The greatest dog that ever lived, our beloved 11 year-old Golden retriever Scout, got his angel wings a few weeks ago (he was a therapy dog who did amazing visits with Hospice patients, so I know he's being rewarded for that service now). Sooner rather than later, the kids in this house (me and the 3 boys), need a puppy. I've been thinking about a flat-coated retriever, i went to a meeting last weekend of the northeast flatcoat club. Awesome dogs, but not a lot of breeders out there. Anyone know of any?

Tell me this isn't a cool-looking dog.

Image Detail for - http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/05/Flat_coated_retriever.JPG (http://images.search.yahoo.com/images/view?back=http%3A%2F%2Fsearch.yahoo.com%2Fsearch%3 Fei%3DUTF-8%26p%3Dflat%2Bcoated%2Bretriever&w=160&h=106&imgurl=www.bing.com%2Fimages%2Fsearch%3Fq%3Dflat%2 Bcoated%2Bretriever%23focal%3D19d6b43b50cc7dd1d137 5da35c18551a%26furl%3Dhttp%253a%252f%252fupload.wi kimedia.org%252fwikipedia%252fcommons%252f0%252f05 %252fFlat_coated_retriever.JPG&size=&name=search&rcurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bing.com%2Fimages%2Fsearch% 3Fq%3Dflat%2Bcoated%2Bretriever%23focal%3D19d6b43b 50cc7dd1d1375da35c18551a%26furl%3Dhttp%253a%252f%2 52fupload.wikimedia.org%252fwikipedia%252fcommons% 252f0%252f05%252fFlat_coated_retriever.JPG&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bing.com%2Fimages%2Fsearch%3 Fq%3Dflat%2Bcoated%2Bretriever%23focal%3D19d6b43b5 0cc7dd1d1375da35c18551a%26furl%3Dhttp%253a%252f%25 2fupload.wikimedia.org%252fwikipedia%252fcommons%2 52f0%252f05%252fFlat_coated_retriever.JPG&p=flat+coated+retriever&type=&no=3&tt=115&oid=http%3A%2F%2Fts1.mm.bing.net%2Fimages%2Fthumbn ail.aspx%3Fq%3D4513753444122916%26id%3Dfffeefa4de2 197ff048476b51cc54783%26index%3Dnewexp&tit=File%3AFlat+coated+retriever.JPG+-+Wikipedia%2C+the+free+encyclopedia&sigr=162niq2h2&sigi=15respn77&sigb=11v24ltaf&fr=yfp-t-701)

Theu usually come in black, my wife likes the liver, which pretty much means we're getting liver...

I really like the curly coated but I think they are even less popular($) than the flat-coat.FWIW I went to Montreal to get my barbet 4 years ago. Rare breed that has done nothing but exceed expectations.Good Luck and sorry for your loss.

retrievers make fine pets but if they don't retrieve they get antsy
and hyper.... they're a workin dog... just mho.. tho

sorry for your loss...my yellow lab just turned 1 and i couldnt ask for a better dog...if youre interested in labs, i know a great family that breeds them

I'm so sorry for your loss! Sounds like you had a special dog. Best of luck finding your next family member.

Flat coated retrievers make great agility dogs too. I would be interested to find a Northeast breeder as well - maybe give our border collie a friend.

We had one 20 years ago and as Raven said they need space to let go. Ours was confined and when it was out it was crazy. Needless to say we kept it for 1.5 yrs and gave it back to the breeder. The breeder was in Killingworth, Ct then. I don't know if they are still breeding but if you want the name P.M. me.

Sorry for your loss Jim

Flat coated retrievers make great agility dogs too. I would be interested to find a Northeast breeder as well - maybe give our border collie a friend.

Valhala Retrievers (http://www.valhalaretrievers.com)

I was hoping to meet Marla (breeder for Valhalla kennel) at the club meeting, but she wasn't there. We exchanged a few emails. She is expecting a litter this fall. You rborder collie is beautiful, I like those shades of grey.

Yeah, these dogs need room (and opportunity) to work and run, and we have that. My wife is a stay-at-home Mom, and the 3 boys are getting old enough where they'll like romping with a dog. There is also a doggie daycare 1 mile from our huose that we'd use 1 day a week, boy does THAT tire a dog out like nothing else.

A tired dog is a happy and well-behaved dog!

And thanks for the condolences. Been around dogs my whole life, worked at the local vets office through high school. Scout was the nicest, friendliest dog I ever saw. Ever.

Sorry for your loss. It leave a hole in your soul when a pet dies.

Sorry for your loss. It leave a hole in your soul when a pet dies.

Very true. But the soul heals, and when it does, I like to think it's bigger and better and stronger than it was before.