Chesapeake Bay Retriever Dog Breed

Below are the details and facts on the Chesapeake Bay Retriever dog breed.

Chessies are considered large sized dogs. Females usually stand 21-24 inches tall and weigh around 55-70 pounds. Males will be larger reaching 23-26 inches and weighing in at 65-80 pounds.

This is a great breed for all ages and would make an equally wonderful companion as a hunting dog. Affectionate and lively, Chessies are very fond of the attention children can give them. They are not overly playful and often regard other pets as beings to either be protected or ignored completely. These dogs truly desire companionship and form a close protective bond with their owners and do best when indoors with them. They are the most loyal and protective of the retrievers and will protect the yard, family, and other pets with serious dedication.

This breed is relatively low maintenance for its size. Grooming will be limited mostly to a weekly brushing to rid the fur of mats and tangles. Bathing once every 3-4 months is recommended otherwise the oily water-resistant coat may be stripped of its natural protection. Chesapeake Bay Retrievers are mostly active outdoors and shed very little; for these facts they will require little maintenance indoors. A daily long walk or hike is recommended (at least 20 minutes) with a swim being the Chessie's most preferred form of exercise. Although this breed is referred to as sagacious, training will require quite a bit of effort, consistency and patience. A dominant mentality is recommended; however too much negative reinforcement is not because they are sensitive to those they have bonded with.

This breed was officially recognized by the AKC quite early, in 1878 and the first Chesapeake Bay Retriever Club was founded in 1918. The story tells that a ship headed home to England wrecked off the coast of Maryland. Among those rescued from the ship were two puppies, supposedly Newfoundlands, that were gifted to the American rescuers and were then bred with other retrievers locally. The breed developed into a fine gun dog that could brave the icy waters of Chesapeake Bay, Maryland to retrieve hundreds of waterfowl per day. Overtime appearance changed in the breed from solely a reddish-brown and long-haired dog to the shorter-haired various colors that are acceptable today.

Chesapeake Bay Retrievers are sturdy looking dogs and most aspects of their appearance are made for water. They have a double coat in which the under layer is soft, dense, wooly and oily. The oiliness of the skin and undercoat further protect them from freezing waters in cold climates by making them water resistant. The outer layer is short, wavy and rough. The jaws of the Chessie are long and strong which enable them to get a good hold on the game birds they retrieve and they have amber to yellow eyes that give them a lively and expressive look. Members of this breed have small, loosely hanging ears set at the top of the head. Their chest is wide and deep and they have medium length, well-muscled legs with webbed feet. They are somewhat longer than tall with slightly feathered tail held high. Every facet of this breed's physique lends to powerful swimming skills.

This breed has no variations that are considered standard. This means there are no Miniature Chesapeake Bay Retrievers that will be recognized by any kennel club and you would no be able to show or compete with one.

Note that there is no single coat color considered standard for the breed. The AKC specifies the coat should match their surroundings and, therefore, the dense, short and straight coat can be various colors like brown or deadgrass.

Experts contend this breed of retrievers is the most protective and loyal of all the retrievers. Members of this breed are intuitive, lively, loyal and affectionate. These traits allow them to be excellent partners for hunters as well as loving and protective members of the family. This breed is intuitive enough to bring back the hunter's bird with a gentle bite that does no further damage. This breed will be take upon the task of protecting your yard, family, pets, etc. with tremendous seriousness. Although they will most likely be found in the same room just keeping you company, they are not the extremely playful, clownish retriever type. Chesapeake Bay Retrievers are not dull dogs but training them will come with challenges. They are independent in mind and even stubborn at times so the trainer must be equipped with much patience and consistency. This breed is intuitive and sensitive, however, so a quick reprimand will do in instances of bad behavior. A plus side to those considering adopting a Chessie is that they can make a new bond with an owner at any age due to their natural desire for human companionship and attention.

Like most other large breeds, Chesapeake Bay Retrievers may suffer from hip dysplasia and gastric torsion. Retinal atrophy and joint issues are also minor concerns that may affect members of this breed in later life. Cerebellar abiotrophy is also a possibility; this disease affects motility in dogs. Good health permitting, it is likely these dogs will live 10-13 years.