Last Updated: Nov 22, 2022
Quick Links: Table of Contents
- Are Flat-Coated Retrievers Aggressive Towards Strangers?
- Are Flat-Coated Retrievers Aggressive Towards their Owners?
- Are Flat-Coated Retrievers Aggressive Towards other Dogs?
- Are Flat-Coated Retrievers Afraid of Strangers?
- Are Flat-Coated Retrievers Afraid of Other Dogs?
- Do Flat-Coated Retrievers Have Non-Social Fears?
- Do Flat-Coated Retrievers Get Along Well With Other Dogs?
- Are Flat-Coated Retrievers Easy to Train?
- Do Flat-Coated Retrievers Get Along Well with Cats? Do They Get Along Well with Other Pets?
- Do Flat-Coated Retrievers Like Attention? Are they Clingy or Aloof?
- Do Flat-Coated Retrievers have Separation Anxiety? Do They Like to be Left Alone?
- Are Flat-Coated Retrievers Touch Sensitive? Do They Like to be Groomed?
- Are Flat-Coated Retrievers Hyper? Are they Highly Excitable?
- Are Flat-Coated Retrievers Playful? What is the Energy Level of Flat-Coated Retrievers
- Conclusion on Flat-Coated Retriever Temperament
Introduction to the Temperament of the Flat-Coated Retriever
The are many descriptions of the temperament of the Flat-Coated Retriever out there. However, most of these descriptions are difficult to verify or prove. They are based on mere speculations.
In this article, we will provide a factual description of the temperament of the Flat-Coated Retriever based on solid scientific research. This will give you a better understanding of what you can expect from the Flat-Coated Retriever breed.
We obtained our description of the temperament of Flat-Coated Retriever by analyzing raw scientific data from The Canine Behavioral Assessment & Research Questionnaire (C-BARQ) database.
The C-BARQ dog temperament standard was developed by researchers from the University of Pennsylvania. It is considered the gold standard for measuring the behavior of dogs.
Over the years, the C-BARQ study has collected data on the temperament of thousands of dogs of different breeds including the Flat-Coated Retriever.
The C-BARQ study obtains its data by asking dog owners to score the behavior of their dogs on different behavior patterns.
The idea behind the C-BARQ study is that if it collects thousands of scores from thousands of dog owners on different aspects of dog behavior, a clear pattern will emerge on the temperament of different dog breeds.
The C-BARQ questionnaire measures 14 behavior aspects of dogs:
- Aggression towards stranger
- Aggression towards its owner
- Aggression towards other dogs
- How well they get along with other dogs
- Fear of strangers
- Fear of new things (new objects, unfamiliar loud sounds, etc)
- Fear of other dogs
- Separation anxiety
- Clinginess
- Trainability/ Stubbornness
- Prey drive
- Excitability
- Touch sensitivity
- Energy level
In this article, we will discuss the score of the Flat-Coated Retriever for each of these 14 characteristics. This will let you know the real temperament of the Flat-Coated Retriever.
The summary table below shows the score of the Flat-Coated Retriever for the different behavioral characteristics.
High percentage scores close to 100 are bad. Low percentage scores close to 0 are good.
| Behavior | Score |
|---|---|
| Stranger Directed Fear | 9.5 percent |
| Energy Level | 73.2 percent |
| Attachment Attention Seeking | 63.2 percent |
| Excitability | 46.7 percent |
| Prey Drive | 46.2 percent |
| Dog Directed Fear | 43.3 percent |
| Dog Directed Aggression | 43.0 percent |
| Dog Rivalry | 29.1 percent |
| Nonsocial Fear | 26.0 percent |
| Touch Sensitivity | 23.8 percent |
| Stubbornness | 15.4 percent |
| Separation Related Behavior | 15.0 percent |
| Owner Directed Aggression | 13.1 percent |
| Stranger Directed Aggression | 11.1 percent |
Note that with proper training, you can better your Flat-Coated Retriever`s temperament. To learn how to properly train your Flat-Coated Retriever, I highly recommend that you go through Dr. Ian Dunbar`s online dog training classes, which you can find here.
I learned most of the things that I know about training dogs by reading Dr. Dunbar`s books and watching his training videos. Dr. Dunbar`s dog training methods are for people expecting to own a puppy soon, new dog owners, and experienced dog owners.
Another helpful online dog training class that I recommend is this one. The class will teach you how to properly train your Flat-Coated Retriever.
See also our complete ranking of dog breeds from the `best` to the `worst` based on temperament.
Are Flat-Coated Retrievers Aggressive Towards Strangers?
Dog breeds that are aggressive to strangers show hostile responses to strangers approaching or invading the dog`s or the dog owner`s personal space, territory, or home range.
Stranger-aggressive dog breeds are quick to show aggression to unfamiliar people.
Typical signs of moderate aggression in dogs include barking, growling, and baring of teeth. More serious display of aggression generally includes snapping, lunging, biting, or attempting to bite.
Flat-Coated Retrievers are not aggressive towards strangers.
This is because the Flat-Coated Retriever ranks very low for aggression towards strangers.
The Flat-Coated Retriever ranks number 115 out of 124 dog breeds for aggression towards strangers.
This information is based on what 34 Flat-Coated Retriever owners reported on the temperament of their Flat-Coated Retriever in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Flat-Coated Retriever has a stranger-directed-aggression score of 11.1 %.
Other dog breeds that are not aggressive towards strangers just like the Flat-Coated Retriever are listed in the table below
| Stranger-Directed-Aggression Rank | Breed | Stranger-Directed-Aggression Score |
|---|---|---|
| 112 | Bearded Collie | 14.2 % |
| 113 | Golden Retriever | 13.1 % |
| 114 | Cavalier King Charles Spaniel | 12.5 % |
| 115 | Flat-Coated Retriever | 11.1 % |
| 116 | Dingo | 11.0 % |
| 117 | Whippet | 10.9 % |
| 118 | Alaskan Malamute | 10.9 % |
The dog breeds that are most aggressive towards strangers are the:
The dog breeds that are least aggressive towards strangers are the:
Usually, small dog breeds display aggression not because they are mean but because they are afraid and feel insecure due to their small size.
Are Flat-Coated Retrievers Aggressive Towards their Owners?
Due to human effort over the course of many centuries, the dog has become a very domestic animal. Dogs have learned to live well with humans. As a result, dogs respect and love their owners. Nevertheless, some dog breeds are less respectful to their owners than some other dog breeds.
Owner-aggressive dog breeds show threatening or hostile responses to their owner or other members of the household when challenged, manhandled, stared at, stepped over, or when approached while in possession of food, objects, or toys.
A dog that is owner-aggressive shows its aggression by barking, growling, and baring of teeth. In extreme cases, these dogs can snap, lunge, bite, or attempt to bite their owners.
Flat-Coated Retrievers are somewhat aggressive towards their owners.
This is because the Flat-Coated Retriever ranks average for aggression towards its owner.
The Flat-Coated Retriever ranks number 69 out of 124 dog breeds for aggression towards their owners.
This information is based on what 34 Flat-Coated Retriever owners reported on the temperament of their Flat-Coated Retriever in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Flat-Coated Retriever has an owner-directed-aggression score of 13.1 %.
Other dog breeds that are somewhat owner-aggressive just like the Flat-Coated Retriever are listed in the table below
| Owner-Directed-Aggression Rank | Breed | Owner-Directed-Aggression Score |
|---|---|---|
| 66 | Bullmastiff | 14.0 % |
| 67 | Borzoi | 13.3 % |
| 68 | Greyhound | 13.3 % |
| 69 | Flat-Coated Retriever | 13.1 % |
| 70 | West Highland White Terrier | 13.1 % |
| 71 | Belgian Malinois | 12.7 % |
| 72 | Great Pyrenees | 12.4 % |
The dog breeds that show the most aggression towards their owners are the:
The dog breeds that are least aggressive towards their owners are the:
Usually, small dog breeds display aggression not because they are mean but because they are afraid and feel insecure due to their small size.
Are Flat-Coated Retrievers Aggressive Towards other Dogs?
Dogs that are aggressive towards other dogs will direct aggressive threats or actions toward unknown or unfamiliar dogs.
A dog-aggressive dog will threaten or show hostile responses when approached by unfamiliar dogs
A dog that is dog-aggressive shows its aggression by barking, growling, and baring of teeth. In extreme cases, these dogs can snap, lunge, bite, or attempt to bite other dogs.
Flat-Coated Retrievers are somewhat aggressive towards other dogs.
This is because the Flat-Coated Retriever ranks average for aggression towards other dogs.
The Flat-Coated Retriever ranks number 65 out of 124 dog breeds for aggression towards other dogs.
This information is based on what 34 Flat-Coated Retriever owners reported on the temperament of their Flat-Coated Retriever in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Flat-Coated Retriever has a dog-directed aggression score of 43.0 %.
Other dog breeds that are somewhat dog-aggressive just like the Flat-Coated Retriever are listed in the table below
| Dog-Directed-Aggression Rank | Breed | Dog-Directed-Aggression Score |
|---|---|---|
| 62 | Airedale Terrier | 45.7 % |
| 63 | Pomeranian | 44.9 % |
| 64 | Belgian Tervuren | 43.3 % |
| 65 | Flat-Coated Retriever | 43.0 % |
| 66 | West Highland White Terrier | 42.7 % |
| 67 | Kuvasz | 42.2 % |
| 68 | Cocker Spaniel (American) | 42.0 % |
The dog breeds that show the most aggression towards other dogs are the:
The dog breeds that are least aggressive towards other dogs are the:
Usually, small dog breeds display aggression not because they are mean but because they are afraid and feel insecure due to their small size.
Are Flat-Coated Retrievers Afraid of Strangers?
Some dogs breeds tend to be fearful of strangers.
Dogs that are fearful of strangers will avoid strangers. These dogs will crouch, cringe, or tremble when approached by strangers.
Extreme fear in dogs is characterized by serious attempts to escape or hide from the feared stranger.
Flat-Coated Retrievers are not fearful of strangers.
This is because the Flat-Coated Retriever ranks very low for fear of strangers.
The Flat-Coated Retriever ranks number 111 out of 124 dog breeds for fear of strangers.
This information is based on what 34 Flat-Coated Retriever owners reported on the temperament of their Flat-Coated Retriever in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Flat-Coated Retriever has a stranger-directed-fear score of 9.5 %.
Other dog breeds that are not stranger-fearful just like the Flat-Coated Retriever are listed in the table below
| Stranger-Directed-Fear Rank | Breed | Stranger-Directed-Fear Score |
|---|---|---|
| 108 | Black and Tan Coonhound | 10.4 % |
| 109 | Anatolian Shepherd | 10.2 % |
| 110 | Fox Terrier (Smooth) | 9.8 % |
| 111 | Flat-Coated Retriever | 9.5 % |
| 112 | Staffordshire Bull Terrier | 9.2 % |
| 113 | Airedale Terrier | 9.1 % |
| 114 | Golden Retriever | 8.8 % |
The dog breeds that show the most fear of strangers are the:
The dog breeds that are least fearful of strangers are the:
Are Flat-Coated Retrievers Afraid of Other Dogs?
Some dogs breeds tend to show fear when an unfamiliar dog approaches them.
A dog that is fearful of other dogs will try to avoid meeting other dogs.
Flat-Coated Retrievers are quite a bit fearful of other dogs.
This is because the Flat-Coated Retriever ranks high for fear of other dogs.
The Flat-Coated Retriever ranks number 45 out of 124 dog breeds for fear of other dogs.
This information is based on what 34 Flat-Coated Retriever owners reported on the temperament of their Flat-Coated Retriever in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Flat-Coated Retriever has a dog-directed-fear score of 43.3 %.
Other dog breeds that are quite a bit other-dog-fearful just like the Flat-Coated Retriever are listed in the table below
| Dog-Directed-Fear Rank | Breed | Dog-Directed-Fear Score |
|---|---|---|
| 42 | Bull Terrier | 43.8 % |
| 43 | Weimaraner | 43.6 % |
| 44 | Staffordshire Bull Terrier | 43.4 % |
| 45 | Flat-Coated Retriever | 43.3 % |
| 46 | West Highland White Terrier | 42.9 % |
| 47 | Whippet | 42.6 % |
| 48 | Havanese | 42.5 % |
The dog breeds that are most fearful of other dogs are the:
The dog breeds that are least fearful of other dogs are the:
Do Flat-Coated Retrievers Have Non-Social Fears?
Dogs that are fearful of sudden or loud noises, traffic, and unfamiliar objects and situations are said to exhibit nonsocial fear.
Flat-Coated Retrievers are a little bit fearful of unfamiliar sounds, situations, and objects.
This is because the Flat-Coated Retriever ranks low for non-social fear.
The Flat-Coated Retriever ranks number 73 out of 124 dog breeds for being fearful of unfamiliar things and situations.
This information is based on what 34 Flat-Coated Retriever owners reported on the temperament of their Flat-Coated Retriever in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Flat-Coated Retriever has a nonsocial-fear score of 26.0 %.
Other dog breeds that are a little bit nonsocial-fearful just like the Flat-Coated Retriever are listed in the table below
| Nonsocial-Fear Rank | Breed | Nonsocial-Fear Score |
|---|---|---|
| 70 | Bulldog | 27.2 % |
| 71 | Belgian Tervuren | 26.1 % |
| 72 | Cocker Spaniel (English) | 26.0 % |
| 73 | Flat-Coated Retriever | 26.0 % |
| 74 | Golden Retriever | 25.8 % |
| 75 | Belgian Sheepdog | 24.4 % |
| 76 | Papillon | 24.4 % |
The dog breeds that are most fearful of unfamiliar situations and objects are the:
The dog breeds that are least fearful of unfamiliar situations and objects are the:
Do Flat-Coated Retrievers Get Along Well With Other Dogs?
Some dog breeds display high dog rivalry. These dog breeds will threaten or act hostile to other familiar dogs in the same household.
These dog breeds will compete with other dogs. Also, these dog breeds do not get along well with other dogs.
Flat-Coated Retrievers are a little bit competitive when dealing with other dogs.
This is because the Flat-Coated Retriever ranks low on dog rivalry.
The Flat-Coated Retriever ranks number 92 out of 124 dog breeds for displaying dog rivalry when dealing with familiar dogs.
This information is based on what 34 Flat-Coated Retriever owners reported on the temperament of their Flat-Coated Retriever in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Flat-Coated Retriever has a dog-rivalry score of 29.1 %.
Other dog breeds that are a little bit competition-driven just like the Flat-Coated Retriever are listed in the table below
| Dog-Rivalry Rank | Breed | Dog-Rivalry Score |
|---|---|---|
| 89 | Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier | 31.1 % |
| 90 | Bullmastiff | 30.7 % |
| 91 | Tibetan Terrier | 30.1 % |
| 92 | Flat-Coated Retriever | 29.1 % |
| 93 | Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever | 29.1 % |
| 94 | Black and Tan Coonhound | 27.4 % |
| 95 | German Wirehaired Pointer | 27.3 % |
The dog breeds that do not get along well with other dogs are the:
The dog breeds that get along well with other dogs are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on how well they get along with other dog breeds.
Are Flat-Coated Retrievers Easy to Train?
Dogs have high trainability have the willingness to listen to their owner. These dogs are not stubborn. These dogs obey simple commands, and they learn very quickly.
Highly trainable dogs excel at fetching objects. They also respond positively to correction and ignore distraction.
Flat-Coated Retrievers are very much easy to train.
This is because the Flat-Coated Retriever ranks very high for trainability.
The Flat-Coated Retriever ranks number 19 out of 124 dog breeds for easiness to train.
This information is based on what 34 Flat-Coated Retriever owners reported on the trainability of their Flat-Coated Retriever in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Flat-Coated Retriever has a trainability score of 84.6 %.
Other dog breeds that are very much easy to train just like the Flat-Coated Retriever are listed in the table below
| Trainability Rank | Breed | Trainability Score |
|---|---|---|
| 16 | German Shepherd | 86.0 % |
| 17 | Golden Retriever | 85.8 % |
| 18 | Vizsla | 85.2 % |
| 19 | Flat-Coated Retriever | 84.6 % |
| 20 | Shetland Sheepdog | 84.3 % |
| 21 | Lagotto Romagnolo | 83.4 % |
| 22 | Staffordshire Bull Terrier | 82.9 % |
The dog breeds that are most easy to train are the:
The dog breeds that are difficult to train are the:
Learn more about how intelligent the Flat-Coated Retriever is and how the intelligence of the Flat-Coated Retriever affects its trainability in this article on how smart the Flat-Coated Retriever is.
Do Flat-Coated Retrievers Get Along Well with Cats? Do They Get Along Well with Other Pets?
Dog breeds that have high chase-drive will run after (chase) cats, birds, and/or other small animals, given the opportunity.
Flat-Coated Retrievers are somewhat into chasing after other smaller pets like cats, squirrels, chickens, and birds.
This is because the Flat-Coated Retriever ranks average for small-pet-chasing.
The Flat-Coated Retriever ranks number 69 out of 124 dog breeds for chasing after smaller pets.
This information is based on what 34 Flat-Coated Retriever owners reported on the temperament of their Flat-Coated Retriever in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Flat-Coated Retriever has a chasing score of 46.2 %.
Other dog breeds that are somewhat into chasing after smaller pets just like the Flat-Coated Retriever are listed in the table below
| Chasing Rank | Breed | Chasing Score |
|---|---|---|
| 66 | Dachshund (Miniature) | 46.8 % |
| 67 | Beagle | 46.7 % |
| 68 | American Eskimo Dog | 46.5 % |
| 69 | Flat-Coated Retriever | 46.2 % |
| 70 | Pembroke Welsh Corgi | 46.1 % |
| 71 | Tibetan Terrier | 46.0 % |
| 72 | Miniature Pinscher | 45.8 % |
The dog breeds that like chasing after cats and other smaller pets are the:
The dog breeds that will not chase after cats and other smaller pets are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their prey drive.
Do Flat-Coated Retrievers Like Attention? Are they Clingy or Aloof?
Some dog breeds like to stay close to their owners all the time. These dogs like attention, and they like to receive the affection of their owners.
These dogs get jealous when their owners give attention to other dogs or other people instead of them.
Dogs with these traits are described as attachment/attention-seeking.
Flat-Coated Retrievers are quite a bit attachment/attention-seeking.
This is because the Flat-Coated Retriever ranks high for attachment/attention-seeking behavior.
The Flat-Coated Retriever ranks number 40 out of 124 dog breeds for attachment/attention-seeking behavior.
This information is based on what 34 Flat-Coated Retriever owners reported on the temperament of their Flat-Coated Retriever in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Flat-Coated Retriever has an attachment/attention-seeking score of 63.2 %.
Other dog breeds that are quite a bit attachment/attention-seeking just like the Flat-Coated Retriever are listed in the table below
| Attachment-Attention-Seeking Rank | Breed | Attachment-Attention-Seeking Score |
|---|---|---|
| 37 | Chinese Crested | 64.7 % |
| 38 | Pomeranian | 64.4 % |
| 39 | Jack Russell Terrier | 64.4 % |
| 40 | Flat-Coated Retriever | 63.2 % |
| 41 | Schipperke | 62.4 % |
| 42 | Rottweiler | 61.8 % |
| 43 | Cocker Spaniel (American) | 61.6 % |
The dog breeds that are always seeking the attention of their owners are the:
The dog breeds that are aloof are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their clinginess.
Do Flat-Coated Retrievers have Separation Anxiety? Do They Like to be Left Alone?
Dog breeds that have separation anxiety do not like to be left alone.
These dog breeds tend to bark and destroy things when separated from their owners.
They become restless or lose their appetite when left alone.
Flat-Coated Retrievers are not prone to developing separation anxiety.
This is because the Flat-Coated Retriever ranks very low for separation anxiety relative to other dog breeds.
The Flat-Coated Retriever ranks number 116 out of 124 dog breeds for separation anxiety.
This information is based on what 34 Flat-Coated Retriever owners reported on the temperament of their Flat-Coated Retriever in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Flat-Coated Retriever has a separation anxiety score of 15.0 %.
Other dog breeds that are not prone to develop separation anxiety just like the Flat-Coated Retriever are listed in the table below
| Separation-Related-Behavior Rank | Breed | Separation-Related-Behavior Score |
|---|---|---|
| 113 | Schipperke | 15.8 % |
| 114 | Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever | 15.6 % |
| 115 | Portuguese Water Dog | 15.5 % |
| 116 | Flat-Coated Retriever | 15.0 % |
| 117 | Rhodesian Ridgeback | 13.6 % |
| 118 | Scottish Terrier | 10.6 % |
| 119 | Norwegian Elkhound | 10.4 % |
The dog breeds that are most prone to develop separation anxiety are listed below. These dog breeds do not like to be left alone. These dog breeds are the:
- Treeing Walker Coonhound
- Fox Terrier (Smooth)
- Chinese Crested
- Miniature Pinscher
- Australian Silky Terrier
The dog breeds that are least prone to develop separation anxiety are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their tendency to develop separation anxiety.
Are Flat-Coated Retrievers Touch Sensitive? Do They Like to be Groomed?
Dogs that are touch-sensitive are fearful of `painful` procedures such as bathing, grooming, nail clipping, and veterinary examinations.
These dogs do not like going through these `painful` procedures, and they will react to show they do not like the procedure.
Flat-Coated Retrievers are a little bit touch-sensitive.
This is because the Flat-Coated Retriever ranks low for touch sensitivity.
The Flat-Coated Retriever ranks number 80 out of 124 dog breeds for touch sensitivity.
This information is based on what 34 Flat-Coated Retriever owners reported on the temperament of their Flat-Coated Retriever in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Flat-Coated Retriever has a touch-sensitivity score of 23.8 %.
Other dog breeds that are a little bit touch-sensitive just like the Flat-Coated Retriever are listed in the table below
| Touch-Sensitivity Rank | Breed | Touch-Sensitivity Score |
|---|---|---|
| 77 | Eurasier | 24.3 % |
| 78 | Tibetan Terrier | 24.2 % |
| 79 | American Staffordshire Terrier | 24.0 % |
| 80 | Flat-Coated Retriever | 23.8 % |
| 81 | Irish Setter | 23.8 % |
| 82 | Belgian Malinois | 23.5 % |
| 83 | Ibizan Hound | 23.1 % |
The dog breeds that are most touch-sensitive are the:
The dog breeds that are least touch-sensitive are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their sensitivity to touch.
Are Flat-Coated Retrievers Hyper? Are they Highly Excitable?
Excitable dog or hyper dog breeds display strong reactions to potentially exciting or arousing events, such as:
- going for walks
- car trips
- sound of the doorbell
- arrival of visitors, and
- the owner arriving home
Highly excitable dog breeds have difficulty settling down after arousal.
Flat-Coated Retrievers are somewhat hyper (excitable).
This is because the Flat-Coated Retriever ranks average for excitability.
The Flat-Coated Retriever ranks number 56 out of 124 dog breeds for excitability.
This information is based on what 34 Flat-Coated Retriever owners reported on the temperament of their Flat-Coated Retriever in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Flat-Coated Retriever has an excitability score of 46.7 %.
Other dog breeds that are somewhat excitable just like the Flat-Coated Retriever are listed in the table below
| Excitability Rank | Breed | Excitability Score |
|---|---|---|
| 53 | Airedale Terrier | 47.3 % |
| 54 | English Springer Spaniel | 47.2 % |
| 55 | Dachshund (Miniature) | 47.1 % |
| 56 | Flat-Coated Retriever | 46.7 % |
| 57 | Poodle (Standard) | 46.1 % |
| 58 | Cairn Terrier | 45.7 % |
| 59 | Chinese Crested | 45.6 % |
The dog breeds that are most hyper (excitable) are the:
- Australian Silky Terrier
- Fox Terrier (Smooth)
- American Eskimo Dog
- Parson Russell Terrier
- Miniature Schnauzer
The dog breeds that are least hyper (excitable) are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on how hyper they are.
Are Flat-Coated Retrievers Playful? What is the Energy Level of Flat-Coated Retrievers
Energetic dog breeds are very playful dog breeds. These are the dog breeds that do not get tired easily.
Flat-Coated Retrievers are very much energetic.
This is because the Flat-Coated Retriever ranks very high for energy level.
The Flat-Coated Retriever ranks number 24 out of 124 dog breeds for energy level.
This information is based on what 34 Flat-Coated Retriever owners reported on the temperament of their Flat-Coated Retriever in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Flat-Coated Retriever has an energy-level score of 73.2 %.
Other dog breeds that are very much energetic just like the Flat-Coated Retriever are listed in the table below
| Energy-Level Rank | Breed | Energy-Level Score |
|---|---|---|
| 21 | Boxer | 75.4 % |
| 22 | English Bulldog | 75.0 % |
| 23 | Giant Schnauzer | 74.3 % |
| 24 | Flat-Coated Retriever | 73.2 % |
| 25 | American Eskimo Dog | 73.2 % |
| 26 | Border Collie | 71.3 % |
| 27 | Vizsla | 71.3 % |
The dog breeds that are most playful and most energetic are the:
The dog breeds that are laziest are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds from the most energetic to the least energetic.
Conclusion on Flat-Coated Retriever Temperament
The temperament of your Flat-Coated Retriever comes from a combination of its genetics and what environment your Flat-Coated Retriever is exposed to.
You cannot change your Flat-Coated Retriever`s gene but you can change the things you expose your Flat-Coated Retriever to.
Exposing your Flat-Coated Retriever to dog training sessions early in its life can help you mold the temperament of your Flat-Coated Retriever to what you desire.
Again, with proper training, you can better your Flat-Coated Retriever`s temperament. To learn how to properly train a dog, I highly recommend Dr. Ian Dunbar`s online dog training classes, which you can find here.
I learned most of the things I know about training dogs by reading Dr. Dunbar`s books and watching his training videos. Dr. Dunbar`s dog training methods are for people expecting to own a puppy soon, new dog owners, and experienced dog owners.
Another helpful online dog training class that I recommend is this one. The class will teach you how to properly train your Flat-Coated Retriever.
If you think the Flat-Coated Retriever is the right dog breed for you, see our article on how much Flat-Coated Retrievers cost and Flat-Coated Retriever puppy buying guide.
Also, see our list of reputable Flat-Coated Retriever breeders in the United States and the prices of their Flat-Coated Retriever puppies.