retriever waterfowl

Background

Photo: Two beautiful Chesapeake Bay Retrievers standing in the Chesapeake Bay (Courtesy of Doreen Palmer).

One of the Bay area's most familiar domestic animals is a non-native species. The Chesapeake Bay retriever is said to have derived from an original pair of Newfoundland puppies that survived the shipwreck of an English vessel in 1807. The brown retriever with amber eyes that we see today owes its thick brown coat and hardworking, cheerful temperament more to the various breeds of spaniels, pointers and setters with which its ancestors were bred than to the Labrador retriever it resembles.

The American Kennel Club recognized the Chesapeake Bay retriever as an individual retriever breed in 1878. But its history is older and deeply enmeshed with that of the Bay region during the 19th century. James Michener's Chesapeake describes a period when there were so many migratory birds surrounding the Bay that they were often shot using small cannon mounted on boats; literally scores would fall from the sky at a time. Hunters required dogs that would first retrieve the wounded and then return to for the dead. The Chesapeake Bay retriever unerringly recalled where each bird fell and usually retrieved them all efficiently.

It's unlikely that natural selection played much of a role in the evolution of the Chesapeake breed; on the contrary, they were meticulously bred to produce superb hunting and retrieving traits that are suit the Bay's geography and climate. Some retriever pedigrees may be traced to the early part of the 19th century. According to one source, the Carroll Island Gun Club was active in the late 18th century and had bred the animals and kept careful records for decades. Other breeds that may have been used in developing the Chesapeake include Irish water spaniels, coonhounds, and curly coated retrievers.

Chesapeakes are strong, tireless swimmers; their heavy, oily outer coats and fine woolly undercoats are specifically bred to help them retain body heat in icy Bay waters, and they have webbed feet. They continue to be bred for sport retrieving, as watchdogs and as affable family pets, with loyal and affectionate natures.

Male Chesapeake Bay retrievers usually reach a height of 23 to 26 inches and weigh between 65 and 80 pounds, while females range from 21 to 24 inches and weigh 55 to 70 pounds. Females give birth to seven or eight puppies in a litter. Chesapeakes have small ears that hang loosely and clear, amber-colored eyes and intelligent expressions. The Chesapeake's coat comes in many shades of brown, and is intended to provide camouflage for the animal among the dead grasses and sedges of Chesapeake Bay wetlands during waterfowl hunting seasons.

Chesapeake Bay retrievers have sloping shoulders and strong forequarters, and powerful hindquarters for swimming. Although sometimes mistaken for a "chocolate" Lab, the Chesapeake Bay retriever tends to have longer legs and to be less stocky than a Labrador, and has lighter pigmentation on the nose and a woolier coat. Chesapeakes are more protective than Labs and will discriminate between strangers and owners, and take direction only from the family with which it has bonded. But both breeds share other typical retriever traits and are highly intelligent and trainable.

Chesapeakes are strong-willed and will dominate in a household with other pets; the breed is not recommended to inexperienced owners, and generally requires careful and authoritative training. A consistent and kind approach works best to foster a responsive, loyal temperament.

Chesapeake Bay retrievers thrive on outdoor activity but are generally inactive indoors. They should be given daily periods of strenuous physical exercise, including swimming, if possible. Chesapeakes should be brushed occasionally with a firm brush but bathed only rarely, to keep the coat's natural waterproofing oil.

Photo: Champion Chesachobee's Taku Winds (Courtesy of Doreen Palmer)

Although active retrievers may live healthy lives for about 10 to 12 years, the breed is susceptible to certain health problems. These include hip and elbow dysplasia and other joint problems, as well as an eye disease called progressive retinal atrophy, or PRA, which is thought to be carried by a recessive gene and eventually leads to blindness. The disease does not usually appear until the dog is at least four years old, and carriers show no symptoms. Chesapeake Bay retrievers can also develop Von Willebrand's disease, a blood clotting disorder.

When choosing a puppy, look for dogs that have even tempers and are neither overly shy nor aggressive; inquisitive, active nature; a glossy coat and healthy gums; an early interest in retrieving objects; an eagerness to approach strangers; and check the parents' records to ensure they are free of dysplasia and eye diseases.

For more information on breed standard, and choosing and caring for a Chesapeake Bay retriever, see the links below.

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For more information, contact the Chesapeake Bay Program Office:
410 Severn Avenue, Suite 109, Annapolis, MD 21403 / Tel: (800) YOUR-BAY / Fax: (410) 267-5777.

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Last modified: 12/11/03