Behavior and Traits of Chesapeake Bay Retrievers
The origin of the Chesapeake Bay retriever dog breed is in North America, in the state of Maryland and right in the Chesapeake Bay, hence its name. The origin is indeed legendary, in the sense that it is not known to be true.
In the early eighteen hundreds and more precisely in 1807, an English brig shipwrecked on those shores. The sailors of those ships had dogs, Sailor, a red coloured male and Canton a black coloured female. They were similar to Newfoundlands, but were probably born from different breeds of retriever and spaniel.
The breeding of this breed, it is said, began with them and was also very successful, thanks to their hunting abilities. In fact, these dogs were used for hunting in the Chesapeake Bay; excellent dogs in the water, due to the peculiarity of their coat, which is almost waterproof and keeps them so warm that, when they go hunting, they have no problem even diving into icy water or breaking ice.
It has the same origins as the flat-coated and the curly-coated, the former being smooth-coated and the latter curly-coated, and this breed shares both character, behaviour and morphology with them.
It is currently bred for duck and goose hunting and also as a companion animal, but unfortunately its breeding does not produce many specimens and it is not well known outside the United States.
Character of the Chesapeake Bay retriever dog breed
First of all, it must be said that this dog is not an indoor dog, but a working dog and must be treated as such. It needs a lot of exercise, to be outdoors a lot, to run and especially to swim. A duck or goose hunter would be its ideal owner, as it is for hunting in the water that this breed shows all its prowess.
As a character, it is a dog that likes to play, likes to be cuddled, is tender and patient with children and establishes a very good relationship with its owner. The ideal for him is a house with a large garden where he can spend several hours a day, combined, however, with long walks and swimming. If not physically and mentally stimulated, this dog can be destructive, both in the garden and in the house.
He is also an excellent guard dog, is brave and would know how to defend his master or his family in case of need, in fact he is not very sociable with strangers. With other dogs or cats if he has been socialised from an early age he has no problems adapting.
He is a cooperative dog, but tends to question his master's commands and test his limits. Therefore, he must be constantly educated from puppyhood to control his impulse to guard, protect and hunt.
Appearance of the Chesapeake Bay retriever dog breed
The Chesapeake Bay retriever is a medium to large dog; the height at withers of a male can be up to 66 centimetres, weighing 34 kilograms, the female generally a little less. It is a strong, powerful and well-balanced dog, of medium length in body and limbs. The chest is strong and broad while the neck is very muscular.
Its hindquarters are powerful and give it considerable thrust when swimming. Its power, however, does not prevent its agility and resistance, which are remarkable. The limbs are very muscular. The feet are not very big and have protective pads in the sole. The movement is quick, swift and lithe. The tail, of average length and thickness, is kept straight or slightly curved.
The head of the Chesapeake Bay retriever is broad and round with a rather short and pointed but not sharp muzzle ending in a rather large truffle, the same colour as the coat. The eyes are medium-sized and light in colour, usually yellowish, very distinctive; they show intelligence and a very serious and docile character. The ears are pendulous, neither large nor protruding and are positioned above the eye line. The jaws are long and strong to carry large birds with a soft grip.
The coat is its main characteristic; its texture is very distinctive and allows the dog to survive in extreme climatic conditions, often plunging into icy, icy waters. The undercoat is woolly and keeps it warm, while the cover coat is greasy and makes it almost waterproof, so that when it comes out of the water it does not splash but simply looks damp.
The coat is short and thick. On the muzzle and limbs it is very short and straight, while on the neck on the back and kidneys it has a tendency to become wavy. The natural oil in which its coat is rich gives it a characteristic smell. The colours of the coat can be any shade, from dark brown to light red, to the colour of hay, as the dog blends into its environment during hunting.
Health and care of the Chesapeake Bay retriever dog breed
This dog has excellent health and is very robust, it is not afraid of the weather, it withstands extreme cold and even heat, its double coat protects it well against extreme temperatures and humidity. It can however suffer from diseases common to many breeds such as hip dysplasia and eye problems, although these are not very frequent.
Its average life expectancy is 11-12 years.
As far as coat care is concerned, this very rustic dog does not require any special grooming: one brush a week is sufficient to keep the coat nice and healthy. In spring and autumn it loses a lot of hair, so it is a good idea to brush it more frequently during these periods.
It has a tendency to put on weight if its exercise needs are not met or its diet is not balanced.
