Murray River Retriever puppies

About the Murray River Retriever

The Murray River Retriever is the only gundog breed developed in Australia, worked along the Murray from the early 1800s by the families who ran the paddle steamers. They were bred to sit quietly on a river bank, mark a fallen duck, bring it back undamaged and keep half an eye on the boat while doing so. Dogs Australia and Dogs New Zealand list the breed in the Gundog group. The coat is solid liver, in medium to tight curls, naturally oily and deliberately dull.

This is an active dog that wants a job, water and company, so they are better placed with someone who walks, swims or trains than with a house that is empty all day. The curls need combing through, daily while the coat is dropping, and a bath only when needed. Early socialisation matters, and Dogs NSW notes they generally settle with other dogs and cats once introduced. New owners underestimate how much the working drive needs a proper outlet.

What to expect at eight weeks

At eight weeks a Murray River Retriever puppy is sleeping around 18 to 20 hours a day, is not house trained, and cannot hold on for more than an hour or two at a stretch. A medium breed puppy at eight weeks is a manageable armful that will not stay that way. Most of the growth happens between now and six months, so buy for the adult dog where you can. This is a high energy breed. At eight weeks that shows up as intensity rather than stamina, and they will need a job to do long before they need long walks. Grooming needs are moderate, so build the brushing habit now while the coat is still short and easy. The socialisation window is open and closing: everything they meet calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of their life.

Health worth knowing about

Conditions this breed is reported to be predisposed to. Predisposed does not mean inevitable, it means ask about it.

• Ear infections in a dog that works wet, found by lifting, checking and drying the ear canal after swimming
• Skin irritation trapped under a dense oily coat, spotted by parting the curls down to the skin during grooming
• Hip dysplasia, which breeding stock can be x-rayed and scored for before mating
• Loss of genetic diversity in a very small population, which is why Dogs NSW asks buyers to discuss breed health directly with the breeder

Your Murray River Retriever puppy's first six months

• Vaccination schedule, dated for your country.
• Worming and parasite schedule.
• Feeding calculator. Set expected adult size to Medium for a Murray River Retriever.
• Adult size predictor, to check growth against the Not published adult range.
• Puppy names and the first week checklist.

Kit sizes: chew toys made for medium breeds. Worked out the same way as the crate size calculator. PetMD bases a crate on the dog's own measurements, not weight or breed alone, so measure once the puppy is home.

Buying guides for this

• Best crate for a puppy: wire, plastic or soft, and how to size one with a divider

Other medium breeds

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Sources

• dogsnz.org.nz for adult weight and height, energy, grooming and the temperament ratings, coat type and country of origin
• dogsnsw.org.au for life expectancy and health notes
• Health notes from Murray River Retriever breed information at https://www.dogsnsw.org.au/breeds/browse-all-breeds/murray-river-retriever/. Discuss any of these with your own vet.

No published figure for adult weight, so nothing is shown rather than a guess.

Photo: Unknown author Unknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped. All photographers are listed on the photo credits page.