The Curly-Coated Retriever: Pioneers of dog grooming.
Do you know that Curly Coated Retrievers were, in fact, the breed that humans started grooming the first? Research by Petcha indicates that dog grooming was started between AD 1500 and AD 1600 when humans began training these incredible breeds to swim and retrieve any hunted animal from water.
Their distinct curly coats weren’t just for display; they had a function. Grooming the coat served to preserve the water-resistance qualities, thus providing an edge for buoyancy and swimming performance by these dogs. Since Curly-Coated Retrievers were the first breed to receive such specialized grooming, they really set the stage for how dogs are cared for and trained today.