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Breed Characteristics
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Chesapeake Bay Retriever
| Nicknames | Chessie, CBR, Chesapeake |
| Country of Origin | United States |
| Weight | Males: 65 - 80 lbs. (29 - 36 kg) Females: 55 - 70 lbs. (25 - 32 kg) |
| Height (at withers) | Males: 23 - 26 in. (58 - 66 cm) Females: 21 - 24 in. (53 - 61 cm) |
| Coat | The oily, short coat is dense with a wave. The oils in the coat not only repel the water like a duck’s feathers do, but help the dog dry quickly, enabling the dog to swim in colder waters. |
| Colour | Coat colors include brown, red, sedge or tan in the shade of dead grass. Sometimes there is a small white spot on the breast, belly, toes or back of the feet. |
| Litter Size | 7 - 8 puppies |
| Life Span | 10-12 years |
| Origin & History | Chesapeake Bay Retrievers trace their history to two pups who were rescued from a foundering ship in Maryland in 1807. The male "Sailor" and female "Canton" were described as Newfoundland dogs, but were more accurately Lesser Newfoundland or St. John's water dogs. These two lived in different parts of the bay area and there is no record of a litter being produced together. They were bred with area dogs, with more consideration given to ability than to breed, to create the beginnings of the Chesapeake Bay Retriever breed. There are few records of the breeds of these early dogs, but spaniels and hounds were included. Dogs from both Chesapeake Bay shores were recognized as one of three types of Chesapeake Bay Ducking Dog in 1877. In 1918 a single type, called the Chesapeake Bay Retriever, was recognized by the American Kennel Club, and there have been few changes to the breed standard since then. George Law, who rescued the pups, wrote this account in 1845 which appears on the website of the American Chesapeake Bay Retriever Club: In the fall of 1807 I was on board of the ship Canton, belonging to my uncle, the late Hugh Thompson, of Baltimore, when we fell in, at sea, near the termination of a very heavy equinoctial gale, with an English brig in a sinking condition, and took off the crew. The brig was loaded with codfish, and was bound to Pole, in England, from Newfoundland. I boarded her, in command of a boat from the Canton, which was sent to take off the English crew, the brig's own boats having been all swept away, and her crew in a state of intoxication. I found onboard of her two Newfoundland pups, male and female, which I saved, and subsequently, on our landing the English crew at Norfolk, our own destination being Baltimore, I purchased these two pups of the English captain for a guinea apiece. Being bound again to sea, I gave the dog pup, which was called Sailor, to Mr. John Mercer, of West River; and the slut pup, which was called Canton, to Doctor James Stewart, of Sparrow's Point. The history which the English captain gave me of these pups was, that the owner of his brig was extensively engaged in the Newfoundland trade, and had directed his correspondent to select and send him a pair of pups of the most approved Newfoundland breed, but of different families, and that the pair I purchased of him were selected under this order. The dog was of a dingy red colour; and the slut black. They were not large; their hair was short, but very thick-coated; they had dew claws. Both attained great reputation as water-dogs. They were most sagacious in every thing, particularly so in all duties connected with duck-shooting. Governor Lloyd exchanged a Merino ram for the dog, at the time of the Merino fever, when such rams were selling for many hundred dollars, and took him over to his estate on the eastern shore of Maryland, where his progeny were well known for many years after; and may still be known there, and on the western shore, as the Sailor breed. The slut remained at Sparrows Point till her death, and her progeny were and are still well known, through Patapsco Neck, on the Gunpowder, and up the bay, amongst the duck-shooters, as unsurpassed for their purposes. I have heard both Doctor Stewart and Mr. Mercer relate most extraordinary instances of the sagacity and performance of both dog and slut, and would refer you to their friends for such particulars as I am unable, at this distance of time, to recollect with sufficient accuracy to repeat. Mercer is said to have described Sailor: ... he was of fine size and figure-lofty in his carriage, and built for strength and activity; remarkably muscular and broad across the hips and breast; head large, but not out of proportion; muzzle rather longer than is common with that race of dogs; his colour a dingy red, with some white on the face and breast; his coat short and smooth, but uncommonly thick, and more like a coarse fur than hair; tail full, with long hair, and always carried very high. His eyes were very peculiar: they were so light as to have almost an unnatural appearance, something resembling what is termed a wail eye, in a horse; and it is remarkable, that in a visit which I made to the Eastern Shore, nearly twenty years after he was sent there, in a sloop which had been sent expressly for him, to West River, by Governor Lloyd, I saw many of his descendants who were marked with this peculiarity. In 1964, it was declared the official dog of Maryland. It is the mascot of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. Members of the breed were owned by General George Armstrong Custer, President Theodore Roosevelt, and actors Paul Walker and Tom Felton. |
| Personality | These are intelligent, brave and obedient dogs. They are trainable, willing and able to please, although they may be a little slow to learn. Chesapeake Bay Retrievers are affectionate, loving, friendly and good with children. They have a passion for water, swimming and retrieving. This breed will get along with cats that are already living in your house, but may chase other cats. The Chesapeake Bay Retriever is not recommended for an inexperienced new dog owner. The handler needs to be confident, exerting a natural authority over the dog. A firm, consistent, but kind approach is the most successful way to handle them. If possible, attend obedience classes with this breed. Proper canine to human communication is essential. The Chesapeake can be fairly dominant and will become willful and may develop dominance problems if it senses the owners are passive, meek or timid. Be sure to properly train and socialized them. Take your puppy out with you as much as possible and introduce it to other dogs so that it has a chance to feel relaxed with them. The Chesapeake tends to be more dominant than other retrievers. Without the proper leadership they can become territorial, aggressive, willful, reserved with strangers and may not get along with other dogs. Chessies are strong canines that require firm training and good management. Chesapeakes are usually slow to mature. With the right owners they are a joy to own. |
Care Requirements
| Health | All dogs have the potential to develop genetic health problems, just as all people have the potential to inherit a particular disease. Run, don’t walk, from any breeder who does not offer a health guarantee on puppies, who tells you that the breed is 100 percent healthy and has no known problems, or who tells you that her puppies are isolated from the main part of the household for health reasons. A reputable breeder will be honest and open about health problems in the breed and the incidence with which they occur in her lines. According to a 2005 survey by the American Chesapeake Club, the most common health problems seen in the breed are hip dysplasia, progressive retinal atrophy and other eye problems, cancer, degenerative myelopathy and hypothyroidism. This breed may also be prone to a bleeding disorder called von Willebrand disease. Not all of these conditions are detectable in a growing puppy, and it is impossible to predict whether an animal will be free of these maladies, which is why you must find a reputable breeder who is committed to breeding the healthiest animals possible. They should be able to produce independent certification that the parents of the dog (and grandparents, etc.) have been screened for common defects and deemed healthy for breeding. That’s where health registries come in. The American Chesapeake Club participates in the Canine Health Information Center, a health database. Before individual Chessies can be issued a CHIC number, breeders must submit hip and elbow evaluations from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) and eye test results from the Canine Eye Registration Foundation (CERF). PennHip certification of hips is also accepted. The eye exam should be performed after the dog is 1 year old. Optional CHIC test results that can be submitted are OFA progressive retinal atrophy DNA test from an approved laboratory, an OFA thyroid evaluation from an approved laboratory and an OFA heart evaluation. Breeders must agree to have all test results, positive or negative, published in the CHIC database. A dog need not receive good or even passing scores on the evaluations to obtain a CHIC number, so CHIC registration alone is not proof of soundness or absence of disease, but all test results are posted on the CHIC website and can be accessed by anyone who wants to check the health of a puppy’s parents. If the breeder tells you she doesn't need to do those tests because she's never had problems in her lines and her dogs have been "vet checked," then you should go find a breeder who is more rigorous about genetic testing. Look for a breeder who uses the newly available genetic screening test for degenerative myelopathy, a form of progressive limb weakness and paralysis. Although DM is rare, it is incurable and crippling. Not every dog who tests positive for DM will go on to develop the disease, but breeders who test their stock for this condition are likely to be among the most conscientious. The test can be used to determine whether a puppy's parents are clear, carriers, or at risk; a puppy whose parents are clear – neither carriers nor at risk – will also be clear. A puppy from two carrier parents will be at risk, and a puppy with one carrier parent may be at risk. Even dogs who test as having two copies of the gene many never show symptoms of the disease, but knowing the status of your puppy's parents, and of your own dog, can help you watch for the early warning signs. Careful breeders screen their breeding dogs for genetic disease and breed only the healthiest and best-looking specimens, but sometimes Mother Nature has other ideas and a puppy develops one of these diseases despite good breeding practices. Advances in veterinary medicine mean that in most cases the dogs can still live a good life. If you’re getting a puppy, ask the breeder about the ages of the dogs in her lines and what they died of. Remember that after you’ve taken a new puppy into your home, you have the power to protect him from one of the most common health problems: obesity. Keeping a Chessie at an appropriate weight is one of the easiest ways to extend his life. Make the most of your preventive abilities to help ensure a healthier dog for life. |
| Grooming | The dense, harsh, short-haired coat is oily with a distinct smell and is easy to groom. Brush with a firm bristle brush to remove the dead hairs. While the Chesapeake needs the occasional bath to prevent any noticeable odor, they should not be bathed so often that the oily texture is stripped out. The oily coat helps protect the dog from icy waters. This breed is an average shedder. |
| Exercise | The Chesapeake Bay Retriever needs a good deal of vigorous activity, including swimming if possible. If they do not get enough exercise they may become badly behaved from boredom and bottled up energy. They need to be taken on a daily brisk, long walk or jog where the dog is made to heel. They should never be allowed to walk out in front of the person holding the lead, as in a dog's mind, the leader leads the way and that leader needs to be the human. |
| Other Considerations | Chesapeake Bay Retrievers are not recommended for apartment life. They are relatively inactive indoors and will do best with at least an average-sized yard. Chesapeake Bay Retrievers often enjoy sleeping outdoors if it is cooler outside, as they prefer cool climates. |
