Flatcoats are absolutely unfailingly cheerful and often maintain a youthful outlook on life and a rather immature character.
   
Most Flatcoats feel that the primary purpose in life is to be "your buddy." They can become quite despondent when left alone or neglected for periods of time. They thrive on human companionship, and while they do love a good run or walk, games of fetch, etc., they are mostly content just to be with you. In general Flatcoats are very happy dogs throughout their whole lives and only their immediate families will notice the gradual slowing down they do get as they age. To most outsiders, and Flatcoats love EVERYONE, they are very happy, friendly dogs.

 
     
     
As with most of the Retriever breeds, they seem to feel that they are "at their best" when they have something, anything for most of them in their mouth. When their mouth is full, their whole body exudes happiness. In general, they make good pets for houses with kids, but don't expect the kids not to get bruised. It will not be intentional, but they are big dogs.
   
Flatcoats are unabashed people dogs. They do not do well in kennel situations at all and they do not do well in families continually on the go - unless they get to go as well ! This is absolutely not a breed you can leave out in the backyard all the time.
   
These dogs are very intelligent, and can be very creative in their destruction. They will do almost anything to get your attention, so unless they are in a situation where they are going to get a lot of attention, they can become chewers and diggers and they do have a lot of energy. They are not couch potato dogs.
     
     
Flatcoats are very stoic and do not show when they are in pain very often. They put up with a lot before they let you in on it. In this sense they make bad patients, as they are often up and around much too early for their own good after an injury.