Country Retriever
Find Country Retriever Breeders Near You
Connect with certified breeders who have Country Retriever puppies available.
Find Country Retriever BreedersGet to Know Country Retrievers
- A Purpose-Bred Retriever Type: The Country Retriever was developed to prioritize functional retrieving ability, temperament, and health over extreme show traits. Breeding programs typically emphasize versatility for both working and family environments.
- Field Ability Without Excess Drive: These dogs are designed to retain strong retrieving instincts while being calmer and more manageable than some high-drive field lines. This balance makes them suitable for active homes that want a capable but stable dog.
- Highly People-Oriented: Country Retrievers are bred to work closely with humans and tend to be very handler-focused. This makes them particularly responsive in training and cooperative in daily life.
- Adaptable Coat and Build: Depending on ancestry, coats may resemble Labrador-, Golden-, or Flat-Coated–type textures. This variation reflects a focus on function rather than strict appearance.
- Longevity & Soundness: Responsible programs often place strong emphasis on orthopedic health, temperament testing, and longevity. The goal is a robust retriever capable of long, active working and companion lives.
Breed History
The Country Retriever is a modern retriever type developed primarily in the UK with the goal of producing a sound, versatile dog suitable for country life, field work, and family companionship. Drawing from established retriever lines, breeders focused on temperament, trainability, and functional structure rather than exaggerated conformation traits. While not universally recognized as a standardized breed, the Country Retriever represents a return to utility-focused breeding, prioritizing health, stability, and real-world performance. Today, they are valued as capable working dogs and adaptable companions.
Personality and Behaviour
- Calm but Capable: They are typically steady and composed in the home while remaining energetic and driven outdoors.
- Highly Trainable: Strong desire to please and natural retrieving instincts make them responsive and enjoyable to train.
- Social & Family-Oriented: hey usually do well with children, other dogs, and social environments when properly socialized.
Care
- Exercise: Daily structured exercise such as retrieving, long walks, or field-style work, is essential for physical and mental well-being.
- Training: Consistent, reward-based training channels intelligence and reinforces cooperative behavior.
- Grooming: Regular brushing helps manage shedding and keeps the coat weather-resistant and healthy.
Country Retriever Summary
Weight
Lifespan
Exercise
Trainability
Temperament
GroomingWhat to ask your breeder?
Here's a short summary of what you should be asking your breeder:
Retriever Health Testing
| Screening | Considerations |
|---|---|
| Hip Dysplasia | OFA Radiographic Hip Evaluation |
| Elbow Dysplasia | OFA Radiographic Elbow Evaluation |
| ACVO Eye Exam | ACVO Eye Examination. Results registered with OFA. |
| EIC (Exercise Induced Collapse) | EXERCISE INDUCED COLLAPSE - DNA based test from an approved lab |
| D Locus (Dilute) DNA Test | DNA based D LOCUS results from an approved lab |
| Centronuclear Myopathy | (Optional) DNA Based CNM Test - results registered with the OFA |
| Cardiac Evaluation | (Optional) Advanced Cardiac Exam Standard Congenital Cardiac Exam. Results registered with OFA. Basic Cardiac Exam |
| prcd-PRA DNA Test | (Optional) DNA based prcd-PRA test from a licensed lab - results registered with the OFA |
How Much Does It Cost to Own a Country Retriever Per Year?
Determining the cost of owning a Country Retriever is essential for responsible dog ownership. Use our calculator to estimate expenses, including food, grooming, veterinary care, and more.
The Ultimate Dog Cost Calculator
Calculate NowFrequently Asked Questions About Country Retriever
When you talk to a breeder, you're not just asking “do you have available Country Retriever puppies?” You're looking for a match in the process of rehoming a dog. As a prospective dog owner, you are assessing how predictable the dog's health, temperament, and long-term welfare will be and whether the breeder's practices reduce avoidable risk.
You should engage in a conversation about the following topics:
- Which health tests and genetic screening do you do specifically for Country Retriever, and can I see the results?
- What do you do if a puppy develops a serious genetic condition? What contract, policies and support do you offer as a breeder?
- How are puppies raised from birth to 8+ weeks? Ask about socialization, philosophies on early neurological development, handling, and exposure.
The real cost of a dog isn't just the puppy price. After year one, the cost of a dog includes the predictable annual costs + the unpredictable “risk costs.” Your goal is to make the cost legible before you commit, as one of the top causes of surrendering a dog is not being able to afford the dog in later years.
To help you assess these costs, Paction has created the Ultimate Cost Calculator. You can also read an article written by a Paction breeder on why a prospective dog owner should focus on the ongoing costs of dog ownership and not “how much” the puppy costs.
Every dog breed has certain health issues that tend to occur more often, but what matters most is how predictable and preventable those risks are. For many breeds, common concerns include inherited conditions (such as orthopedic, eye, or cardiac issues) as well as lifestyle-related challenges like weight management, dental health, skin or ear problems, and anxiety.
Responsible breeders help reduce inherited risk through appropriate health testing, careful selection of breeding pairs, and transparency about family history. To understand more about responsible breeding programs that prioritize health and genetic screening of breeding pairs, check out Making Science Simple: Canine Genetics for Puppy Shoppers.
As an owner, you play an equally important role. Consistent preventive veterinary care, proper exercise and enrichment, healthy nutrition, and early screening can significantly improve long-term health outcomes.
Whether a Country Retriever is right for you depends less on the breed itself and more on how well its typical energy level, temperament, and care needs align with your daily life. Important factors include your schedule and activity level, living environment, household dynamics (such as children, other pets, or allergies), and tolerance for noise or independence. Long-term fit also comes down to maintenance like grooming, training needs, and how often you travel or rely on outside dog care.
Use Paction's Dog Breed Matchmaker and Pup Time Estimator to find out more about what dog is right for you.
