Chesapeake Bay Retriever Breed Information

The Chesapeake Bay Retriever is a Large dog breed, with a starting weight of 55 lbs for females, and can reach 80 lbs for males. It is officially part of the Sporting group and recognized by the ACR, AKC, ANKC, APRI, CKC, DRA, FCI, KCGB, NKC, NZKC, UKC. Some critical information for potential owners. The Chesapeake Bay Retriever breed has a typical lifespan of 10 to 13 years, Long hair, and an average price of around $551. Breeders interested in the Chesapeake Bay Retriever should know that the average litter size is between 7 to 8 puppies.

The Chesapeake Bay Retriever has ties to both the Newfoundland and the several types of hounds and retrievers including the Flat-Coated Retriever, the Curly-Coated Retriever and the English Otter Hound. History states that in the early 1800’s a ship crashed off the Coast of Maryland carrying 2 Newfoundland’s that, after surviving, mated with the retrievers eventually forming what we see today. Given their name by the bay in Maryland in which their ancestors were rescued from, since 1964 they’ve been the state dog of Maryland.

If you’re looking for an intelligent, fun loving, affectionate, and obedient dog, you’ve found it. They sometimes require some tough love, and need to be shown whose boss, but if you’re able to exert confidence and authority over your pet, and properly train and socialize him/her at a young age, the breed should be a pleasure to own. Whether you’re a single owner, an owner in a house full of pets, or live with a family, the Chessie will play a loving role. Tip: to pick up on hints of what an individual dog’s temperament might be like, ask to meet its parents, it’s frequently an inherited trait.

The Chesapeake Bay Retriever is not overly active indoors, however it is still not recommended for apartment living. Ideal yard conditions would be medium or large size yard, and every Chessie would love to have a pool, stream, lake, ocean, or some form of water to play in, however we realize this is not always practical. In most cases, indoor or outdoor living suits the dog just fine; on mildly cold days, allow your dog to sleep outside, they tend to like cooler weather.

The Chesapeake Bay Retriever is typically a healthy breed. A few common issues include eye problems such as cataracts or progressive retinal atrophy, hip and elbow dysplasia, alopecia, and Type 3 Von Willebrand disease. As always, buy from a reputable breeder and be sure the parents have been certified free of any major health concerns.

The Chesapeake Bay retriever’s coat is short, thick and glossy, not growing beyond an inch and a half. It has a special texture and many oils to prevent the dog from getting and staying wet or cold in wet or cold conditions. When the dog shakes off after exiting the water, the hair should not hold the water. The undercoat is dense and wooly, and contains the same oils. The face and legs have short straight hair, but the rest of the body’s coat has a tendency to wave and feather. In the judging of the breed, the coat is considered to be one of the most important features.

The coat is very important for a Chesapeake Bay Retriever; use a firm bristle brush to remove dead or dying hairs and disperse natural oils evenly across the coat about once a week. Be careful not to over bathe, as the oils in the hair are natural and critical in keeping the dog protected and comfortable in harsh conditions. Bathing every 3-4 months should keep both you and your dog happy and healthy; be sure to use a mild shampoo.

ACR, AKC, ANKC, APRI, CKC, DRA, FCI, KCGB, NKC, NZKC, UKC

Paul Reubens (Pee-Wee Herman), Theodore Roosevelt, Carl Renstrom, Greg Wright