Chesapeake Bay Retriever
Description
The Chesapeake Bay Retriever is a good sized, hearty breed who is devoted to his family and makes a great waterfowl hunter and a trusty guard dog. Considered a duck dog Chesapeake Bay Retriever has an extraordinary ability to remember where each bird falls and then will retrieves them all efficiently. Yellow-amber eyes are a unique characteristic to the Chesapeake Bay Retriever. They also can swim for hours in icy water and are die-hard retrievers for birds, sticks, balls or even anything you can throw.
Size of Male: Height: 23-26 inches Weight: 65-80 pounds
Size of Female: Height: 21-24 inches Weight: 55-70 pounds
Temperament
Chesapeake Bay Retrievers are friendly, intelligent and obedient dogs with a mind of their own. Courageous, willing, loving and trainable. Although Chesapeake Bay Retrievers may be a little slow to learn. Chesapeake Bay Retrievers are affectionate and good with children. They love to swim and retrieve. This breed will get along with cats that are already living in your house, but may chase other cats. The Chesapeake Bay Retriever is not recommended for an inexperienced new dog owner. The handler needs to be confident and to exude authority because these dogs like to have their own way. A consistent but kind approach is the most successful way to handle these dogs. If possible, attend obedience classes with this breed. Willful, this breed can be prone to dominance problems if not properly trained and socialized. Take your puppy out with you as much as possible and introduce it to other dogs so that it has a chance to feel relaxed with them. The Chesapeake Bay Retriever is different than other retrievers in that he can be more aggressive, willful and reserved with strangers. They may be combative with other dogs. These are strong dogs and have a tendency to be territorial, so they require firm training and good management. Chesapeake Bay Retrievers are usually slow to mature.
Living Conditions
The Chesapeake Bay Retriever is not recommended for apartment life. Chesapeake Bay Retrievers are relatively inactive indoors and will do best with at least an average-sized yard. Chesapeake Bay Retrievers prefer to sleep outdoors. They prefer cool climates to hot unless there is a body of water nearby. As with other dogs, it needs exercise and are inactive indoors so if you are going to keep one when you are living in an apartment, do make sure that you bring it for exercise daily and socialize as well.
Upkeep
The Chesapeake Bay Retriever is a large active dog that needs a daily chance to exercise. Chesapeake Bay Retriever enjoys a good walk or swim. Chesapeake Bay Retriever can live outside in temperate conditions, but more than anything it prefers to spend time with its family. The oily, wavy coat needs weekly brushing but is generally easily maintained. It seldom needs washing; in fact, it’s hard to get a Chessie wet! Bathing destroys the coat’s oils and thus, its water resistance.
Health
Major concerns: Hip Dysplasia, gastric torsion
Minor concerns: Progressive retinal atrophy, cataracts
Life expectancy: 10 – 13 years