The Chesapeake Bay Retriever, as the name suggests, comes from the Chesapeake
Bay of the United States. Duck hunters find him to be unsurpassed as a water
retriever. It is believed that his ancestry may have begun with a pair of
Newfoundlands who were rescued from a British ship in 1807 and who were
then bred to Flatcoat and Curly-Coated Retrievers. He is one of the few
breeds that was developed in the United States.
As a hunter, the Chessie is physically and mentally tough and extremely
independent. These characteristics give him the reputation of being a stubborn
dog. He is a relentless worker with great courage and power. He is a devoted
family dog who loves children. Because of his instinct to hunt, he requires
adequate exercise.
The Chessie's skull is broad with a medium drop from skull to muzzle (the
stop). the ears are set at the top of the head and hang loosely along the
neck. The eyes are medium large and yellow or amber in color. The neck is
strong, as are the shoulders and chest. The chest is deep. The body is of
medium length. The legs are straight with good bone and muscle. The feet
are webbed to enable him to swim better. The tail is either straight or
slightly curved and hangs to the hocks. The coat is double with a dense,
fine, woolly undercoat that helps keep icy water from reaching the skin
and a short, thick outer coat that is about one-and-one-half inches in length.
The outer coat has a dull rather than shiny look and an almost oily texture
which sheds water and aids in insulating him from the wet and cold. The
coat tends to wave on the shoulders, neck, back and loins. It is straight
on the head and legs. Coat color ranges from dark brown to tan to straw
color. Average height is between 23 and 26 inches and average weight is
between 65 and 75 pounds.
grahamkl@bellsouth.net of Pomaria, SC writes:
Friend, entertainer and faithful guardian.
I have had the fortune of owning my Chessie for two wonderful years.
I invested many hours of research before I decided on the breed, but I could
not love another dog or breed any more! He has the heart of pure affection
and love, as well as a firm protective streak, which I appreciate. He is
a true entertainer ... all eyes must be on him when he dives into his three-foot
deep plastic pool. If you have had a long day, he makes you laugh by chasing
his tail. He even smiles at you when you say his name. He loves children
and any activity that involves water and retrieving. My career as a contractor
allows me to take him to work with me. He is a very friendly dog, loving
to all people and other dogs. On the weekends, we hunt and hike. He also
has an extrordinary sense, one that I am still trying to figure out. It
seems that he can sense my diabetic mother's blood sugar drop. The first
time it happened, her blood sugar dropped so quickly, there was little time
for her to notice. He began whining, and pacing around her and would not
stop. A few minutes later, she told me that she needed juice, she checked
her blood sugar and it was 28! Since this incident six months ago, we have
had two more bad diabetic crashes, and he has picked up on both. Although
Chessies are not for all dog owners, they are perfect for avid outdoor lovers
and active people like myself. He is energetic, loving, and dedicated to
his family. He is eager to learn. When he brings in a bird, his strut and
expression shows pure pride and love for the sport. I feel grateful to be
blessed with such a gifted and beautiful creature!
Hankgator@msn.com of Houston, TX writes:
An all-American classic.
I had several dogs growing up and a Bull Terrier that I loved but was
forced to give up a few years ago. Last year, I decided we needed a good
family dog for the kids and started doing some research. I decided upon
the Chesapeake and could not be happier. Our Chessie is so lovable. They
may be a bit stubborn to train in some respects, but once trained they never
forget and they are both affectionate and intelligent. Ours ran away on
New Year's Eve and the kids p; not to mention my wife and I p; were
very sad. He was found a few days later and we realized how important a
part of the family he had become. Walking him is a treat, as there is a
pride and patriotism in ownership of a Chessie that is hard to describe.
People are always curious and complimentary of this proud and beautiful
canine. An all-American dog for the all-American dog lover.
brackenandfamily@hotmil.com of Minnesota writes:
My best friend.
When I was twelve I had a Chessie; she was my best friend. My family
lived in the country near a lake and we would go swimming together. My family
never felt safer in our home; she was a good-natured protector, very loyal,
smart, active, good with other pets, all-around the best dog I ever had.
I am looking forward to the arrival of another Chessie from a reputable
breeder in my area. I have no fear that she will be every bit as good of
a dog as my first. I recommend a very active family for this dog; they will
go and do just about anything with their family.
ckayebra@hotmail.com of Osceola, IN writes:
Big baby boy.
We are the proud owners of a nine-month-old Chessie. This breed loves
water. If my seven-year-old daughter doesn't let the water out of the tub
he goes and gets all of his toys throws them in and then jumps in! He also
likes to pick up rocks and throw them in a bucket of water, then he sticks
his head in to get them out. He has been a true delight. His size does intimidate
people (85 pounds), but he is a big baby with an even bigger heart. I recommend
obedience training for Chessie owners. It will make the time that you spend
together much more enjoyable if you have a dog that knows how to control
himself. He is a very protective dog, I've heard this about other Chessies
also. I don't find them to be aggresssive, they are great with children
and the people who come to our home, but if someone is out of place he will
take a very protective stand. This is a great breed for people who intend
to invest the time and money it takes to take care of this very active dog.
They love to be around you and will assume that they can still sit on your
lap even when they've gotten bigger than you. They require a lot of attention,
this is a must! Believe me, you'll find yourself rushing home to see your
baby.
susanhagaman@aol.com of Huntersville, NC writes:
Big hearted, human pleasing, intelligent breed.
I have had dogs nearly 50 years, Terriers, German Shepherds, Golden
Retrievers, Labs, and Chesapeake Bay Retrievers. I have raised Chessies
for the last fifteen years, until the last pair died of old age. After two
years without one, I just couldn't wait to get another, when a pair of littermates
arrived, out of a son of our big male. They are four months old now, and
they are every bit as wonderful as all the others who came before them.
They are eager to please, easily trained, generally delightful to have around.
They want to do what is asked of them, they are retrieving bumpers out of
the lake, taking to obedience training very quickly. They are happy, generous,
likeable, friendly, companionable, and obedient. They are not perfect, they
are still puppies and love to chew and drag things around! But they are
wonderful, and I am not disappointed with their personalities at all. They
are not for everyone, they need a lot of exercise and attention, but they
respond better than any other dog I have ever had.
rhinomn@hotmail.com of Centerville, MN writes:
Tough but big and friendly.
I am from Minnesota. We have tons of Labs and Goldens around here in
my area. I have a 90-pound male Chesapeake Bay Retriever. He is a tank that
loves kids. I adopted him at one year of age. When I first got him he was
mouthy and would jump up on me a lot. He kept on doing the jumping thing
until he learned that I am the boss. He was like a 90-pound six-week-old
puppy in his WWF way of thinking. It took awhile but now he has settled
down a lot. He is very gentle with kids and will not do WWF with them. My
baby girl is one and a half years old and she piles shoes on him when he
is laying down resting in the house. She will crawl right over him and he
barely notices it.
If you talk nice to them and treat them right they are just as good as any
Lab or Golden. I told my wife that when I'm gone to make sure my Chesapeake
is in the house before opening the door for a stranger. He is friendly but
he would protect my family if the chips were down.
He is a great water dog and likes clearing out things under the water. He
pulled a tree stump out and it was almost his size. He gets along well with
other dogs. I have a Shetland Sheepdog and he is friends with my Chesapeake.
Don't get a Chesapeake if you will leave it in an outdoor kennel and just
ignore it. They are too smart for that. Give them attention and talk to
them; they love it. I put mine in a headlock and give him a kiss on his
head and that makes his day.
XO_KISS_KISS_XO@HOTMAIL.COM of Round Rock, TX writes
A perfect dog for everyone.
Chesapeake Bay Retrievers are one of the best breeds I have owned. It
doesn't matter if you're a first time owner or experienced, they are great
with everyone. They have a very mild temper unless they sense their owner
is in trouble. They are excellent pets for children because they will take
anything including roughhousing. They are very easy to groom because they
are not longhaired; just brush their coat every once in awhile and they
will be fine. They are beautiful and wonderful dogs that everyone should
know about.
leb@midsouth.rr.com of Memphis, TN writes:
Chessies prove to be great.
I have not had a Chessie until a year ago, I took him in because he
was not fit for hunting because of an accident. I am used to black Labs,
and I was worried the Chessie would not mingle well with my other two Labs,
but he proved me wrong! The Chessie is one of the best dogs I have ever
owned, they are loyal, gentle, and very playful, they mature very fast physically,
but I think that mentally, it takes them slower to mature, yet all in all
I love my Chessie and would recommend owning one to anyone who is able to
devote time to such a wonderful breed of dog.
Name withheld by request of Cincinnati, OH writes:
One-hundred-pound Chessie.
I do not own a Chessie, but my hunting buddy does. This dog out-retrieves
all the local hunting dogs. He does not stop. We hunt the Ohio River and
he will retrieve no matter what the river condition. The Ohio gets very
rough and the current is very swift. He retrieved eight ducks last week
and the last retrieve he brought two back. My first dog will be a Chesapeake.
chessieguru@hotmail.com of Minnesota writes on 2/25/01:
Excellent hunters and companions.
I must say right off that my love for Chessies will never die. I have been
an owner of Chessies for about eight years now. Some people have spread
this rumor that Chessies are mean dogs, however my guess is that the person
who started this rumor was never a Chessie owner. They do need to be trained
in their own little way just like all breeds. With Chessies you must let
them think that it is their idea to do what you want them to. They have
undying devotion to please their owners and they will guard your belongings
just by their size. Many people are afraid to approach my truck when I have
my Chessie along. Many times you hear them talking about him as they walk
by the pickup. They LOVE the water but work on land as well. They are definitely
more suited to water as they do get quite warm when working upland for any
extended period of time.
I became the owner of my first Chessie at the age of 18. I must tell you
that not only was this my first Chessie but also my first dog, I have learned
much since then. I had her for three years then I joined the military. When
I returned from training four months later my parents would not let me have
her back. Now she is spoiled rotten. I currently have a male Chessie. He
is about 10 months old at this time. I took him duck hunting for the first
time this past fall, when he was about six months old. We snuck up to a
small puddle of water in the woods of northern Minnesota. There were two
wood ducks sitting on the water and I was trying to get them to jump up
so that it would take the dogs mind of the roar of the shotgun but they
continued to sit there. My dog walked up to the waters edge and looked at
these two ducks sitting in the water so I decided I would shoot one of them
on the water. I shot the one on the water and the other, of course, took
flight. On my second shot at it, the duck tumbled to the ground. My dog
swam across the small pond and looked at the duck. He had never seen one
before. It bobbed in the water and he was not sure what to think of it.
He grabbed the tail feathers with his front teeth and gave it a little pull.
The duck floated into his nose and he jumped back barking at the duck. I
crossed the pond and called my dog over to the duck that had fallen on land.
He sniffed it intently and decided it would not harm him. He picked up the
duck and brought it directly to my hand. I had only worked with my dog for
a couple of months with a training bumper, so you can see how instinctively
they hunt. He then decided the one in the water would not hurt him as well
so he retrieved that one too me. I decided to make a miniature training
session out of the deal to I threw one of the ducks to the far side of the
pond. He leaped from shore, which was about 2 feet higher than the water,
and swam directly to the duck. He again delivered it to hand. I set the
two wood ducks on the trunk of a fallen tree so that we could go over the
next ridge and see if any ducks were on the next larger pond. I walked about
thirty yards and looked to see where my dog was. He was sitting next to
the fallen tree where I had placed the ducks with one of the ducks in his
mouth. He was looking at me as if to say, "Where are you going da,
you forgot the ducks!".
name withheld by request of Virginia writes on 1/15/00:
Exceptional in the right home.
I love Chesapeakes, having spent a chuck of my youth with them, but I think
they are definitly not for everybody. Chessies are high energy especially
at 8 months to two years old, when they have their full physical growth
but haven't yet matured mentally. They shed, but no more than other retrivers.
They can be aggressive with other dogs if not socalized with strange dogs
when young. Since they were a guarding breed as well as working retrivers,
they are reserved with stranger. They aren't Goldens or Labs! They have
a much more intense personality, less silly or goofy. Since they are big
dogs and the breed has a fairly high rate of hip dysplasia, it is very important
that parents have their OFA xrays certified excellent good or fair. They
are exceptional working retrivers, especailly on geese. They are not harder
to train than a Lab, but they do train different than a Lab. They don't
do as well with repetition. They get bored easier. But they have excellent
marking ability. I would recommend chessies to a home with experienced dog
owners who lead an active life style.
Btk993@cs.com of Tennessee writes on 12/27/99:
Big Chessies.
Although this is a fairly unknown breed to most people, my experiences are
nothiiiing but magical. This is a large breed, but it is a very lovable
and lumbering little giant. They can and are a very headstrong breeed, they
are very receptive to commands and good old lovin'! Any more serioous questions
contact me.