The Flat-Coated Retreiver was developed in England in the mid-1800's from the St. John's Dog, combined with the working field setter, sheepdogs and spaniels. It was the first of the retrievers to win widespread acclaim as a shooting dog, and at the end of the last century and the beginning of this, it was the almost universal choice of those who required a dog for formal game shooting and wildfowling. It has maintained its reputation as a dual-purpose retriever over the years and there remains little or no difference between field and show Flat-Coats. Field Flat-Coats should be structurally sound and conform to the standard; conformation Flat-Coats should be physically capable of performing in the field.