The Chesapeake Bay retriever is a breed of dog that is used for hunting and has been approved by the AKC since 1884. This breed of dog has been around since the 1800s, meant to be used for hunting. These dogs have been hunters for many years. These kinds of dogs have been used for hunting in any kind of weather and their coats are made for the water. Not only are the Chesapeake Bay retrievers used for hunting, but they are also used for sitting in the boat or vehicle to protect the game after being caught.
The Chesapeake Bay retrievers are a very protective breed of dog. This makes it great to have as a protector of any family or as a protector of their property.
The Chesapeake Bay retrievers are used today in hunting tests, field trials, obedience, agility, and tracking. They may be used for all this and more, but this breed of dog stays true to where it comes from for hunting and protecting.
The Chesapeake Bay retrievers have been called Chessie by individuals throughout history, such as a short nickname. These dogs may also be called Peake Pups and Bay. You can see these beautiful dogs in practically all AKC dog shows across the United States under the gundog category.
Appearance
The Chesapeake Bay retriever can be seen in many colors. The colors mainly range in shades of browns anything from a light coco brown to a dark deeper brown. The color of the dogs coat can also range from a reddish yellow to a bright red and to a chestnut color. There are some Chesapeakes that may have white on their coats, but it is limited to places such as the breast, belly, toes, or the back of the legs. The coat on the Chesapeake has an oily touch, which helps propel water from the dog while hunting in the waters. The Chesapeake does not shed that often, so brushing shouldnt be needed very often.
Another great thing about the appearance of the Chesapeake is that they have very broad and tough chests that are made for breaking through ice while hunting in winter waters or cold climate regions. The Chesapeake dogs also have tough and high hindquarters that are also used greatly for hunting as well.
The eyes on the Chesapeake are very clear which tend to be a yellowish or amber color. The eyes on a Chesapeake are very bright and beautiful. The ears on a Chesapeake are small and they set well on the top of the head. The reason the Chesapeake can swim so well in waters is because of their feet being big and wide which are also webbed to help them swim through waters and ice.
Personality
The Chesapeake has a wonderful personality, which makes for a loving companion for anyone. This breed can be very happy and sometimes when happy they can get vocal that might be mistaken for the dog to be growling, but they arent. They also may smile at you. This is where the dog may bare his front teeth, but again, this is not a threatening thing for this dog.
When having a Chesapeake Bay retriever it is better to have only one Chesapeake in the household because of their dominance. This breed is protective, but will not be the first to start the fight. This breed of dog is good with families as long as they are raised with the family and so the dog will know them as the dogs master. The Chesapeake is very good with children, so you should not have any worries about the dog being around kids. The Chesapeake is also good with other dogs and loves having people and dogs around them to play with, but remember since he is a bit dominant another Chesapeake Bay may be a huge mistake.
Care
The Chesapeake is very easy to care for. With its oily coat, the dog should not be bathed very often. Bathing will strip the oil from the dogs coat. The oil is what the dog needs when hunting in the water. When brushing the dogs coat, make sure to use a firm bristle brush. You should only brush his coat during the time when he is molting. Brushing should be performed to get the loose and dead hairs off the dog.
The Chesapeake is the type of dog that does not like to be left alone for long periods of time. If this happens, the dog may become destructive, so give him plenty of attention and exercise. His favorite type of exercise is swimming, therefore take him on the next family picnic by the lake instead of leaving him at home to get into mischief.
Regular trips to the vet is always a good idea to keep the dog updated on everything and to also make sure the dog is in good health for hunting and such. Making sure your Chesapeake is in good health is the main thing. Otherwise, a Chesapeake is very easy to care for.
History
The Chesapeake got its start on the coast of the state Maryland. Back in 1807, a ship was wrecked on the coast of Maryland. On the ship were two Newfoundland puppies. The male puppy, Sailor, was red in color and the female, Canton, was black in color. The male went to John Mercer of West River, Maryland and the female went to Dr. James Stuart of Sparrows Point, Maryland. Both men were very big hunters of waterfowl and this is where the dogs started their hunting lives. Before long, both men realized just how great these dogs were for hunting.
Other hunters around the area soon learned the hunting ability of these dogs including their high retrieval instinct even in the cold and icy waters around the area. Before long, every hunter had the desire to own one of these unique hunting dogs.
By the late 1800s there was much enthusiasm for these hunting dogs which brought about the showing of the Carroll Island Gun Club which brought dignitaries from across the country to shoot and watch the dogs do their stuff. The club members bred the Chesapeakes and the dog held the pedigree of the Chesapeake Bay Dog for several years forward.
By the 1880s there were a variety of strains of the Chesapeake Bay Dog which included The Chesapeake Bay Duck Dog, the Brown Winchester, the Otter Dog, the Newfoundland Duck Dog and the Red Chester Ducking Dog, to name a few.
In 1890, the dogs were given their official name of the Chesapeake Bay Retrievers. At the same time, the Chesapeake Bay Club was created. By having this club around, in no time the Chesapeake dog was well known in many corners of the nation. This is how the Chesapeake received the honor of being the states official dog.