The Curly is the tall, elegant retriever with a coat of small tight curls from the neck to the tail. That coat is the thing to plan around, for the bath and for a hot afternoon.
Business Class, with room to stretch
The AKC lists males at 25 to 27 inches and females at 23 to 25 inches, with a weight range of 60 to 95 pounds. A dog that tall wants a run it can turn around in without bumping a wall, and the 5x6 foot Business Class kennel gives about 30 square feet inside plus 60 outside at $59 a night. A very big male near the top of the range may like the First Class run (6x8 ft, $72) better, and two Curlies from one home do well together in First Class for $72 and $61.
A coat of tight curls
The AKC standard calls the body coat a thick mass of small, tight, crisp curls lying close to the skin. It is water resistant and dense enough to protect the dog from cold water and thick cover. The bath chart sorts dogs by weight and coat length, and a Curly's curls are short, so the Short column is the usual fit: $45 for 51 to 75 pounds and $50 for 76 to 100 on the chart effective January 1, 2024. Curls can hold water, so please ask the front desk to confirm the price and the timing before you add a bath.
A retriever that likes a job
The breed was built to retrieve fur and feather in heavy cover and icy water, and the AKC describes a dog that will work as long as there is work to do. Plan for a dog with stamina. The large fenced play areas and the grass field give a retriever room to run, and each dog picks inside or outside through its own doggie door. Walks are included at no extra charge.
Heat and a thick coat
The nearest NOAA station, Vacaville (1991-2020 normals), averages about 100 days a year at 90 degrees or more. Dense curls insulate in both directions, so on the hottest afternoons a Curly will probably choose the air-conditioned side of the run. A Kuranda bed keeps the dog off the concrete either way.
Before the first night
Bring current rabies, distemper/parvo and Bordetella records, good through the last day. Canine influenza is recommended but not required. Food is free: grain-free kibble and wet food in the house, or your own food in its original bag with the amount written in cups. Medications are given at no extra charge. See large dog boarding or call 707-678-6600.