Chesapeake Bay Retriever
Gundogs

Group:

Gundog

Size:

large

Lifespan:

10-13 years

Exercise:

medium

Grooming:

low

Trainability:

medium

Watchdog ability:

high

Protection ability:

medium

Area of Origin:

United States

Date of Origin:

1800’s

Other Names:

none

Original Function:

water retrieving

History

The Chesapeake Bay Retriever claims an adventurous and somewhat mysterious history. In 1807, two Newfoundlands were rescued off the coast of Maryland after a shipwreck. The black male and brown female were both excellent water dogs and were later mated. These pups were most likely crossed with other local sporting breeds such as the Coonhound, the English Water Poodle, and the Curly and Flat-Coated Retrievers. What emerged was an able rough-water dog with excellent retrieving instincts. His coat, in particular, is unique in that it can withstand icy-cold water yet remain dry underneath; sportsmen claim a quick shake is all it takes to shed any remaining water and ice.

Temperament

The Chesapeake Bay Retriever is a protective dog breed who makes a good watchdog. These are friendly, intelligent and obedient dogs with a mind of their own. It is reserved with strangers and can be protective; it also can be aggressive toward strange dogs if challenged. This is the hardiest, most strong-willed and protective of the retriever breeds, but it can make a good family pet.

Upkeep

The Chessie is a large active dog that needs a daily chance to exercise. It enjoys a good walk or swim. It can live outside in temperate conditions, but more than anything it prefers to spend time with its family. The oily, wavy coat needs weekly brushing but is generally easily maintained. It seldom needs washing; in fact, it’s hard to get a Chessie wet! Bathing destroys the coat’s oils and thus, its water resistance.

Official Breed Standard

Head:
Skull broad and round with medium stop, nose medium, short muzzle, pointed but not sharp. Lips thin, not pendulous. Ears small, set well up on head, hanging loosely and of medium leather. Eyes medium large, very clear, of yellowish or amber colour and wide apart.

Neck:
Of medium length with a strong muscular appearance, tapering to shoulders.

Shoulder, Chest and Body:
Shoulders sloping and should have full liberty of action with plenty of power without any restrictions of movement. Chest strong, deep and wide. Barrel round and deep. Body of medium length, neither cobby nor roached, but rather approaching hollowness, flanks well tucked up.

Hindquarters and Stifles:
Hindquarters should be as high or a trifle higher than the shoulders. They should show fully as much power as the forequarters. There should be no tendency to weakness in either fore or hindquarters. Hindquarters should be especially powerful to supply the driving power for swimming. Back should be short, well-coupled and powerful. Good hindquarters are essential. Stifles should be well-angulated.

Legs, Elbows, Hocks and Feet:
Legs should be medium length and straight, showing good bone and muscle, with well-webbed hare feet of good size. The toes well rounded and close, pasterns slightly bent and both pasterns and hocks medium length the straighter the legs the better, when viewed from front or rear. Dewclaws, if any, must be removed from the hind legs. Dewclaws on the forelegs may be removed. A dog with dewclaws on the hind legs must be disqualified.

Tail:
Tail should extend to hock. It should be medium heavy at base. Moderate feathering on stern/tail permissible. Tail should be straight or slightly curved. Tail should not curl over back or side kink.

Coat and Texture:
Coat should be thick and short, nowhere over 1.5 inches ( 3.75)long, with a dense fine woolly undercoat. Hair on face and legs should be very short and straight with tendency to wave on the shoulders, neck, back and loins only. The curly coat or coat with a tendency to curl not permissible.

The texture of the dog's coat is very important, as the dog is used for hunting under all sorts of adverse weather conditions, often working in ice and snow. The oil in the harsh outer coat and woolly undercoat is of extreme value in preventing the cold water from reaching the dog's skin and aids in quick drying. A Chesapeake's coat should resist the water in the same way that a duck's feathers do. When he leaves the water and shakes himself, his coat should not hold the water at all, being merely moist. Colour and coat are extremely important as the dog is used for duck hunting. The colour must be as nearly that of his surroundings as possible and with the fact that dogs are exposed to all kinds of adverse weather conditions, often working in ice and snow, the colour of coat and its texture must be given every consideration when judging on the bench or in the ring.

Colour:
Any colour varying from a dark brown to a faded tan or deadgrass. Deadgrass takes in any shade of deadgrass varying from a tan to a dull straw colour. White spot on breast, toes and belly permissible, but the smaller the spot the better. Solid and self-coloured dogs are preferred.

Weight:
Males: 29.4 - 36.2 kgs (65 - 80 lb). Females: 24.9 - 31.7 kgs (55 - 70 LB).

Height:
Males: 58.4 - 66 cms (23 - 26 in). Females: 53.3 - 60.9 CMS (21 - 24 in). Oversized or undersized are to be severely penalised.

Symmetry and Quality:
The Chesapeake dog should show a bright and happy disposition and an intelligent expression, with general outlines impressive and denoting a good worker. The dog should be well proportioned, a dog with a good coat and well balanced in other points being preferable to the dog excelling in some but weak in others.

Courage, willingness to work, alertness, nose, intelligence, love of water, general quality, and, most of all, disposition, should be given primary consideration in the selection and breeding of the Chesapeake Bay dog.

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