Chesapeake bay retriever

Chesapeake bay retriever is the largest of the retrievers, quite strong build, very physically fit and durable. It requires a lot of movement and activity and quite an experienced guide.

Nature

Strong and energetic chesapeake bay retriever is an excellent helper of the hunter and companion of active people. He was never fashionable, thanks to which he kept the instincts of the working dog, and his kennel is in the hands of real lovers.

Skills

As a typical retriever, he loves retrieving objects and swimming. Great sense of smell, perseverance, resilience and willingness to work make him an excellent hunter’s helper. His hair is waterproof, so he can swim even in icy water.

Chesapeake bay retriever has a strong drive for work, he is smart and intelligent. Works very well as a retriever both on land and in water. He is usually friendly but not effusive towards strangers. He also demonstrates some defensive instinct, although he is more like a watchman than a real defender. Some chessie work as guides for the blind, also in Poland.

Chesapeake bay retriever is also good in various sports, e.g. in obedience. His need for activity means that he can show destructive tendencies if the owner does not provide him with enough occupation. However, run out chessie is very calm and easy to get around at home.

Training and education

Although he is generally susceptible to training, his stubbornness is often noted in the descriptions of the breed. Chessie has her own views on what and how to do. Therefore, it is not recommended to be the first dog for a beginner owner.

However, the experience of many owners does not indicate any special problems with the positioning of the dog of this breed, on the contrary. This opinion seems to come from professional trainers who arrange dogs they do not own. This can be a major source of problems.

Unlike Labrador, Chesapeake is extremely loyal to its owner and is very reluctant to follow the instructions of strangers. He needs very close contact with his human flock and endures a long stay in a pen badly.

Who is this race for?

This breed can be recommended to active people who will be able to meet the need for this dog’s activity.

Advantages and disadvantages

Disadvantages

• quite stubborn
• a bit harder to lead than a golden or labrador
• requires a lot of movement and attachment

Advantages

• healthy and resilient
• susceptible to training
• very attached to the family
• you can do dog sports with him
• uncomplicated in care

Health

The breed is generally healthy, but there are the following genetically determined diseases: dysplasia of the hip and elbow joints, PRA (progressive retinal atrophy).

Feeding

Chesapeake bay retriever has no particular nutritional requirements. It can be fed with both prepared food and ready-made foods.

Chesapeake bay retriever. Care

Chesapeake moult moderately, and his coat does not require complicated care. Just brush it once in a while.

History

The Chesapeake bay retriever, as the name implies, comes from the Chesapeake Bay region on the east coast of the United States. He was bred to retrieve shot birds. The beginnings of chessie breeding, as it is affectionately called, date back to the first half of the 19th century and even the 18th century.

The breed was officially recognized by the American Kennel Club as early as 1878. It is worth knowing that chessie was the first of the retrievers recognized by the AKC. Other retrievers were separated into separate breeds only in the 1920s.

The Chesapeake Bay Retriever is closely related to Labrador. Both of these races are derived from the St. Retriever. John’s. In addition, the chessie probably has an admixture of blood of Coonhounds (American Hounds), curly-coated retriever, Irish Proof Spaniel and already distinguished Labrador. Since the breed was never fashionable, there was no separation between exhibition lines and utility lines.

This breed is the most popular in its homeland, although it is not very numerous anywhere. There are few farms in Poland and the breed is still rare.

Chesapeake bay retriever. Template

Chesapeake bay retriever – group VIII FCI, section 1, reference number 263

• FCI Classification: Country of origin: USA
• Character: Cheerful, intelligent, smart, brave, willing to work, gentle, but with some defender qualities.
• Size: dogs 58-66 cm, bitches 53-61 cm
• Weight: dogs 30-36 kg, bitches 25-32 kg
• Coat: Double-layered. Hard coat, rather short and elastic, dense undercoat. Very short, straight hair on the mouth and limbs; on the neck and back slightly longer, with a tendency to spin.
• Color: All shades of brown, from dark chocolate to the color of dry grass. Small white markings on the chest, stomach, fingers and back of paws (just above the pillow) are allowed.
• Life expectancy: 9-15 years, average 12-13 years.
• Vulnerability to training: Large, but sometimes stubborn.
• Activity: I need a lot of movement and activity.
• Resistance/susceptibility to diseases: Very resistant. The following genetically determined diseases occur in the breed: dysplasia of the hip and elbow joints, PRA (progressive retinal atrophy).

Interesting facts

The Chesapeake’s coat is interesting. These dogs have a fairly rare set of genes that determine the coat type, namely they have the short coat gene and the curly coat gene at the same time. He is the legacy of the curly-coated retriever and Irish Spaniel.

Due to the shortness of the hair, its twisting is not as pronounced as in long-haired breeds, but in some dogs, it is sometimes strongly emphasized – especially where the hair is slightly longer.