In 1807, among the survivors of a British ship wreck off the coast of Maryland, were two Newfoundland pups, one male and one female. Both were excellent water retrievers and were mated to local sporting dogs, including the Curly Coated and Flat Coated Retrievers. The breed that emerged, the Chesapeake Bay Retriever, proved to be without equal in cold and rough water, a powerful swimmer and an excellent duck retriever.
The Chessie is brave, alert, willing to work, intelligent, and always has a happy disposition. He is strong and powerfully built, loves water and has a great deal of stamina and agility.
The Chessie is also well known for his fondness of children and several have been honoured for saving toddlers from drowning.
The most distinctive feature of the Chesapeake Bay Retriever is his coat. He has a harsh, thick and short outer coat that is slightly oily and has a tendency to wave. The Chessie's coat resists water much like a duck's feathers. The colours of his coat can vary from dark brown to a faded tan. Another distinctive feature are his eyes which are very clear and of a yellowish or amber hue.
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Health Issues:
Chesapeake Bay Retrievers, as with other breeds, are susceptible to some health problems, some of a genetic nature, others viral. Some of the known health concerns include:
- Hip Dysplasia and other Joint Problems
- Hypothyroidism
- Progressive Retinal Atrophy — The form of PRA found in Chesapeake Bay Retrievers is known as "progressive rod-cone degeneration". This form of PRA has a late onset with dogs being an average age of between four and seven. The first symptom is night blindness and, eventually, complete blindness will occur. It is imperative that breeding stock be checked annually by an eye specialist until the age of 8 or 9. However, because the type of PRA in Chesapeakes is of late onset, an eye clearance at an early age does not guarantee that the dog is free of this disease.
- Gastric Torsion (Bloat) — As with many large and giant breed dogs, the occurrence of Bloat or Gastric Torsion is a real possibility in the Chesapeake Bay Retriever. If you are not familiar with this condition, it is absolutely necessary to learn about it and know the symptoms — This is a real emergency and a life threatening condition that requires immediate Veterinary attention. See Gastric Dilatation Volvulus (GDV) — Bloat in the Health and Nutrition section of Canada's Guide to Dogs for more information and First Aid for Bloat for an article describing some of the things you can do if you are faced with this situation.
If you are considering the adoption of a Chesapeake Bay Retriever puppy, or any breed, it is very important to be selective in choosing a responsible and reputable breeder. Ensure that the prospective puppy's parents have all health clearances. This should include, among others, hip x-rays to exclude hip dysplasia and eyes should be checked to see that they are normal and PRA clear. (For more information on selecting a breeder, see the articles on the main Breed Listing and Breeders page.)
Additional Health Resources:
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Breed Standards:
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AKC CHESAPEAKE BAY RETRIEVER VIDEO
20 Min. Video Edition, Published by the AKC
Discussion of the breed standard: good structure and movement, acceptable colors, correct head, size. Developed for breeders, exhibitors and judges.
— Available from Dogwise.com |
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Training Resources:
- Training — For information on training your Chesapeake Bay Retriever, see this growing section of Canada's Guide to Dogs for tips, articles, as well as listings of training centres across Canada.
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Additional Information:
- Chesapeake Bay Retriever Pedigree Database
- Clubs, Sports and Activities — This section of Canada's Guide to Dogs includes information on various dog sports and activities as well as listings of non-breed specific clubs from across Canada.
- Working Dogs — Tributes to dog heros as well as information on several dog jobs, such as Guide Dogs, Therapy Dogs, SAR Dogs, Police Dogs, etc. plus links to organizations across Canada.
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