The Chesapeake Bay Retriever or “Chessie”, as it is affectionately known, is a genuine American breed with an interesting history.

The story goes that, in 1807, a British cargo ship was shipwrecked in Chesapeake Bay, Maryland. Among the rescued “cargo” was two Newfoundland puppies which the captain agreed to sell to local townsfolk. These dogs were then bred to local dogs, including Flat-coated, and Curly-coated retrievers, to eventually produce the Chesapeake.

Chessies are large dogs, standing up to 24 inches at the shoulder, and weighing up to 80 pounds. They are exceptional water retrievers with a physique and physiology perfectly suited to the job. They are powerful swimmers with a coat that offers protection from the elements. This coat is brown or reddish brown in color and consists of an oily outer coat and a dense, woolly undercoat.

Unlike Labradors and Golden Retrievers, the Chesapeake is serious, rather than affectionate and playful. They are however very loyal and protective of their owners and regard all strangers with a wary eye.

They are also less eager-to-please than, say, a Lab, being naturally assertive and self-confident. As such, they are not really suitable for the first time dog owner and will do better with a firm, although not harsh, master.

They can do well as a family pet for an active family, but are better suited to older children, and will also have to be socialised with other pets.

Although the Chesapeake Bay Retriever is a healthy dog breed they do suffer from a number of congenital diseases. These include, hip dysplasia, cataracts, progressive retinal atrophy, and Von Willebrand’s Disease, a blood disorder.

Another problem is the potentially deadly condition, gastric torsion, which is common in large dogs. You can reduce the risk by feeding your dog small regular meals, rather than one large one. Average lifespan is 10 to 12 years.

Grooming is very easy. The coat has a unique oily texture and requires only a weekly brush to keep it in good condition. Despite the distinctive doggy odor the dog gives off it should not be bathed too often, as this strips protective oils from the coat.

These dogs can be quite a challenge to train. They are strong willed and independent by nature, and if you haven’t established dominance they are likely to ignore your commands. Strong leadership and positive, reward based training are a must if you want to succeed with training this breed.

It should be obvious that this is not a dog that is suited to apartment living. The Chesapeake requires lots of activity, and preferably a job to do. They do best with an active outdoor person who is prepared to involve them in lots of activities. Daily walks are a must and swimming is a favorite activity.

Picking a name for your Chesapeake Bay Retriever can be a challenge. The best advice is to visit some of the many puppy names, sites online. My recommendation is puppy-names-hq.com, which has a huge database, including thousands of boy dog names.

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