One of the most important things to consider when bringing a new dog home to the family is how big they will get. Some families do not mind a big dog, while others may be worried if the dog has the potential to get really big. When it comes to the flat coated retriever, you may wonder just how big this dog can get.

The average height for a male flat coated retriever is usually between 23 to 24.5 inches tall. The female flat coated retriever is going to be a little bit smaller, falling between the range of 22 to 23.5 inches tall. Both of these dogs are able to get into the weight range of 60 to 80 pounds each, though females are more likely to be on the lower end of the range and males on the higher end of the range.

The flat coated retriever can potentially become a big dog. But they have a lot of love and loyalty to share around with everyone. Let’s learn a bit more about this dog breed and their sizing to help you determine if this is the right dog for you.

How Big Does a Flat Coated Retriever Get?

The flat coated retriever is going to be considered a medium-sized dog, though some will start to get on the range of being a large dog. It is important to be prepared for this before you bring a flat coated retriever home. They will not stay tiny at all. While they are a good and friendly size for a lot of families, those who are limited on space may want to go with a smaller breed instead.

Male and female flat coated retrievers are going to be similar in height and weight, with the females being only slightly smaller than what we would see to the males.

If you need to keep under a certain weight or height, the females are probably the best option, but the males do not get much bigger in this breed. You may need to take a look at the parents to figure out what size the puppies are likely to become.

First, we can take a look at the males. For male flat coated retrievers, the height will often be between 23 to 24.5 inches tall. They will weigh within the range of 60 to 80 pounds, though many male flat coated retrievers will be closer to the 80 pound range depending on the size of their parents. This makes them a big dog that you are sure to love.

As we mentioned, the females can be a little bit smaller. A female flat coated retriever will often fall between a height range of 22 to 23.5 inches tall, which is just slightly smaller than what the males will do.

Their weight range is similar to the male between 60 to 80 pounds, though females are going to be on the lower end of this range. It is more common to find a female in this breed being closer to 60 pounds.

What Factors Determine the Size of a Flat Coated Retriever?

The flat coated retriever can become a big dog. There are a number of factors that will determine just how big this is dog is going to become. Some of these include the gender of the dog, with males being larger than the females, the size of the parents, and how healthy the dog is at the time of their birth.

Each dog is unique and different, but by looking at some of the following characteristics of the dogs, you will be able to get a good estimate of their size.

The size of the parents will be a big determinant on how big the dog will be. The biggest determinant of how large your flat coated retriever is going to be will include their parents. If both of the parents are large for their breed, then it is more likely that the puppies will grow to be large as well.

If both of the parents are small for their breed, then it is more likely that the puppies will grow to be small too. If you want to know how big your flat coated retriever will get, take a close look at the parents to see.

Whether the dog is a male or a female can determine how big this dog will be. Male flat coated retrievers are more likely to be bigger than females. This is true no matter which breed you choose to bring home.

There are some exceptions where the male can be smaller than average or the female is going to be larger than average. But most of the time you will find that the male of this breed will be a bigger size.

The health of the dog can help determine how big the dog will be. If the dog is a healthy animal who is given the right nutrition and lots of love while they grow, then it is likely the dog is going to fall within the average sizes that we discussed before.

However, when the dog is not treated well while small and not given some of the good nutrition that they need, they may end up being a bit smaller than predicted too.

Whether the dog was a runt of the family. Most litters will have a runt in them. This is the smallest dog out of all the ones born in the same litter. While many of the runts can survive now, they will often be a bit smaller than some of the other dogs. This may be the right one to choose if you want a smaller dog for your family.

Just make sure that you have their health checked out to make sure that will not be a problem down the line.

Can Flat Coated Retrievers Be Smaller?

When you take a look at the size of the flat coated retriever, you may be worried that this is a dog breed that is too big for you and the space that you have. This leads a lot of pet owners to wonder whether this breed is able to be bred smaller.

While some of the factors from before can come into play to help determine the right size of the flat coated retriever, they will often stay close to the same size. If the runt of the litter is continuously bred over again, then it is possible that this is going to be a smaller dog as well.

But since the parents are both going to be kind of big dogs, it is likely that the flat coated retriever that you get is going to be bigger too.

How Do I Make Sure My Flat Coated Retriever is a Healthy Size?

The flat coated retriever is going to be a good size for a dog naturally. Unless they have smaller parents to help bring the height and weight down, you need to be prepared to have a larger dog in your home.

However, you also have to watch this dog and make sure that they do not start gaining too much weight. This often happens from a poor diet and not enough movement and exercise for the dog.

Start by feeding the dog a healthy diet. You do not want to pick out a low-quality dog food that contains a lot of fillers. These can add on the calories without really filling your dog up. Choose foods that have some type of meat in the first ingredient and lots of all-natural choices that are in it.

Limit the snacking, using treats sparingly to help the dog with training without making them too full. And while this dog may love to get some of those table scraps, that is not a healthy thing for them. Keep these to a minimum to avoid health and weight problems down the line.

This dog breed also likes to be active. If you allow them to sit around all day without being active, they are going to gain a lot of weight. You need to get them out for training, walks and runs, and playing some fetch. This breed is going to need to spend close to 90 minutes with heavy activity a day.

If you frequently give them less than that, it is likely that they will gain weight and will not be as healthy as they should.

Loving Your Flat Coated Retriever

No matter the size that your flat coated retriever gets, they will be a great dog to keep around your home. They are very lovable and come with a ton of energy.

For some people, it can seem like a bit much, especially if you are stuck in an apartment or limited in other ways on the amount of space that you have. For many families and individuals though, the flat coated retriever is one of the best dogs around, no matter what their size.