How long does a Flat-Coated Retriever live?

The listed lifespan for a Flat-Coated Retriever is 8–10 years.

How tall is a Flat-Coated Retriever?

The listed height for a Flat-Coated Retriever is 23–24.5 in (male), 22–23.5 in (female).

Is a Flat-Coated Retriever good with children?

The AKC good-with-children score for a Flat-Coated Retriever is 5 out of 5.

When is a Flat-Coated Retriever full grown?

The growth size band for a Flat-Coated Retriever is up to 24 months.

Sporting Group

Flat-Coated Retriever

Flat-Coated Retriever is a large dog in the Sporting Group. Adult weight is 60–70 lb, height is 23–24.5 in (male), 22–23.5 in (female), and the listed lifespan is 8–10 years. AKC describes the temperament as Cheerful, Optimistic, Good-humored.

Last reviewed November 1, 2026.

Flat-Coated Retriever dog — Photo: Gunnandreassen · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Lifespan8–10 years

Weight60–70 lb

SizeLarge GroupSporting Group

Height

23–24.5 in (male), 22–23.5 in (female)

Energy

5 / 5

Shedding

3 / 5

Grooming

2 / 5

Trainability

5 / 5

Good with kids

5 / 5

The breed record

Across 119 single-size large breeds, a lifespan midpoint of 9 years is about 3.6 years shorter than the 12.6-year average. A midpoint adult weight of 65 lb is about 5.8 lb heavier than the 59.2 lb average for those large breeds.

The listed origin is England. The coat is described as smooth, medium. The AKC energy score is 5 out of 5, 0.9 points above the group average of 4.1 for the Sporting Group. Shedding scores 3 out of 5. Grooming scores 2 out of 5, so home brushing covers most weeks. Trainability scores 5 out of 5, which is a biddable score. Good with children scores 5 out of 5. Good with other dogs scores 5 out of 5. AKC ranked this breed number 98 in 2025.

Adult size is usually reached in up to 24 months (size-band statement (Salt et al. 2017): larger breeds require up to 24 months). AKC parent-club recommended health screenings: Patella Evaluation, Hip Evaluation, and Ophthalmologist Evaluation. These are screening tests, not a list of diseases the breed is guaranteed to develop.

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