The Chesapeake Bay Retriever was developed to hunt waterfowl under adverse
conditions, facing strong tides in rough water, high winds, and sometimes even
having to break through ice. It is an extraordinary swimmer, with a strong, yet
tender, bite enabling it to carry birds. It has powerful limbs and webbed feet.
The Chesapeake Bay Retriever is slightly longer than tall, with its hindquarters as high, or
higher, than its forequarters. Its coat is rendered virtually waterproof by
virtue of its oily, harsh outer coat and dense wooly undercoat. The color
matches its working surroundings: any shade of brown, sedge, or dead grass.
The Chesapeake Bay Retriever is hardy enough to not only withstand, but also
relish, repeated plunges into icy water. It loves to swim and retrieve. Despite
an active life when outdoors, inside it tends to be calm. The Chesapeake Bay
Retriever tends to
be independent, although it is eager to learn. It is reserved with strangers and
can be protective; it also can be aggressive toward strange dogs if challenged.
This is the hardest, most strong-willed, and protective of the retriever breeds.
The Chesapeake Bay Retriever is a large active dog that needs a daily chance to exercise. It
enjoys a good walk or swim. It can live outside in temperate conditions, but
more than anything it prefers to spend time with its family. The oily, wavy coat
needs weekly brushing but is generally easily maintained. It seldom needs
washing; in fact, it's hard to get a Chesapeake Bay Retriever wet! Bathing destroys the coat's
oils and thus, its water resistance.
The average life span
is 10-13 years.
Information taken from Encyclopedia of Dog Breeds by D. Caroline Coile,
Ph.D. (1998 edition)
