See a picture of a Curly Blowing Coat

#2 Curlies are not hypoallergenic If you have allergies to dog hair, dander or saliva, you may have problems with a curly. The somewhat oilier coat does keep down some dander, but not all of it. If you have severe dog allergies, you will probably have problems living with a curly. Many breeders and owners would be glad to have you visit their dogs to see if you can tolerate being around them. It is never fair to get a puppy then find out your allergies are too bad and you have to tie the dog up outside away from the family for the majority of its life. A curly should be with people. Think of what is best for the dog.

#3 Curlies are not clean If you are a neat freak, you will not like a Curly. They shed. They can dig holes in your yard. Track in mud. Chew on things. Flick eye boogers on your walls. Leave tail whip marks on your walls. Clear off the coffee table with one wag of its tail. If you are a neat freak, and want a dog as a showpiece, don't get a curly. Get a stuffed dog or one of those new robot dogs.

#4 Curlies need a lot of exercise The Curly is an active breed. This may not seem a problem if you are in the mood for some exercise yourself. But they need an outlet for this energy every day. That means when it is raining, on days you work late, when you are not feeling good- your curly will still want to go for a run, walk, play ball, go swimming...whatever you two do. If you do not provide an outlet for his pent-up energy....he may find one!

#5 Curlies are prone to some genetically linked problems Hip dysplasia, Eye problems, Epilepsy, Coat Patterning...the list goes on. Just because a breed is semi rare does not mean they are genetically superior to other more common breeds. Do your homework! Ask the breeder about epilepsy, coat problems, heart problems, premature death of any cause, Hip scores on parents and grandparents, eye problems.
Curly Health Problem Page

#6 Curlies are prone to other health problems Some of which may or may not be genetically linked. Include but not limited to: Bloat, PANO,Thyroid problems, Kidney problems, Pancriatic problems and other immune system and endocrine problems.

#7 Curlies stay puppies for a long time You may think, great- I love puppies. Well, only there minds stay puppies. There bodies get big! They remain clumsy, hard-headed, goofy and immature a long time. Curlies are not really hard to train, but you have to be persistent. They do need some form of training. Curlies don't really mature until they are 3 years old.

#8 Curlies can be hard to find This is a good thing and a bad thing. It can take a while to find a breeder you trust, and a litter you want a puppy out of. You may loose patience and purchase a puppy from an unreputable source just to get a pup, and run into many problems with the pup as he grows. Most good breeders plan 1 or 2(usually less) litters a year. They often wait years in-between breeding so they can evaluate what they are producing. Beware of a breeder who always has puppies, or seems to be breeding numerous litters every year. They may be out for there own gain, and not for the overall health of the breed.

#9 A Curly may not be the best dog if you have small children Curlies are usually good around kids, but like all dogs, they have to be taught to behave around children. A small puppy will naturally bite and chew on, clothing, shoes, hands.... Those sharp puppy teeth can hurt a childs hands without the puppy knowing it. A growing puppy will often knock down a toddler in play. You have to supervise any dog arround small children.

#10 Curlies Shed Oh, did I say that one already? I couldn't see the computer screen thrugh all these tumbleweeds.......

This page was written in good humor. Curlies aren't all bad! If they were, I wouldn't be hooked on them. But... I get a lot of phone calls from people who want a curly because they are hypoallergenic, or because they don't shed, or because they once had a lab who was hyper, or they had a Golden that had Hip Dysplasia, and they now want a breed without problems. Just because you don't hear about Curly problems, doesn't mean they don't have problems. There is no perfect dog. If there was, no one would breed, we would have scientists cloning that one perfect dog!

A dog is a living creature. Even the best breeder has produced a pup with problems. If a breeder tells you all their dogs are perfect, RUN! It hasn't happened yet.

Each dog is different. I say a Curly needs exercise. Some dogs need a long run every day, or want you to throw a ball non-stop. Other Curlies are content to sleep at your feet most of the day. I like a curly that is active outside with me, but knows how to tune it down when inside. I would not call the Curly a Hyper breed, but I have seen some hyper individual curlies. Do your homework. Ask about the parents temperament and energy level. Pick a breeder who will choose a pup for you, based on your needs. Also, be honest with the breeder. Don't tell them you have 80 acres of fenced in woodland, just because you think that will increase your chances of getting a pup! They may sell you a dog that NEEDS 80 acres of fenced in woodland! And please, if you can't take a little dirt, kinky hair, slobber, eye boogers and a Curlies sense of humor.... just pick another breed. This breed is very special, and the people that love the breed are also special. There are hundreds of breeds out there. Don't pick a Curly based on a picture in a book, or a flashing glimpse of one on TV. A Curly is a 10 to 14 year commitment.

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