Chocolate Brown Chesapeake Bay Retriever
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Chesapeake Bay Retriever Dog Breed

Other names:
Chesapeake
Chesapeake Bay
Chesapeake Retriever
Chessie
Chessie Dog
Chessie Puppy
Chessie Retriever
Chessy Dog

The Chesapeake Bay Retriever, or as it is affectionately called the "Chessie", is a breed that originated in America and is one of the first breeds recognized by the AKC. This gundog not only retrieves waterfowl hunted by its owner, but also does so in freezing, icy waters! The short, rough, wavy coat is extra oily; this makes the dog virtually waterproof. Every aspect of their appearance from the coat to webbed feet make them suitable to brave strong tides, winds, and ice. Besides swimming, being with their family is the Chessie's other favorite past time. They form firm and loyal bonds with the owner or family and will very seriously take on the responsibility of protecting the property, children, other pets, etc. Members of this breed are more suited to indoor living since they prefer to be in the presence of the owner; to other animals and strangers they are either reserved or totally uninterested. They require at least 20 minutes of moderate exercise daily. Chesapeake Bay Retrievers shed very little and grooming consists of hardly more than brushing once per week. They are prone to typical large dog problems such as hip and joint issues but will likely live as long as 10-13 years.

Chesapeake Bay Retriever Breed Details

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

Type
Purebred
Lifespan
10 - 13 yrs.
Height
21 - 26 in.
Weight
65 - 80 lbs
Friendliness
OverallFamily FriendlyChild FriendlyPet FriendlyStranger Friendly
Maintenance
Easy to GroomEnergy LevelExercise NeedsHealthShedding Amount
Behavior
Barks / HowlsEasy to TrainGuard DogPlayfulnessWatch Dog
Ownership
Apartment DogCan be AloneGood for Busy OwnersGood for New OwnersIntelligence

Chesapeake Bay Retriever Breed Description

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.

Chesapeake Bay Retriever Breed History

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 Retriever Appearance

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.

Chesapeake Bay Retriever Colors

The images below represent the coat colors and patterns associated with Chesapeake Bay Retrievers.

Chocolate Brown
Chocolate Brown
Deadgrass
Deadgrass
Reddish Gold
Reddish Gold

Chesapeake Bay Retriever Variations

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.

Chesapeake Bay Retriever Temperament

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.

Chesapeake Bay Retriever Maintenance

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. Training will require quite a bit of effort, consistency and patience. A dominant mentality is recommended; however too much negative reinforcement is not.

Grooming Requirements

A weekly brushing should keep this breed's short, wavy coat free of mats. They are low shedding dogs and shouldn't need much more maintenance than this. Bathing should not be done on a regular basis due to the fact the Chessie's coat is water resistant. Bathing too frequently removes essential oils from the skin and coat. Alopecia is uncommon but has been recorded in these dogs so skin sensitivity should be monitored.

Exercise Requirements

Chessies are large sized dogs and have moderate exercise needs. A daily long walk, hike or run and some outdoor playtime should do just fine. Needless to say, this breed adores swimming and will be very grateful for this type of exercise even in cold water. Indoors these dogs will not be nearly as active, so they make fine indoor pets.

Living Requirements

Chesapeake Bay Retrievers can be either completely indoor or partial outdoor dogs. A fenced yard is recommended for most outdoor breeds. Although outdoors the high energy nature of the breed is evident, indoors is a different story. These dogs can be calm home-dwelling companions. They are affectionate and do not enjoy being without their owners for long periods of time. Due to their large size, they are not as suitable for small apartments.

Chesapeake Bay Retriever Health

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.

Chesapeake Bay Retriever Health Concerns

Below are potential health concerns associated with Chesapeake Bay Retrievers.

Bloat
Hip dysplasia
Progressive retinal atrophy
Cerebellar abiotrophy

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About this Article

Authored by:Dog-Learn
Updated:February 15, 2019
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