Other names/Nicknames:
- Chessie
Country/Date of origin:
- United States
- 1800′s
Height:
- Females: 21 to 24 inches
- Males: 23 to 26 inches
Weight:
- Females: 55 to 70 pounds
- Males: 65 to 80 pounds
Personality:
- Craves personal attention.
- A loyal and devoted companion.
- Tends to be sharper than its sister breeds, Labrador and Golden Retrievers.
History:
This breed originated in the United States in 1807 from a pair of Newfoundland puppies that were rescued from a shipwreck off the coast of Maryland. No one knows which dogs were crossed with the original two but the result was a water fowling dog, capable of heavy-duty work in cold water. Considered the best duck retriever of all time, the Chesapeake Bay Retriever ruled the blinds for 150 years, fetching as many as 300 ducks a day from the icy water. The days of plentiful game are gone, but the Chessie’s companionable qualities have kept the breed alive.
Body Type:
- A big, powerful, water retriever with the general size and shape of the Labrador and Golden Retrievers.
- Thick, tapered tail is not altered.
- Hanging ears are not altered.
Coat:
- A wavy, double coat. Coat is harsh and oily on the surface with a woolly, insulating undercoat that prevents water from reaching the skin.
- The water resisting oil gives the Chessie a strong, distinctive odor.
- Coat colors range from a deep brown to a light tan called dead grass. These colors were chosen for camouflaging qualities.
Health and Wellness:
- Hip dysplasia.
- Gastric dilatation and volvulus syndrome (GDV, also commonly called bloat).
- Entropion.
- Metabolic bone disease.
- von Willebrand’s disease.
- Cataracts.
- Atopy.
- Bacterial folliculitis.
What you should know:
- Feet are webbed on this water retriever.
- High intelligence, willingness to work, and great stamina have made Chessies useful as guide dogs for the blind.
- Has a stubborn streak.
- Not suitable for apartment living.
- This is an outdoor dog.
