Chesapeake Bay Retriever

AKC Group: Sporting

Club: American Chesapeake Club, Inc.

Corresponding Secretary : Kimberly Forhart
Address: 23016 64th Ave, SW, Vashan, WA , 98070
Website: www.amchessieclub.org
Club Type: Specialty

General Apperance:

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, wooly 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.

Size:

Height --Males should measure 23 to 26 inches; females should measure 21 to 24 inches. Oversized or undersized animals are to be severely penalized . Proportion --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 should extend at least to the elbow. Shoulder to elbow and elbow to ground should be equal. Weight --Males should weigh 65 to 80 pounds; females should weigh 55 to 70 pounds.

Coat:

Coat should be thick and short, nowhere over 1½ inches long, with a dense fine wooly 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 wooly 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.

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.

History:

While the Chessie originated in this country, he came from stock destined to sail from England. In the year 1807, an English brig wrecked off the coast of Maryland and crew and cargo were rescued by the ship Canton. Also rescued were two Newfoundland puppies, a dingy red dog named "Sailor," and a black bitch named "Canton." The two dogs, who turned out to be wonderful retrievers, were presented to the gentlemen who helped the shipwrecked, and many of the nondescript dogs used for retrieving in the area were bred to them, in addition to other outcrosses, such as the English Otter Hound, Flat-Coat, and Curly-Coated Retriever.

By the time of the AKC's establishment in 1884, a definite Chesapeake variety had been developed and was known for its prowess in the rough, icy waters of the Chesapeake Bay, where the dogs were often called upon to retrieve 100 or 200 ducks in a day. Anthony Bliss, in his history of the breed, noted that there were several differences between this type and the present-day Chesapeake. For one, the breed was found in one color only - dark brown, shading into a sort of reddish sage - and also, heads were more wedge-shaped and coats were thicker and longer. Today, under leadership of its parent club - the American Chesapeake Club, founded in 1918 - the breed is active in all areas of AKC competition. The club held its first licensed retriever trial in 1932.