Chesapeake Bay Retriever
Country/Date of Origin: USA/1800s
This is a made in the USA breed that was begun in 1807 from a pair of Newfoundland puppies that were rescued from a shipwreck off the coast of Maryland. No one knows which dogs were crossed with the original two but the result was a water fowling dog, capable of heavy duty work in cold water. Considered the best duck retriever of all time, the Chesapeake Bay Retriever ruled the blinds for a hundred and fifty years, fetching as many as three hundred ducks a day from the icy water. The days of plentiful game are gone but the Chessie's companionable qualities have kept the breed alive.
Other Names Body Type Personality Coat Health Concerns
Back to Topnone
AKC Group: Sporting
Breed Club: American Chesapeake Club
Rescue Club: Eastern US, Jane Peabody, Maine, RescEast@amchessieclub.org; Central US, Gina Stevens, RescCent@amchessieclub.org; Western US, Camille Druge, California, RescWest@amchessieclub.org
Back to TopBody Type:
- A big powerful water retriever with the general size and shape of the
- Labrador and Golden Retrievers
- Height: 21-26 inches (at shoulder)
- Weight: 55-75 pounds
- Thick tapered tail in not altered
- Hanging ears are not altered
Personality:
- Craves personal attention. A loyal and devoted companion
- Tolerates roughhousing from children, especially those who are willing to throw sticks into the water for it to retrieve
- Tends to be sharper than sister breeds, Labrador and Golden Retrievers
Coat:
- A wavy double coat: harsh and oily on the surface with a woolly, insulating undercoat prevents water from reaching the skin
- The water resisting oil gives the Chessie a strong, distinctive odor
- Coat colors range from a deep brown to a light tan called "dead grass."
- These were chosen for camouflaging qualities
Health Concerns:
- Hip dysplasia as is common to all heavyset breeds
- Bleeding disorder known as von Willebrand's disease
- Cataracts and other hereditary eye diseases
- Eczema and related skin disorders
Tasty Tidbits:
|