As well as the obvious pursuits of gundog work or showing there are many other activities which can be carried out with your Curly Coated Retriever.

The KC activities which can be enjoyed include:

• Working Trials
• Obedience (the club runs an obedience test at the Winter open show each year)
• Agility (there are a few Curlies regularly competing in all-breeds agility)
• Rally
• Flyball
• Heelwork to Music
• Kennel Club Good Citizen tests  – see a list of those Curlies who have Good Citizen Test achievements
  

Outside of Kennel Club activities the dogs are used as PAT (Pets as Therapy) dogs visiting hospitals, old peoples homes etc. They get involved in Scentwork and Mantrailling. We have a Curly that volunteers with Lost Dog Tracking.

In other countries they are used for Search and Rescue work and countless other activities.

The above are activities to be enjoyed with your dog, but additionally there are some Curlies who work for a living, there are a number of Curlies working as Guide Dogs for The Blind (the Guide Dog association also use Curlies in their breeding program, and use Curly crosses to work, perhaps the most famous of whom was Lucy, David Blunkett’s guide dog for eight years whilst he was an MP.).

There has also been a qualified Hearing Dog for Deaf People working in England, and there are a number of Curlies who are also Assistance Dogs.

The Curly will turn its hand (paw) to many activities as it is very adaptable and also has the intelligence to understand what is required whilst it’s biddable nature means that it wishes to please and will therefore enjoy carrying out these tasks for it’s owner.