. A large proportion of dogs of this breed die from it, so life expectancy is not very high.

The Flat-Coated Retriever is a lively, friendly and intelligent dog. However, the breed is also known for its naughty side. You have to work on it from a very young age to ensure that the dog obtains the desired temperament as an adult. Compared to related breeds, the breed remains young at heart for a very long time. It therefore takes longer for a flat-coated retriever to behave like an adult dog. Therefore, it is not suitable for people with little patience who prefer to get out of the puppy phase as quickly as possible. A flat-coated retriever therefore needs a lot of attention and shows unwanted behavior when bored. This boredom can be physical or mental. The breed is very sensitive, so it needs gentle but consistent training. If the approach is too harsh, the dog will be stubborn. It is also important to consider the dog's hunting instinct. You can take the opportunity to entertain the dog, for example by playing ball. However, be careful not to leave the dog without a leash in areas where other dogs are present, because due to the hunting instinct it will obey you less easily when it has spotted prey. This must also be taken into account when in the presence of children. The Flat-Coated Retriever is very friendly with children, but can be very active and playful. This is why it is important to, like other breeds, socialize it at a young age and never leave young children alone with the dog. As the breed is very energetic, it is not recommended to keep the dog in an apartment.