Murray River Retriever

Breeder List

Breeder - Mr Brett Cox (BBCURLYBROWN)

bbmurraysnsw@hotmail.com
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History

Murray River Retriever is the only Gundog whose country of development is Australia! The breed gained official registration with ANKC effective from 1st Jan 2022.

Some of the earliest references have been traced back to early to mid-1800's.

Murray River Retrievers developed from1827 with the exploration of the Murray River system. Paddle steamers become the mode of transport for settlers who were trading between the three Australian States of New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia. Murray River Retrievers became watch dogs for the families who lived on paddle steamers, but the dogs’ main purpose was to retrieve wild ducks which provided food for the early settlers.

Average life span

When considering a dog, please realise that you are taking it on for its lifetime. The average life span is 11 to 15 years.

Temperament

The Murray River Retriever is a friendly, self-confident, highly intelligent and inquisitive gundog with an outgoing nature.

Appearance

The Murray River Retriever is a stockily built dog, rectangular in outline, with a strong, moderately broad head with a distinctive stop. He loves water and his distinctive webbed feet with feathering (hair) between the toes, (used for for swimming), are a hallmark of the breed The breed has medium to tight curls over the body and is a solid liver in colour. The coat is not shiny, rather having a dull appearance.

Size: Height: Males and Females 46-53cms (18-21 inches)

Coat and Care requirements

The coat is naturally oily but not harsh to the touch. It is sufficiently thick to protect the skin from cold water, when he is retrieving, as with any coated breed. Some regular maintenance is necessary, with bathing as required. Daily combing when shedding coat is recommended and less frequently otherwise. This breed will enjoy frequent exercise, spending time with the family, together with plenty of mental stimulation. Socialisation as a puppy is also strongly recommended.

Health

All breeds have individual health issues. When speaking to breeders it is recommended you enquire about the breed’s health and what health testing the breeder does.

Suitability

The Murray River Retriever is suitable for those who want an active and devoted companion, who will be part of the family. As with all dogs, young children and pets should always be supervised when together. The Murray River Retrievers are generally good with other dogs and cats, once acquainted, if socialised well as a puppy.

Dogs Australia activities

Conformation Shows, Obedience, Rally, Agility, Tracking, Retrieving and RATG (Retrieving Ability Test For Gundogs).

In conclusion

Now you know a little more about this breed. If you have decided this is the dog for you and wish to investigate further, please contact the Breed Club or DOGS NSW. They will be able to give you information about available puppies and also suggest dog events where you can see the breed and speak to breeders. In this way you will gain a better perspective of the breed and its needs. With any breed of dog, it is important to research and determine suitability for your lifestyle before committing to a puppy which will be a part of your family for many years to come.

Whilst many breeds are recommended for families, it is imperative that when children are with dogs they are supervised at all times. Basic obedience training is a vital part of dog ownership.

Link to Dogs Australia Breed Standard: https://dogsaustralia.org.au/members/breeds/breed-standards/Murray-River-Retriever

Murray River Retriever Association: https://www.mrr.org.au/

Image credit: Kerrie Afford Photography

Official breed standard as recognized by Dogs NSW (Last Updated: 30 Jun 2022)

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A breed standard is the guideline which describes the ideal characteristics, temperament, and appearance of a breed and ensures that the breed is fit for function with soundness essential. Breeders and judges should at all times be mindful of features which could be detrimental in any way to the health, welfare or soundness of this breed.

General Appearance

The Murray is stocky in build with a solid liver-coloured curled coat.His size and build create a rectangular outline. He has a strong moderately broad head with a distinctive stop.His ears hang loosely and frame the face. Distinctive webbed feet are a hallmark of the breed.

Characteristics

The breed has a natural ability to find, flush and retrieve game with a soft mouth and track large game. Expression shows alertness and intelligent focus.

Temperament

Friendly, self-confident, highly intelligent and inquisitive.

Physical Standards

Head and Skull	The head should balance with the rest of the body. It is a blocky wedge shape with a moderately broad, flat or slightly concave parted skull and a distinctive stop when viewed from the front or side. Females have a more feminine head.Foreface and skull: Of equal length. Planes of skull and muzzle parallel.Muzzle: Medium length with strong jaws, not snipey enabling the dog to carry game. The upper plane is level. The flews cover the mouth and may extend to cover the lower jaw; lip taper ends mildly and rather blunt but not square.Nose: Wide and fully pigmented with full nostrils, appearing blunt or slightly upturned.
Eyes	Moderately large almond shaped eyes, obliquely set. Not protruding. Amber to light brown in colour. May change in different light settings.
Ears	High set, teardrop-shaped with medium length leather, measuring to thebottom of the jaw. Covered with loose curls which frame the face. Curls may extend below the leather. Always quite mobile when the dog is attentive or in action.
Mouth	Jaws: Strong with perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to the jaws.
Neck	Medium length, free from throatiness and flowing into well laid-back shoulders. Of sufficient length to enable the dog to pick up game on the move when retrieving. Strong and carried high when alert.
Forequarters	Shoulders: Well laid back and muscular, blades of near equal length to upper arm.Forelegs: Set well under body, medium in length and straight, showing strong, round bone and muscle. Pasterns flexible and of medium length.Front dewclaws: present.
Body	The dog is longer in body, measured from point of shoulder to point of buttock, than in height from withers to ground. The coupling is short.Ribs: Well sprung, extending into a deep, powerful loin with a slight tuck-up of flank.Chest: Moderately-deep, round in cross section with the brisket level with the elbowTopline: Strong and level
Hindquarters	The deep, muscular loins and strong hindquarters should balance the overall structure of the dog. The thighs are powerful with muscling down to the moderately long and well-developed second thighs. Well-turned stifles and strong hocks are also essential for the dog's extension and drive when moving either on land or in water. Dogs should never be cow-hocked, sickle-hocked or bow-hocked.
Feet	Round, with tight well arched toes, thick tough pads which are not small compared to leg bone. Webbing and feathering present between toes for swimming.Nails: Black or dark brown
Tail	Strong and thick at the root tapering gradually to the tip. Reaching past the bend of hock; carried straight or sabre like on the move. Natural feathering which if trimmed reveals short curls.
Gait/Movement	Quick movement with good extension and drive. Well-balanced on the trot. Front reach is free flowing, and in balance with the rear action. Should not be stilted or hackneyed. Pasterns should be strong but flexible on the move.
Coat	Body coat: Medium to tight curls lying close to the skin, extending from occiput to tip of tail and behind the legs. Slight feathering on back of forelegs.The forehead and face are smooth with the curls commencing at the back of the skull, where the ears begin. The front of forelegs, hocks, pasterns and feet have a short, smooth and straight coat.Texture: The coat is naturally oily but not harsh to the touch. It is sufficiently thick to protect the skin from cold water and punishing cover while retrieving.
Colour	The Coat is Solid liver. Not Shiny. It should be dull to reduce reflection when waiting to retrieve game along the river bank.Some dogs show a few white hairs or a white spot on the chest. Liver dogs’ colour shades may vary.
Size	Ideal height at withers: 46-53cm (or 18 – 21 inches). There are no size parameters set for dogs or bitches

Faults

Any physical abnormalities that will affect the Murray performing his original function should be considered a fault, such as structural abnormalities, eye disease or a thin, poor coat.Muzzle: The lips should not be snipey, nor have excessive flews that extend below the jawline.Eyes: Prominent (bugged) eyes, loose haws, entropion.Ears: Ear leather is longer than the lower jaw.Colour: Any colour other than liver. No other marks except as stated in colour.

Note: Entire male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.

History

The Murray is the only Gundog whose country of development is Australia. Murrays have remained true to type since the 1800s and have been identified by DNA as not related to any other modern breed of dog. Initially used for duck hunting, they were versatile for, flushing and pointing for birds and tracking other game. They have been trained for hunting, bomb detection, assistance and search and rescue. A "Jack of all Trades".