Create Your Chesapeake Bay Retriever's Shop
Chesapeake Bay Retriever Breed Summary
Affectionate, Devoted, Gentle and Energetic
Chesapeake's have a very unique coat, which is very fluffy and wavy in appearance. They are a fairly large breed and also have very high energy. For this reason, they do best in families that already lead active lifestyles that they can easily slot into.
They make really good pets for families with children, as these dogs absolutely love children! Fun Fact: They have webbed feet which makes them very good at swimming!
| Kennel Club Group | Gundog |
| Lifespan | 10 - 13 years |
| Height (at the withers) | Males 61cm - 66cm, Females 56cm - 64cm |
| Weight | Males 34kg - 45kg, Females 30kg - 40kg |
| Coat | Outercoats are Harsh and Oily. The Undercoat is Finer, Denser and Woolly, Covering the Entire Body. |
| Colour | Ash, Brown, Dark Brown, Deadgrass, Light Brown, Sedge |
| Eye colour | Amber or Yellow |
| Common health issues | Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), Hereditary cataracts (HD), Degenerative Myelopathy (DM), Hip dysplasia, Elbow dysplasia, Exercise induced collapse (EIC), Cranial cruciate ligament rupture, Entropion ( Eyelids Folding Inwards ), Umbilical hernia, Haemolymphatic, Von Willebrand’s disease, Cancer, Epilepsy, Shoulder osteochondrosis, Paniosteitis, Ear Infections, Bloat/gastric torsion |
These sweet dogs are known for their incredibly loving and devoted natures. For this reason, they make fantastic family pets and have a natural affinity with children. One thing to watch out for with this breed is that they are often very independent and can also be fairly protective. For this reason, training must start as early as possible to stop any unwanted behaviour developing. These guys also have very high energy and because they love water so much, need to be with a family that has time to give them lots of physical exercise. They would not suit a family who prefers the ‘couch potato’ lifestyle! They are not necessarily the best breed for first-time owners because of how much mental and physical stimulation, but with the right family, make lovely pets!
These dogs had a very interesting beginning! It’s believed that the breed came about after a Shipwreck occurred off the coast of Maryland, around 200 years ago. Two puppies were rescued from the boat and have very similar appearances to the Newfoundland. They adored to be in the water and were eventually crossed with a retriever-type dog and later developed with a curly coat, to create the Chesapeake that we know today. The two puppies themselves ended up living very different lives, with the red pup going to a Sailor and eventually ending up with Governor Lloyd and the black pup going on to be owned by a Doctor! It wasn’t until 1933 that the Kennel Club accepted the dog as a breed. In the same year, they arrived in the UK and have since become a popular gun dog and companion breed!