Everything about The Chesapeake Bay Retriever totally explained
The
Chesapeake Bay Retriever is a
breed of
dog that was developed along the
Chesapeake Bay. It hunts under adverse weather and water conditions, even if having to break ice during the course of many strenuous multiple retrieves. The breed is very protective of its people and property. Many owners refer to this breed as the "Chessie".
Description
Appearance
Distinctive features include eyes that are very clear, of yellowish or amber hue, hindquarters as high or a trifle higher than the shoulders, and a double coat that tends to wave on shoulders, neck, back and loins. This "waterproof" coat feels slightly oily compared to other members of the same family, which is often associated with a slight musky odor. Three basic colors are generally seen in the breed: brown, which includes all shades from a light to a deep dark brown; sedge, which varies from a reddish yellow through a bright red to chestnut shades; and deadgrass in all its shades, varying from a faded tan to a dull straw color. The breed standard states that white may also appear, but it must be limited to the breast, belly, toes, or back of the feet. The head is round and broad with a medium stop and muzzle. The lips are thin. The small ears hang down. The tail is 12-15 inches (30-37 cm) long. The forelegs should be straight with good bone. The hindquarters are especially strong and the toes webbed since excellent swimming ability is important for the Chesapeake. This breed is also known for their large, and powerful chests; used to break apart ice when diving into ice-layered water while duck hunting.
Temperament
The Chesapeake Bay retriever is valued for its bright and happy disposition, intelligence, quiet good sense, and affectionate protective nature. Some of them become vocal while happy; while this can be mistaken for a growl it's only a sign of happiness and not intended to create alarm. In addition, some dogs will 'smile' when happy by baring their front teeth in a peculiar grin; again this isn't a threat but a sign of joy.
The Chesapeake is naturally dominant and, while usually won't start a fight over dominance, the breed will defend his position as the
alpha dog. Obedience training is a must with this breed.
The Chesapeake tends to recognize only one person in its family as master. All other people are considered by the dog to be either equal or subordinate. Willful, this breed can be prone to dominance problems if not properly trained and socialized. The Chesapeake is different than other retrievers in that he can be more aggressive, willful and reserved with strangers. They may be combative with other dogs. These are strong dogs and have a tendency to be territorial, so they require firm training and good management. Chesapeakes are usually slow to mature.
Training
Training is a necessity with this breed. The trainer must exercise more patience than with most other breeds as this breed is usually not willing to change its behavior.
The Chesapeake Bay Retriever is a very intelligent breed and learns at a high speed. Once a Chesapeake learns what is expected, he'll act accordingly from that point on. A Chesapeake isn't willing to break the rules and will attempt to enforce the same rules on subordinate dogs.
There is a phrase: "You can order a Labrador; ask a Golden; but you must negotiate with a Chesapeake."
Health
The breed is subject to a number of hereditary diseases. These include, but are not limited to:
History
Chesapeake Bay Retrievers trace their history to two
Newfoundland dogs -- the male "Sailor" and female "Canton" -- who were rescued from a foundering ship in
Maryland in 1807. They were to breed with various dogs creating the line.
George Law who rescued the pups wrote this account in 1845 which appears on the website of the American Chesapeake Bay Retriever Club:
» In the fall of 1807 I was on board of the ship
Canton, belonging to my uncle, the late-Hugh Thompson, of Baltimore, when we fell in, at sea, near the termination of a very heavy equinoctial gale, with an English brig in a sinking condition, and took off the crew. The brig was loaded with codfish, and was bound to Pole, in England, from Newfoundland. I boarded her, in command of a boat from the Canton, which was sent to take off the English crew, the brig's own boats having been all swept away, and her crew in a state of intoxication. I found onboard of her two Newfoundland pups, male and female, which I saved, and subsequently, on our landing the English crew at Norfolk, our own destination being Baltimore, I purchased these two pups of the English captain for a
guinea apiece. Being bound again to sea, I gave the dog pup, which was called Sailor, to Mr. John Mercer, of West River; and the slut pup, which was called Canton, to Doctor James Stewart, of Sparrow's Point. The history which the English captain gave me of these pups was, that the owner of his brig was extensively engaged in the Newfoundland trade, and had directed his correspondent to select and send him a pair of pups of the most approved Newfoundland breed, but of different families, and that the pair I purchased of him were selected under this order, The dog was of a dingy red colour; and the slut black. They were not large; their hair was short, but very thick-coated; they'd
dew claws. Both attained great reputation as
water-dogs. They were most sagacious in every thing; particularly so in all duties connected with duck-shooting.
Governor Lloyd exchanged a
Merino ram for the dog, at the time of the Merino fever, when such rams were selling for many hundred dollars, and took him over to his estate on the
eastern shore of Maryland, where his progeny were well known for many years after; and may still be known there, and on the
western shore, as the Sailor breed. The slut remained at
Sparrows Point till her death, and her progeny were and are still well known, through
Patapsco Neck, on the
Gunpowder, and up the bay, amongst the duck-shooters, as unsurpassed for their purposes. I've heard both Doctor Stewart and Mr. Mercer relate most extraordinary instances of the sagacity and performance of both dog and slut, and would refer you to their friends for such particulars as I'm unable, at this distance of time, to recollect with sufficient accuracy to repeat.
Mercer is said to have described Sailor:
» . . . he was of fine size and figure-lofty in his carriage, and built for strength and activity; remarkably muscular and broad across the hips and breast; head large, but not out of proportion; muzzle rather longer than is common with that race of dogs; his colour a dingy red, with some white on the face and breast; his coat short and smooth, but uncommonly thick, and more like a coarse fur than hair; tail full, with long hair, and always carried very high. His eyes were very peculiar: they were so light as to have almost an unnatural appearance, something resembling what is termed a wail eye, in a horse; and it's remarkable, that in a visit which I made to the Eastern Shore, nearly twenty years after he was sent there, in a sloop which had been sent expressly for him, to West River, by Governor Lloyd, I saw many of his descendants who were marked with this peculiarity.
While there's no record the dogs Sailor and Canton ever breeding, the dogs from both shores of
Chesapeake Bay were recognized as the Chesapeake Bay Ducking Dog in 1877.
In 1964, it was declared the official dog of Maryland
It is the mascot of the
University of Maryland, Baltimore CountyFurther Information
Get more info on 'Chesapeake Bay Retriever'.
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