The Chesapeake bay retriever is the hardiest of the retriever dogs. Their great physical resistance has given rise to many myths surrounding this formidable breed, such as the fact that they can spend long hours in healed waters without suffering from hypothermia. Although the Chesapeake Bay Retriever is an extremely resistant dog at low temperatures due to its double coat, it cannot spend long hours in icy water or retrieve prey from hunters in any circumstance.
Still, the Chesapeake Bay Retriever is an excellent retriever, both on land and in water. In addition, it is a very versatile dog that can perform a large number of tasks very well, in addition to activities related to hunting. If you are thinking of adopting one of these dogs, take a look at this breed file that our site shows you to know everything you need about the Chesapeake Bay Retriever.
Origin of the Chesapeake bay retriever
In 1807 an English brig was shipwrecked off the coast of Maryland, United States. In that brig were two Newfoundland puppies, who were rescued along with the crew and cargo, by a local ship called "Cantón".
These two cubs were given to local aristocrats, who used them for hunting. As they turned out to be very good collection dogs, the owners decided to cross them with local dogs that were used for the same purpose, seeking to further improve the collection ability in the following generations. Thus, those Newfoundland were crossed with local retrievers, and in subsequent generations blood from other dog breeds such as the English otterhound, curly coated retriever and the flat-coated retriever.
By 1884 the definitive Chesapeake bay retriever had been established, with characteristics similar to those of today, and was mainly used as a waterfowl retriever.
Today these dogs are used for hunting small land and waterfowl, as guard and defense dogs, as pets, for field tests (hunting dog competitions), and for hunting. practice of canine sports such as Schutzhund, agility and competitive obedience.
Physical Characteristics of the Chesapeake Bay Retriever
This is a medium-sized dog, whose body is slightly longer than it is tall. The males have a height between 58 and 66 centimeters at the withers, and weigh between 29.5 and 36.5 kilograms. Females measure 53 to 61 centimeters at the withers and weigh between 25 and 32 kilograms.
This dog has a powerful head defined by a broad, rounded skull, and the stop is well defined. The snout, pointed but not sharp, has thin lips that do not hang down. In the Chesapeake Bay Retriever, the scissor bite is preferred, but the pincer bite may be accepted. The eyes of this dog are medium, well separated from each other and yellowish or amber in color. They are characteristic of the breed and have an intelligent expression. For its part, the ears are small but with a medium pavilion, set high and hang to the sides of the head. The neck, of medium length, is strong and muscular.
The Chesapeake Bay Retriever's tail is medium thick at the base and medium in length. The dog wears it straight or slightly curved, but does not roll it over its back or bend it to one side. Both the forelimbs and the hindlimbs are strong, straight and of medium length. They are muscular and strong boned. When dewclaws are present, they should be surgically removed to reduce the risk of the dog injuring itself while hunting. The long, narrow feet, known as "hare feet," have well-developed webs and rounded, close-knit toes.
The double coat of the Chesapeake Bay Retriever, characteristic of the breed, is thick and short. The outer coat is short and straight, but wavy on the shoulders, neck, back, and back. Instead, the undercoat is shaggy, dense, and fine. The hair of this dog is oily, which makes it impervious to water. According to the breed standard, the Chesapeake Bay Retriever's coat must be as waterproof as duck feathers.
Accepted colors for this breed of dog are: "junco" color, "dead grass" or any shade of brown. Although solid-colored dogs are preferred, small white spots on the chest, belly, toes, and backs of feet are acceptable.
Chesapeake bay retriever character
In general terms, the Chesapeake Bay Retriever is a friendly, alert, happy, dynamic and intelligent dog Although he is affectionate, he is also a dog that protects its own and can become reserved with strangers, showing a higher degree of aggressiveness than other breeds of retriever dogs. This advantage or disadvantage, depending on how you look at it, has favored some Chesapeake bay retrievers receiving Schutzhund training, as can be seen in the photographs in the book "Schutzhund theory and training methods", by Susan Barwig and Stewart Hilliard.
Due to its hunting nature and unlike other retrievers, the Chesapeake Bay Retriever is usually a territorial and independent dog, so its socialization from puppyhood is very important to prevent them from fighting with other dogs or develop aggressive behavior. However, despite their strong personalities, Chesapeake Bay Retrievers can make excellent pets and have great relationships with their human family and with other dogs if they are Well socialized
Chesapeake bay retriever care
These dogs need a lot of exercise and occasionally a swim, so they are not suited to living in a small apartment. If they get bored or don't get rid of excess energies, they can become destructive dogs.
In addition, Cheasepeake Bay Retrievers are dogs that tolerate cold climates well, so they can live outside the home. However, we must not forget that animals have feelings and just as we do not like to be alone and apart, neither do they and they need frequent company It is better if they can live indoors but have a large garden to play outside.
The coat of the Chesapeake Bay Retriever does not require special care. It should be brushed regularly, but the dog should not be bathed very often so as not to damage its protective oily layer. Of course, this is much more important for hunting dogs than it is for indoor pet dogs.
Chesapeake Bay Retriever Education
These dogs are very active and can be difficult to control for people with little experience in handling these animals and in dog training. In addition to needing a lot of exercise, they are dogs that take time to mature, making them unsuitable for sedentary people who do not do much physical activity. For this reason, it is necessary that the person who adopts a dog of this breed is a person who has previous experience in canine education.
Chesapeake Bay Retrievers are easy to train for hunting, but they tend to be more difficult than other retrievers when it comes to hunting training. canine obedience. For the latter purpose, positive methods, such as clicker training, give better results than traditional methods. They are also considered a very versatile breed of dog, with great resistance and capable of carrying out many field activities, so they can be trained to practice some sports for adult dogs such as agility.
Chesapeake Bay Retriever He alth
Chesapeake Bay Retrievers are generally he althy dogs, with a life expectancy of 10-12 years. However, the breed has a certain predisposition to some genetic diseases such as:
- Progressive Retinal Atrophy
- Waterfalls
- Hip dysplasia
- Von Willebrand Disease
- Alopecia
It is advisable to visit the veterinarian every 6 months and correctly follow the vaccination schedule to prevent and quickly detect any he alth problem that the animal may have.
