Retriever (Chesapeake Bay)

Chesapeake Bay retriever is a retriever as well as a gun dog. It also belongs to the sporting breeds. This breed was developed in the 1800s in the Chesapeake Bay area of the United States, hence the name. At that time it was used to retrieve water fowl. It makes a great family dog as well as a hunting dog. They grow up to have a medium or a large build. They are easy to handle and are usually calm and happy. They are intelligent and courageous which is a good combination for hunting and training for sports. They are very popular among those who hunt in the water. These dogs like water and hunt even when the water is cold.

This retriever is well adapted to water and has a waterproof coat. The coat can be a little oily and have a musky odor. The Chesapeake Bay retriever can come in a number of interesting shades of brown, sedge and deadgrass. The shades of sedge color can vary between bright red, reddish yellow and chestnut. According to the breed standards, if white appears it will have to be limited to the toes, breast, belly and back of the feet. Black colors or spots aren’t allowed anywhere on the body according to the breed standards.

It is a very affectionate breed with a protective nature. Some of these dogs can be loud when they are happy. Their temperament depends on how the parents are so you should see the parents before bringing the puppy home. They sometimes tend to remain reserved around strangers while there are exceptions which are very friendly with people. Being a hunting dog, it has very high stamina. They have a reputation of being difficult to train as they are stubborn. This problem can be resolved by training them for obedience everyday. They may need physical discipline. Some trainers do the training between play time and this was found to eliminate the need for physical training.

This breed is generally healthy but can have some inherited diseases like hip dysplasia, progressive retinal atrophy and cataract. Regional Alopecia can affect dogs of both sexes. Its coat doesn’t take any maintenance work except brushing once a week. A bath should be given every 3- 4 months. Regular baths can remove the oil which acts as a protective agent, ruining the texture of the hair. It can also damage the undercoat. Its coat can wave but never curl. The toes are webbed which makes them excellent swimmers. The double coat helps in keeping them warm in icy waters while duck hunting.

The male Chesapeake Bay retrievers are generally taller and heavier than the females. Their average lifespan is 10 to 13 years. They shine in competitions of agility, obedience, hunt tests and tracking. As they learn really fast, they are ideal for competitions. They are ideal for hunting in water because of their waterproof coat and as they are not aggressive, they also make a very good family dog.