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The Chesapeake Bay Retriever is a medium sized breed of dog with an interesting look that consists of a broad head and tan to dark brown or red coat that has a slight wave to it. They are beautiful dogs that really exhibit the athletic build that one looks for in a working breed.
In addition to this build, the Chesapeake Bay Retriever is an intelligent breed that thrives when it is out working. They are very affectionate to those they know but do not have the “love everyone” that so many other breeds has. Instead, they tend to be a bit more reserved and they also have a very strong will.
It is actually this strong will that really sets the Chesapeake Bay Retriever aside from other retrievers. They can be slow to learn, not because they are not intelligent, but because they are not a breed that will jump for anything. For this reason, they are not recommended for new or timid owners and they really need an owner that can be firm and patient at the same time.
Even still, the Chesapeake Bay Retriever is a breed that was made for retrieving on water and they have proven time and time again that they are perfect for retrieving waterfowl on any type of terrain.
Pro’s and con’s of owning an Irish Water Spaniel
If you are looking at the Chesapeake Bay Retriever because it gives you a Labrador Retriever with an unusual coat, then you should look for another breed because you would be farthest from the truth as you can be. The Chesapeake Bay Retriever is an energetic breed but they tend to be more reserved and have a very strong will. They are not eager to please but they have a confidence that endears them to many owners and trainers alike. While they have many positive qualities, they also have a few that make them a poor match with many owners. It is very important to really know this breed before you purchase one.
The Pro’s
There are many good points about the Chesapeake Bay Retriever breed and while they are considered more uncommon today, there was a time when this breed was a preferred pet for many sportsmen and hunters. Generally, this is an active breed that works hard in the field and truly shines in water.
• They are very friendly and loving and make excellent family dogs and are usually very good with children.
• Chesapeake Bay Retrievers do very well in outdoor kennels and actually prefer to sleep outside.
• They have a steady temperament, although they are exuberant when young.
• While they are friendly, they are more reserved than many other retriever breeds.
• They can make excellent watchdogs since they tend to be suspicious of new people.
• They are easy to groom.
• Chesapeake Bay Retrievers are very intelligent and will take to training quickly; however, they may not always listen since they are strong willed.
The Con’s
As with all dog breeds, there are a number of cons that should be taken into consideration before you purchase a Chesapeake Bay Retriever. The breed has an active and bouncy personality that does not work for everyone.
• They are an active breed that requires at least 30 minutes of exercise per day, although, it is much better if they have closer to 60 minutes.
• Chesapeake Bay Retrievers are average shedders.
• Although they are a retriever, they do not have the eager to please mentality of many retrievers. Instead, they can be very strong willed and need a confident owner and trainer.
• They have been known to have some territorial aggression towards other animals so it is very important to properly socialize this breed.
• They are very jumpy and tend to mature slower than other breeds.
• Chesapeake Bay Retrievers can be very mouthy and may chew objects or nip at hands.
• They can suffer from separation anxiety and will become destructive if they are bored.
Health Issues:
While the Chesapeake Bay Retriever has a number of hereditary diseases that can affect them, they do not have as many as some breeds and are considered to be fairly hardy as a sporting breed.
However, the Chesapeake Bay Retriever has had some instances of Exercise Induced Collapse where a dog’s muscles will refuse to work, thus causing a collapse in the dog. Studies are still being done on the issue and even a dog that has not been exercising can suffer from a collapse. It is important to be aware of this when you purchase a dog. It is also important to research your breeders and to make sure that they are only using dogs that have been properly screened for health problems. Some issues that are seen in the Chesapeake Bay Retriever are:
• Hip Dysplasia
• Elbow Dysplasia
• Degenerative Myelopathy
• Hypothyroidism
• Epilepsy
• Progressive Retinal Atrophy
• Cataracts
• Gastric Torsion or Bloat
Height & Weight:
The Chesapeake Bay Retriever is a strong and athletic breed of dog that should have smooth lines with a rump that is the same height or slightly higher than the shoulders. This is a breed that is used to the extremes of cold temperatures and this trait can be seen in the strength and substance of the dog. It should never be too large but it should have a medium build that gives the appearance of endurance.
The size of a Chesapeake Bay Retriever is:
Males: 23 to 26 inches (58 to 66 cm) tall and 65 to 80 pounds (29 to 36 kg).
Females: 21 to 24 inches (53 to 61 cm) tall and 55 to 70 pounds (25 to 22 kg).
Note: Height is always determined from the ground up to the withers, also known as the highest spot on the shoulders, of the dog. In the Weimaraner the withers are slightly higher than the back of the dog.
Grooming:
The Chesapeake Bay Retriever is actually a very easy dog to groom and they don’t need a lot of maintenance to keep them clean and tidy. While they are easy to groom, they are also average shedders so there will be periods when you have a lot of hair to remove.
When it comes to grooming, it is recommended that you brush them out once a week to remove any dead hairs or debris. Also, it is important to brush these dogs out after they have been in the field to make sure that no dirt or debris will cause mats in their fur.
With bathing, the Chesapeake Bay Retriever only needs to be bathed once or twice per year. Since this is a working breed that was designed to work in water, they have a weatherproofing oil in the hair and washing the dog will only strip this oil from their hair.
Nails should be kept trimmed and if there are any hairs between the toes, it should be trimmed as well. Also keep the dog’s ears clean and dry to avoid any ear infections.
Life Expectancy: 10 to 12 years
History:
If you are looking for a breed that has an interesting history, then you should look no farther than the Chesapeake Bay Retriever. This breed was originated in the early 1800’s and they can actually trace their heritage back to a shipwreck in 1807.
As the history, which is well documented states, a ship that was bound for England from Newfoundland Canada was shipwrecked just off the coast of Maryland. Thankfully the cargo and crew were rescued and taken into the United States.
While this may seem like a strange place to start the history, what is of more important note to dog lovers is that on board the wrecked ship were two Newfoundland puppies, a male and female, that were bound for England.
The two dogs didn’t make it to England and were instead given to two men who were shown gratitude by the shipwrecked sailors for both of their hospitality. The two men, John Mercer and Dr. James Stuart, trained the dogs for retrieving waterfowl and were delighted to have two dogs that were exceptional at it.
In fact, the two dogs were so renowned for their retrieving abilities that any offspring the two produced were sought after by local sportsmen. While the foundation dogs were the two Newfoundland puppies off the shipwreck, whose names were Sailor, the reddish brown male, and Canton, the black female, many other dogs went into creating the Chesapeake Bay Retriever as we know it today.
Generally, many of the puppies that were purchased from Sailor and Canton were bred to many other dogs, including a non-descript retriever that was commonly used in the area. In addition, it is believed that the Flat Coated Retriever, Otter Hound and Curly-Coated Retriever were introduced into the pedigree and each one offered a trait to the Chesapeake Bay Retriever.
Within only a few generations, the Chesapeake Bay Retriever was created and by the mid-1800’s, many breeds were already breeding to form. Because of this, many sportsmen strived to keep the breed from being destroyed and in the late 1800’s, the Carroll Island Gun Club created a pedigree for the Chesapeake Bay Dog.
During the last twenty years of the 1800’s, the Chesapeake Bay Retriever had several different names but in 1890, the name was finally awarded to the Chesapeake Bay Retriever and the breed club was finally formed in the 1890’s.
While the breed became popular in the early and mid 1900’s, with the decline of bird populations and sportsmen, the breed began to see a bit of a decline in the number of Chesapeake Bay Retrievers that were being produced. Thankfully, they are once again on the rise in numbers but they still remain a fairly unfamiliar breed.
Still, the breed has a large following and recently there has been a concern of the breed splitting into two separate types; show and field lines. The Chesapeake Bay Retriever became the state dog of Maryland in 1964.
Grouping:
Gun Dog, AKC Sporting
Recognition:
CKC, FCI, AKC, UKC, KCGB, CKC, NKC, NZKC, ANKC, APRI, ACR
If you are interested in rehoming a Chesapeake Bay Retriever