The Chesapeake Bay Retriever (CBR or Chessie) is the world’s toughest retriever and the only retriever that is 100% American. The first CBR was registered with the American Kennel Club in 1878. It was appointed the official state dog of Maryland in 1964 and it is the mascot of the University of Maryland Baltimore Country. Some of the famous people to have owned, or to own a CBR include; General George Armstrong Custer, President Theodore Roosevelt, Paul Walker (The Fast and the Furious) and Tom Felton (Draco Malfoy in the Harry Potter franchise).
The origins of the CBR go back to 1807, when two Newfoundlands were saved from a shipwrecked brig off the coast of Maryland. The dogs were mated with local retrievers. This interbreeding created a great waterfowl hunting companion. Today the CBR is primarily a family pet, watchdog and hunting companion. It is a breed that wears three collars: loyal pet, hunter and show dog.
The front door of the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in St. Michael’s, Maryland, is guarded by a pair of cast iron statues of the Chesapeake Bay Retriever.
This extremely versatile dog is accomplished in many areas beyond the field and water work it is famous for. It makes a wonderful companion and devoted family dog as it is good with children and protective of them. The breed is found excelling in all aspects of life from competition ring, Obedience trials, field trials, drug enforcement, service dogs to visiting nursing homes and search and rescue work.
The Chesapeake is first and foremost an excellent hunting dog and water retriever. It possesses a natural retrieving desire with an excellent nose and extraordinary ability to remember multiple falls.
Characteristics
The Chesapeake Bay Retriever is a very high energy, strong, powerful, muscular dog and loves to swim. It is the toughest and most independent of the retrievers. It will dive into icy water and swim for long periods of time. Some owners have claimed their dogs are capable of more than a 100 retrieves a day.
Its powerful chest enables it to break through dense ice and choppy seas. The CBR is a double coated dog, with a dense, soft undercoat for warmth and an oily flat top coat to repel water. The webbing on its feet makes it a fast swimmer; it uses its tail as a tiller and it can extend its neck to be able to see the surrounding water environment while it is swimming. Three shakes leave the coat close to dry.
It has solid muscular legs and a powerful, wide muzzle which allows it to carry large water fowl.
It excels in obedience, tracking and field trials and CBR are frequently dual champions. A “dual champion in America” is given to a dog that has been awarded the AKC’s Champion Record after it has also been awarded Field Champion or Herding Champion.
Temperament
The Chessie is an all-around dog, each one is an individual and responds to individual attention. It has an inherent quality of self-respect and a knowledge of its own worth. It is a friendly, loving, sensitive and perceptive dog, with a passion for the water, swimming and retrieving. The CBR makes an excellent hiking, boating and outdoors companion.
President Roosevelt believed his CBP called “Sailor Boy” had a masterful temperament and strong sense of both dignity and duty.
The Chessie is known for its enthusiasm and endurance. It is protective of its owners and family and is very possessive; a natural “watchdog” ready to protect family and property. It can be territorial, but also very sociable and welcoming of the owners’ friends, who become the CBR’s friends too.
Health
The Chesapeake is an overall healthy breed, having only the typical orthopaedic issues of many large breeds, and testing is available for potential parents.
It can also experience Hip and Elbow Dysplasia and Perennial Retinal Apathy (PRA) and there is a DNA test for this genetic condition. The average lifespan for a Chesapeake is similar to other Retrievers and ranges from about 12 to 14 years.
Temperament
The Chesapeake becomes firmly attached to its family, so does not rehome well and needs to be in a ‘forever’ home. It is intensely affectionate, sensitive and perceptive. It knows when it is liked and when it is not and responds in kind. It is reserved and cautious with strangers.
With a keen sense of hearing and a very protective nature, it is a good watchdog. Due to its natural protective instincts it must be properly socialised and trained. It is an active dog that needs regular attention and exercise.
The Chesapeake Bay Retriever is friendly, loving, obedient, brave and intelligent.
The Chesapeake is one breed for which it is essential to adapt handling techniques to the individual dog. Physical abuse will cause it to abandon its innate loyalty and desire to please.
Responsible breeders have made a conscientious effort to eliminate the bad-tempered dogs from the gene pool and they have, for the most part, been quite successful.
Appearance
The CBR has a pretty face, with a muscular and athletic build, rather than an active and agile one, because it is a working breed. It has a coarse coat which is rough and thick, which comes in three basic solid colours that should blend with their working environment: brown, sage and dead grass. The coat is unique: the part of the hair close to the hair follicle has little pigmentation, giving it a soft woolly feeling and towards the tip, there are clumps of pigment that impart a coarse texture depending on the spacing of the clumps and the concentration of the pigment. The eyes, nose and lips tend to be of a similar colour. The ears are set high because it is a swimming dog. The eyes are amber in colour and oval in appearance with a quietly confident look.
The breed has had the good fortune of never being a particularly “popular” breed, so there is no split between “show” and “field” types.
Maintenance
The CBR is the most natural of all gundogs. No frills, feathers or trimmings for the Chessie. On a weekly basis, nails should be checked and clipped, they should never be so long that they touch the floor and the ears need to be checked and cleaned.
The coat, unless very dirty or in the shedding stage, doesn’t need to be fussed over. A metal brush should never be used as it will get rid of the undercoat.
Health
The Chessie like other large breeds may carry the genes for hip dysplasia, and the hereditary component of this disorder is still under investigation. The CBR also needs to be tested for any hereditary eye diseases, such as cataracts and progressive retinal atrophy. The breed’s life span is usually 10 to 14 years.
Suitability
The Chessie requires a large amount of physical activity. They love to retrieve and swim and therefore are not suitable for apartments. Basic obedience training is not an option but a must. The coat is low maintenance. The CBR, when part of a family, is a devoted companion and a great watch dog, with the advantage of seldom barking for no reason.
The CBR has a lot of energy and they can never get enough exercise. So expect to spend ample time playing fetch, teaching obedience exercises and taking your dog hiking or swimming. It enjoys chewing and carrying objects in its mouth and therefore it is important to provide appropriate toys for doing so.
A Chessie perceives itself as a friend, a partner, not a servant: so Chessies learn guidelines, habits a modus operandi, and they make decisions accordingly. And so, they don’t learn commands. They are bred to work seven days a week over 10 hours a day.
Words: Aurea Palma
Image: Submitted by Wendy Schwendeman
In Conclusion
Now you know a little about the Chesapeake Bay Retriever, you may think that this is the dog for you. Before you make a decision, please make contact with the breed club or your State controlling body for purebred dogs. They will be able to give you information about available puppies and also suggest dog shows where you can see the breed and speak to breeders. In this way you will gain a better perspective of the Chesapeake Bay Retriever and its needs, and whether this breed would suit your lifestyle.
Official breed standard as recognized by Dogs NSW (Last Updated: 16 Aug 2010)
A breed standard is the guideline which describes the ideal characteristics, temperament, and appearance of a breed and ensures that the breed is fit for function with soundness essential. Breeders and judges should at all times be mindful of features which could be detrimental in any way to the health, welfare or soundness of this breed.
General Appearance
Equally proficient on land and in the water, the Chesapeake Bay Retriever was developed along the Chesapeake Bay to hunt waterfowl under the most adverse weather and water conditions, often having to break ice during the course of many strenuous multiple retrieves. Frequently the Chesapeake must face wind, tide and long cold swims in its work. The breed's characteristics are specifically suited to enable the Chesapeake to function with ease, efficiency and endurance. In head, the Chesapeake's skull is broad and round with a medium stop. The jaws should be of sufficient length and strength to carry large game birds with an easy, tender hold. The double coat consists of a short, harsh, wavy outer coat and a dense, fine, woolly undercoat containing an abundance of natural oil and is ideally suited for the icy rugged conditions of weather the Chesapeake often works in. In body, the Chesapeake is a strong, well-balanced, powerfully built animal of moderate size and medium length in body and leg, deep and wide in chest, the shoulders built with full liberty of movement, and with no tendency to weakness in any feature, particularly the rear. The power though, should not be at the expense of agility or stamina. Size and substance should not be excessive as this is a working retriever of an active nature.Distinctive features include eyes that are very clear, of yellowish or amber hue, hindquarters as high or a trifle higher than the shoulders, and a double coat which tends to wave on shoulders, neck, back and loins only.The Chesapeake is valued for its bright and happy disposition, intelligence, quiet good sense, and affectionate protective nature. Extreme shyness or extreme aggressive tendencies are not desirable in the breed either as a gun dog or companion.Disqualifications: Specimens that are lacking in breed characteristics should be disqualified.Important Proportion:Height to Length Ratio: Height from the top of the shoulder blades to the ground should be slightly less than the body length from the breastbone to the point of buttocks.Depth of Body: Depth of body should extend at least to the elbow.Balance of Withes to Elbow and Elbow to Ground: Shoulder to elbow and elbow to ground should be equal.Approximate Measurements Inches CentimetresLength head, nose to occiput 9½ to 10 24.13 to 25.40Girth at ears 20 to 21 50.80 to 53.34Muzzle below eyes 10 to 10½ 25.40 to 26.67Length of ears 4½ to 5 11.43 to 12.70Width between eyes 2½ to 2¾ 6.35 to 6.99Girth neck close to shoulder 20 to 22 50.80 to 55.88Girth at flank 24 to 25 60.96 to 63.50Length from occiput to tail base 34. to 35 86.36 to 88.90Girth forearms at shoulders 10 to 10½ 25.40 to 26.67Girth upper thigh 19 to 20 48.26 to 50.80From root to root of ear, over skull 5 to 6 12.70 to 15.24Occiput to top shoulder blades 9 to 9½ 22.86 to 24.13From elbow to elbow over the 25 to 26 63.50 to 66.04shoulders
Characteristics
Not detailed under this heading.
Temperament
The Chesapeake Bay Retriever should show a bright and happy disposition with an intelligent expression. Courage, willingness to work, alertness, nose, intelligence, love of water, general quality and, most of all, disposition should be given primary consideration in the selection and breeding of the Chesapeake Bay Retriever.
Physical Standards
Head and Skull
The Chesapeake Bay Retriever should have an intelligent expression.Skull is broad and round with a medium stop.Muzzle is approximately the same length, as the skull, tapered, pointed but not sharp.Nose is medium shortLips are thin, not pendulous.
Eyes
Eyes are to be medium large, very clear, of yellowish or amber colour and wide apart.
Ears
Ears are to be small, set well up on the head, hanging loosely, and of medium leather.
Mouth
Bite: Scissors is preferred, but a level bite is acceptable.Disqualifications: Either undershot or overshot bites are to be disqualified.
Neck
Neck should be of medium length with a strong muscular appearance, tapering to the shoulders.
Forequarters
There should be no tendency to weakness in the forequarters.Shoulders should be sloping with full liberty of action, plenty of power and without any restrictions of movement.Legs should be medium in length and straight, showing good bone and muscle. Pasterns slightly bent and of medium length.The front legs should appear straight when viewed from front or rear. Dewclaws on the forelegs may be removed.
Body
Body is of medium length, neither cobby nor roached, but rather approaching hollowness from underneath as the flanks should be well tucked up.Topline should show the hindquarters to be as high as or a trifle higher than the shoulders.Back should be short, well coupled and powerful.Chest should be strong, deep and wide. Rib cage barrel round and deep
Hindquarters
Good hindquarters are essential. They should show fully as much power as the forequarters. There should be no tendency to weakness in the hindquarters. Hindquarters should be especially powerful to supply the driving power for swimming.Legs should be medium length and straight, showing good bone and muscle.Stifles should be well angulated.The distance from hock to ground should be of medium length. The hind legs should look straight when viewed from the front or rear. Dewclaws, if any, must be removed from the hind legs.Disqualifications: Dewclaws on the hind legs are a disqualification.
Feet
Well webbed hare feet should be of good size with toes well-rounded and close.
Tail
Tail of medium length; medium heavy at the base. The tail should be straight or slightly curved and should not curl over back or side kink.
Gait/Movement
The gait should be smooth, free and effortless, giving the impression of great power and strength. When viewed from the side, there should be good reach with no restrictions of movement in the front and plenty of drive in the rear, with good flexion of the stifle and hock joints. Coming at you, there should be no sign of elbows being out. When the Chesapeake is moving away from you, there should be no sign of cowhockness from the rear. As speed increases, the feet tend to converge toward a centre line of gravity.
Coat
Coat should be thick and short, nowhere over 1½ inches long, with a dense fine woolly undercoat. Hair on the face and legs should be very short and straight with a tendency to wave on the shoulders, neck, back and loins only. Moderate feathering on rear of hindquarters and tail is permissible. The texture of the Chesapeake's coat is very important, as the Chesapeake is used for hunting under all sorts of adverse weather conditions, often working in ice and snow. The oil in the harsh outer coat and woolly undercoat is of extreme value in preventing the cold water from reaching the Chesapeake's skin and aids in quick drying. A Chesapeake's coat should resist the water in the same way that a duck's feathers do. When the Chesapeake leaves the water and shakes, the coat should not hold water at all, being merely moist.Disqualifications: A coat that is curly or has a tendency to curl all over the body must be disqualified. Feathering on the tail or legs over 1¾ inches long must be disqualified.
Colour
The colour of the Chesapeake Bay Retriever must be as nearly that of its working surroundings as possible. Any colour of brown, sedge or deadgrass is acceptable, self-coloured Chesapeakes being preferred. One colour is not to be preferred over another. A white spot on the breast, belly, toes, or back of the feet (immediately above the large pad) is permissible, but the smaller the spot the better, solid coloured preferred. The colour of the coat and its texture must be given every consideration when judging on the bench or in the ring. Honourable scars are not to be penalized.Disqualifications: Black coloured; white on any part of the body except breast, belly, toes, or back of feet must be disqualified.
Size
Proportion, SubstanceHeight--Males should measure 58.42 to 66.04 centimetres (23 to 26 inches); females should measure 53.34 to 60.96 centimetres (21 to 24 inches).Oversized or undersized animals are to be severely penalized.Weight--Males should weigh 29.51 to 36.32 Kilograms (65 to 80 lbs); females should weigh 24.97 to 31.78 Kilograms (55 to 70 lbs).
Faults
Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog, and on the dog’s ability to perform its traditional work.Disqualifications:1. Specimens lacking in breed characteristics.2. Teeth overshot or undershot.3. Dewclaws on the hind legs.4. Coat curly or with a tendency to curl all over the body.5. Feathering on the tail or legs over 1¾ inches long.6. Black coloured.7. White on any part of the body except breast, belly, toes, or back of feet.The question of coat and general type of balance takes precedence over any scoring table, which could be drawn up. The Chesapeake should be well proportioned, an animal with a good coat and well balanced in other points being preferable to one excelling in some but weak in others.Positive Scale of Points (Should be only used for a reference and not used for judging)Head, including lips, ears and eyes 16Neck 4Shoulders and body 12Hindquarters and stifles 12Elbows, legs and feet 12Colour 4Stern and tail 10Coat and texture 18General conformation 12Total 100
Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.
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