Chesapeake Bay Retriever
A powerful, weatherproof American retriever that is devoted to family and more protective than most retrievers.
At a glance
- Size
- Large
- Height at the withers
- Males 58–66 cm · Females 53–61 cm
- Weight
- Males 29–36 kg · Females 25–32 kg
- Life expectancy
- 10–13 years
- Exercise
- 90–120 min a day
- Grooming
- Once a week
- Coat
- Wavy, Double coat, short
- Colours
- Brown, Red, Wheaten
- Bred for
- Retrieving, Water work, Guarding
- Country of origin
- United States
- FCI
- Group 8, no. 263 · Retrievers, flushing & water dogs
Breeders on Kuldo
No breeders on Kuldo have this breed yet.
Living with the breed
| Affectionate with family | 5/5 – Very high |
|---|---|
| Good with children | 4/5 – High |
| Good with other dogs | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Good with cats | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Open to strangers | 2/5 – Low |
| Energy | 4/5 – High |
| Playfulness | 4/5 – High |
| Needs mental stimulation | 4/5 – High |
| Easy to train | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Prey drive | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Watchful and protective | 4/5 – High |
| Barking | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Shedding | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Grooming effort | 2/5 – Low |
| Drooling | 2/5 – Low |
| Good for first-time owners | 2/5 – Low |
| Suits apartment living | 1/5 – Very low |
| Adaptability | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Copes with being alone | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Copes with heat | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Copes with cold | 5/5 – Very high |
Kuldo's own guidance from the breed's typical traits. Every dog is an individual, so talk to the breeder.
Is it the right breed for you?
Great if you …
- hunt waterfowl or love water sports
- want a loyal dog with some watchfulness
- have experience with strong-willed dogs
Think twice if you …
- want a retriever that loves all strangers
- are a first-time owner
- cannot offer daily vigorous exercise
Care
Temperament
Devoted, confident and strong-willed, with a protective streak. It is usually reserved with strangers.
Exercise
Needs one and a half to two hours of activity daily. Swimming, retrieving, field work and hiking suit it well.
Grooming
Brush weekly to remove dead hair, and avoid frequent bathing, which strips the protective oils. It sheds seasonally.
Training
Intelligent and capable but can be stubborn. Start early, stay consistent and keep training purposeful.
Health
Hip and elbow dysplasia, inherited eye disease, degenerative myelopathy and exercise-induced collapse are known in the breed. Ask the breeder for hip and elbow scores, eye results and DNA results.
Health tests breeders usually do
- Hips (HD)
- Elbows (ED)
- Eye examination
DNA tests
- PRA (prcd)
- DM
- EIC
Ask the breeder to show you the parents' results.
About the breed
The Chesapeake Bay Retriever was developed in the 19th century around Chesapeake Bay in Maryland and Virginia. Hunters needed a strong dog that could retrieve ducks for hours in icy, rough water, and its oily, wavy coat sheds water well.
It is loyal and affectionate with its family but often reserved with strangers and can be protective. It is strong-willed and needs an owner who is consistent and fair. It needs plenty of exercise, ideally including swimming and retrieving. Well raised and socialised, it is a devoted and hard-working companion.
Did you know?
The breed traces back to two Newfoundland-type puppies rescued from a ship wrecked off Maryland in 1807.