Chesapeake Bay Retriever
AKA: Chessie, Chessy Dog
Description: The Chesapeake Bay Retriever is a powerful and muscular retriever, with a an outercoat and woolly undercoat that are oily and water-repellant. The head is round, with hanging small ears, yellowish eyes, and thin lips.
The Chessie’s front legs are straight and powerful. The hind legs are also powerful, with the dewclaws removed. Removal of the front dewclaws is optional, but this is recommended if the dog is used for the field. The toes are webbed, which gives the Chesapeake Bay Retriever more power in its excellent swimming ability. Its tail is around 12-15 inches long.
Dynamics: The Chesapeake Bay Retriever exudes intelligence and independence. It is courageous, obedient, and lovable. It gets along with children and is affectionate to the family. It can also get along well with cats and other dogs when socialized since puppyhood.
Training the Chesapeake Bay Retriever requires confidence, discipline, and patience. This breed can be stubborn and aggressive that one has to be consistent and firm, but not harsh, in handling it. It tends to be dominant, territorial, and suspicious if not trained and socialized properly. The Chesapeake Bay Terrier also matures slowly.
Breed Group: Gun dog, Sporting Group
Weight: males 65-80 lbs (29-36 kg), females 55-70 lbs (25-32 kg)
Height: males 23-26 inches (58-66 cm), females 21-24 inches (53-61 cm)
Color: The Chesapeake Bay Retriever comes in shades of brown, red or tan. The color ranges from a dead-grass-straw color to a deep dark brown with red overtones. White is sometimes present in the chest and feet.
Country of Origin: The Chesapeake Bay Retriever was the result of cross between a Newfoundland and a local retriever at Chesapeake Bay Area, Maryland. When it was found that the cross made an outstanding retriever, more careful breeding was developed to create the Chesapeake Bay Retriever.
Activities: The Chesapeake Bay Retriever needs extreme physical activities. Swimming and long walks or jogs should be included in its exercises, else the breed will behave badly due to boredom. The Chesapeake Bay Retriever’s talents include obedience, tracking, hunting, retrieving, guarding, watchdogging, schutzhund, and field spots. It has also proved itself to be a good family companion.
Grooming: Grooming the Chesapeake Bay Retriever is easy because of its dense short hair. Brush with a bristle brush and remove dead hairs. Bathe only when necessary, not so much that the oily texture in their coat will be stripped out (it protects them from icy waters).
Other Info: The life expectancy of the Chesapeake Bay Retriever is around 10-12 years. It is basically healthy but prone to eye problems and hip dysplasia.
The Chesapeake Bay Retriever is not suitable for apartment life. It is inactive indoors and this could result to bad behavior due to boredom and lack of exercise. This breed likes to sleep outdoors and prefer cool climates and a place where there is a body of water nearby.
Tags: breed, chesapeake bay retriever, dog