Chesapeake Bay Retriever

Legend traces the breed to two Newfoundland-type dogs rescued from a shipwrecked English vessel off the Maryland coast in 1807, later crossed with local hunting dogs. The result, the Chesapeake Bay Retriever, was built to work the icy waters of the bay, retrieving waterfowl for hunters even in winter. That history shows in the coat, unusual among retrievers: a harsh, wavy, oily double layer that sheds water and insulates against cold better than almost any other sporting breed. A male can reach 36.5 kilograms of muscular, powerful swimming build. Temperament runs more independent and strong-willed than a Labrador or Golden, worth knowing before a first-time owner brings one home. Life expectancy runs 10 to 13 years.

Browse dog food sized right for this breed

Chesapeake Bay Retriever: how old in human years?

53–66 cmHeight
25–36.5 kgWeight
10–13 yrsLife expectancy

Nederlandse Kooikerhondje

FCI group: Retrievers, Flushing Dogs, Water Dogs
FCI section: Section 1: Retrievers
FCI: 263
Country of origin: United States

Energy level

5/5
Trainability

4/5
Family friendly

4/5
Grooming need

2/5

At a glance

Height

Males 58–66 cm

Females 53–61 cm

Weight

Males 29.5–36.5 kg

Females 25–32 kg

Life expectancy

10–13 yrs

Coat

short, harsh, wavy, oily double coat, waterproof (short)

Temperament & Family Life

Chesapeake Bay Retriever's average temperament and family-life score for this breed is moderate.

Family friendly 4/5
Good with children 3/5
Good with other dogs 3/5
Friendly with strangers 2/5
Intelligence 4/5
Trainability 4/5

Exercise, Energy & Space

Chesapeake Bay Retriever's energy and exercise needs are high.

Energy level 5/5
Exercise need 5/5
Apartment friendly 1/5
Prey drive 4/5
Hunting instinct 5/5

Guarding & Alertness

Chesapeake Bay Retriever's guarding and alertness traits are moderate.

Guarding instinct 3/5
Watchfulness 4/5
Barking level 3/5

Grooming & Care

Chesapeake Bay Retriever's grooming needs are low.

Shedding 3/5
Drooling 2/5
Grooming need 2/5

Living with the Chesapeake Bay Retriever

A November morning, mist rising off the lake, and your dog is already standing belly-deep in the water waiting for you to throw. The Chesapeake Bay Retriever was bred in Maryland for duck hunters working the cold, choppy waters of the bay, and that kind of weather still strikes it as perfect. Back on shore, it will shake itself off right next to you, just so you don't feel left out.

It has energy to spare, and the urge to work is built in. A short stroll round the block won't do: it needs long hikes, swimming, retrieving, tracking or hunting. It is intelligent and learns quickly, but it is independent and has opinions, so it needs a calm, consistent owner who praises good work and doesn't let the rules become a negotiation. A city flat is not its place; a garden with water nearby is another story.

It is devoted to its family and protective of it, while strangers get a reserved welcome and are not let into the inner circle straight away. That makes early, broad socialising with people, places and other dogs worth the effort. It can be wonderful with children, especially ones it grows up with, though it may be too strong and too fast for very small ones. Once it has had its share of work, it stretches out by the door in the evening, still slightly damp.

Grooming and coat

A Chesapeake's coat is a piece of working equipment: a short, harsh, wavy topcoat over a dense, soft undercoat, both carrying a natural layer of oil so water simply runs off. That also means a wet Chessie has a smell of its own, and that is normal. Go over the coat once a week with a rubber mitt or brush to lift out dead hair, and bathe only when you really have to, since frequent shampooing strips that protective layer. As you brush, look at the skin for redness, scratches from reeds or hot spots.

Check the eyes after walks through thick cover: clear, no seeds caught in them, no squinting. The drop ears stay damp after a swim, so dry them when you get home and look inside once a week to make sure they are clean and don't smell. Trim the nails when they start clicking on the floor.

How to do it:

By age:

Health and possible conditions

The Chesapeake Bay Retriever is a tough dog built for cold water, living ten to thirteen years. The health questions worth knowing about concern the joints, the eyes and two conditions you need to recognise straight away: a twisted stomach and collapse during hard exercise. Before taking on a puppy, ask the breeder about the parents' health testing; after that, regular vet check-ups do the rest.

This is general information, not veterinary advice. For your own dog's health, tests and treatment, see a vet.

Bloat (gastric dilatation-volvulus)

Bloat is when the stomach fills with gas and can twist on itself, cutting off its blood supply. The dog becomes restless, tries to vomit without bringing anything up, and the belly swells and turns hard. This is an emergency: your dog needs a vet immediately, even in the middle of the night.
Hip dysplasia

Hip dysplasia is a fault in how the hip joint develops, so the ball of the thigh bone doesn't sit properly in its socket. You might notice your dog getting up stiffly after a long day of swimming and retrieving, hesitating to jump into the car, or bunny-hopping with both back legs when it runs. A muscular working retriever needs sound hips, so ask the breeder about the parents' health testing.
Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA)

PRA is an inherited disease in which the cells of the retina slowly die off and sight fades, first in dim light. An early sign may be that at dusk your dog no longer finds a thrown toy so confidently, or pauses at the stairs. Because it is inherited, ask the breeder about the parents' health testing.
Cataracts

A cataract is a clouding of the lens inside the eye, which makes it harder for light to reach the retina. You might see a greyish or bluish haze deep in the pupil, or notice your dog tracking a moving object less well. If you see a change like that, take your dog to the vet, and when buying a puppy, ask about the parents' eye testing.
Exercise-induced collapse

This is an inherited condition in which, after a few minutes of very intense exercise, a dog that seemed perfectly fine starts to wobble, its back legs weaken, and it may collapse. In a retriever this keen, it tends to show up exactly when the dog is lost in its favourite game. If your dog collapses during exercise, it needs a vet immediately; a genetic test exists for this condition, so ask the breeder about the parents' health testing.

Food for large breeds — cheapest per kg

This list is chosen by the breed's weight (37 kg) rather than the breed itself: shops label food by dog size, so every breed of the same size gets the same list. Prices are updated daily.

≈ 385 g of dry food a day, from €21,14 a month For a neutered, normally active 30,8 kg dog. Calculate for your dog