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                           CHESAPEAKE BAY RETRIEVERS

Authors

     * Originally written by William Millios, 18 May 92
     * Currently maintained by Cindy Tittle Moore, ([e-mail])

   Last modified 22 Sep 94.
     _________________________________________________________________

Table of Contents

     * History
     * Characteristics and Temperament
     * Frequently Asked Questions
     * Description
     * Recognized
     * Special Medical Problems
     * Resources
          + Books
          + Email List
          + Breed Rescue Organizations
          + Breed Clubs


     _________________________________________________________________

History

   It all began in the year 1807 when an English ship was wrecked off the
   coast of Maryland. Fortunately, all hands were saved including two
   puppies. One was a reddish male named Sailor, and the other a young,
   black bitch named Canton in honor of the rescuing ship. The puppies
   were of the St. John's Newfoundland breed, used at the time to help
   fishermen recover their nets. Both were given homes in the Chesapeake
   Bay area, and as a result of their disposition toward water, were
   trained and used as duck retrievers.

   While Sailor and Canton were never bred to each other, they are
   considered to be the original breeding stock of the present
   Chesapeakes. However there have been numerous theories concerning
   which crosses were instrumental in maintaining and enhancing the
   desirable characteristics of the breed. It is believed that the Curly
   and Flat-Coated Retrievers, the Irish Water Spaniel, several setter
   breeds, and coonhounds, along with local duck retrievers, played a
   part in the development of a definite, true-breeding type of dog by
   1885. This breed of dog became known for their courage and prowess
   exhibited in the icy cold waters of the Chesapeake Bay. Recognition of
   their unique abilities led to careful developmental breeding resulting
   in the Chesapeake we know today.

   The first Chesapeake Bay Retriever was registered by the American
   Kennel Club in 1878. The present American Chesapeake Club was
   recognized by the AKC in 1918, becoming the first member breed club
   for retrievers.

Characteristics and Temperament

  PET AND COMPANION

   The Chesapeake is a multi-purpose dog, a marvelous companion, and an
   individualist. His coat requires little grooming and no clipping. A
   weekly brushing keeps the coat clean and in top condition. The
   Chesapeake becomes firmly attached to his owner and family. He often
   has a special affinity for children, and will tolerate much
   "roughhousing".

   The Chesapeake is more headstrong and stubborn than his oft-compared
   counterpart, the Labrador. He requires a good amount of exercise and
   will be bored and destructive without it. Becuase he is a retrieving
   breed, he is likely to chew quite a lot throughout puppyhood and
   adolescence. Because he will grow to be relatively large, it is
   imperative to do at least minimal obedience training so that he does
   not jump on people or pull on the leash.

  HUNTING

   The Chesapeake is first and foremost a superb hunting dog. With
   minimum training, he will retrieve ducks, doves, quail, pheasants, or
   almost anything else you throw him. His excellent nose will nearly
   always bring a cripple to bag. Chesapeakes have an extraordinary
   ability to remember multiple falls. The Chesapeake is known for his
   love of the water and especially water retrieves. There are many
   well-authenticated stories of Chesapeakes retrieving as many as 200
   ducks in a single day under punishing conditions. This kind of
   stubborness and tenacity is readily evident in his temperament -- this
   is never a soft dog.

  SHOW, OBEDIENCE, AND TRACKING

   Preparation for the Breed or Show requires little grooming. Your
   Chesapeake needs clean teeth and ears, whiskers clipped, and a good
   brushing. At the same time you enter your dog in Breed, you can enter
   Obedience. Novice work is a simple extension of the field training. A
   desire to please on his part and patience on yours can quickly send
   your Chesapeake on his way toward his CDX degree. Utility training
   requires more extensive work, but the Chesapeake's superb nose quickly
   masters scent discrimination. Chesapeakes are inherent trackers, thus
   facilitating training for a Tracking Degree.

  FIELD TRIAL CONTENDERS

   The present day Chesapeake is fast and stylish. He is noted for his
   intelligence and loyalty. His excellent sight makes him a "natural"
   marking dog: a quality that cannot be taught. The desire to please
   makes the Chesapeake a proficient handling dog.

  CHOOSING A PUPPY

   A puppy should have sound temperament, be in good health, and conform
   to the breed standard. If possible, spend some time with the litter,
   observing the individual characteristics of each puppy in action with
   littermates. Puppies should be retrieving a rolled-up sock or bird at
   seven weeks with no signs of shyness. Noises should not be an
   upsetting factor. An indication of good socialization is a pup's
   eagerness to approach strangers. Coat color can change, either
   becoming darker or lighter with maturity. Usually around eleven weeks
   the puppy will begin to develop a more mature coat. The Board of
   Directors strongly recommends that parents be certified free of hip
   dysplasia by the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals and certified free
   of hereditary eye diseases by the Canine Eye Registration Foundation,
   Inc. Look carefully at the parents as the offspring should be similar
   in conformation and temperament.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

   Aren't Chesapeakes a kind of Labrador?

     No, although the breeds are related. In CBR's, the ears are set
     higher, and the legs tend to be longer. CBR's are not as stocky as
     Labradors and they have a different topline. The coat of a Labrador
     is not woolly. Moreover, CBR's only come in various shades of brown,
     whereas Labradors can be yellow, black, or chocolate. The easiest
     way to distinguish a chocolate Labrador from a dark Chessie is by
     the lighter pigment on the Chessie's nose and the woolliness and
     curliness of its coat.

Description

   Offical Breed Standard (approved November 9, 1976, condensed)

   Head: skull is broad and round with medium stop and medium short
   muzzle, pointed but not sharp. Lips thin, not pendulous. Ears are
   small and set well up on head, hanging loosely and of medium length.
   Eyes are medium large, very clear, yellow to amber in color.

   Neck: medium length with a strong muscular appearance, tapering to
   shoulders.

   Shoulder, Chest and Body: shoulders are sloping and should have full
   liberty of action with plenty of power without any restrictions of
   movement. Chest is strong, deep and wide. Barrel is round and deep.
   Body is of medium length, neither cobby nor roached, but rather
   approaching hollowness, flanks well tucked up.

   Hindquarters and Stifles: hindquarters should be as high or a trifle
   higher than the shoulders. They should show fully as much power as the
   forequarters. There should be no tendency to weakness in either fore
   or hindquarters. Hindquarters should be especially powerful to supply
   the driving power for swimming. Back should be short, well-coupled and
   powerful. Good hindquarters are essential. Stifles should be
   well-angulated.

   Legs, Elbows, Hocks and Feet: legs should be medium length and
   straight, showing good bone and muscle, with well-webbed hare feet of
   good size. The toes are well rounded and close, pasterns slightly bent
   and both pasterns and hocks medium length - the straighter the legs
   the better, when viewed from front or rear. Dewclaws, if any, must be
   removed from the hind legs. Dewclaws on the forelegs may be removed. A
   dog with dewclaws on the hind legs must be disqualified.

   Tail: tail should extend to hock. It should be medium heavy at base.
   Moderate feathering on stern and tail is permissible. Tail should be
   straight or slightly curved. Tail should not curl over back or side
   kink.

   Coat and Texture: coat should be thick and short, nowhere over 1 1/2
   inches long, with a dense fine woolly undercoat. Hair on face and legs
   should be very short and straight with tendency to wave on the
   shoulders, neck, back and loins only. The curly coat or coat with a
   tendency to curl not permissible. The texture of the dog's coat is
   very important, as the dog is used for hunting under all sorts of
   adverse weather conditions, often working in ice and snow. The oil in
   the harsh outer coat and woolly undercoat is of extreme value in
   preventing the cold water from reaching the dog's skin and aids in
   quick drying. A Chesapeake's coat should resist the water in the same
   way that a duck's feathers do. When he leaves the water and shakes
   himself, his coat should not hold the water at all, merely being
   moist. Color and coat are extremely important, as the dog is used for
   duck hunting. The color must be as nearly that of his surroundings as
   possible and with the fact that the dogs are exposed to all kinds of
   weather conditions, often working in ice and snow, the color of coat
   and its texture must be given every consideration when judging on the
   bench or in the ring.

   Color: any color varying from a dark brown to a faded tan or
   deadgrass. Deadgrass takes in any shade of deadgrass, varying from a
   tan to a dull straw color. White spot on breast, toes and belly
   permissible, but the smaller the spot the better. Solid and
   self-colored dogs are preferred.

   Weight: males, 65 to 80 pounds; females 55 to 70 pounds.

   Height: males, 23 inches to 26 inches; females, 21 inches to 24
   inches. Oversized or undersized dogs are to be severely penalized.

Recognized

   American Kennel Club
   Canadian Kennel Club
   (plus others)

Special Medical Problems

   Chesapeakes are susceptible to hip dysplasia as well as other joint
   problems. All breeding stock should be x-rayed and certified clear of
   hip dysplasia by the OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals).

   They are also susceptible to an eye disease called PRA (Progressive
   Retinal Atrophy). This insidious disease of the eyes eventually causes
   blindness. It is believed to be inherited by a simple recessive mode.
   This means that for a dog to be affected, both parents must be either
   carriers or affected themselves. The problem is that this disease has
   a late onset where the dogs do not show symptoms until they are over
   four years of age, in which case they may have already been bred.
   Carriers show no symptoms. All breeding stock should be examined
   annually and have their eyes cleared through CERF (Canine Eye
   Registration Foundation).

Resources

  BOOKS

   Horn, Janet and Dr. Daniel Horn. The New Complete Chesapeake Bay
   Retriever. Howell Book House, 1994.

  EMAIL LIST

   Wilf Leblanc ([e-mail]) maintains an email list for
   owners of Chesapeake Bay Retrievers. To subscribe, send email to
   [e-mail] with the single word subscribe in
   the subject line.

  BREED RESCUE ORGANIZATIONS

  BREEDERS

   (The following breeders are advertisers in the monthly magazine
   PBD/AKG, the offical publication of the AKC; neither the AKC nor the
   author of this FAQ recommends, endorses, nor rates these breeders,
   their kennels, or their stock.)

   Anderson, Mr. & Mrs. Ronald
   3984 Farm Ln.
   Monrovia, MD 21770
   301-831-9743

   Baldwin, W. Chase & Dyane
   RD 2, Box 287A
   Pond Hollow
   Newport, PA 17074
   717-582-4997

   Chalkley, Lindsey
   Rt. 5, Box 925-PB
   Canyon Lake, TX 78133
   512-964-3191

   Fischer, Shirl
   P.O. Box 332
   Palm Harbor, FL 34682
   813-786-3612

   Horn, Mrs. Daniel
   Eastern Waters
   RD 1, Box 357A
   Frenchtown, NJ 08825
   908-996-4922

   Horn, Nat
   Eastern Waters MD
   Highland, MD 20777
   301-854-2455

  BREED CLUBS

   American Chesapeake Club
   Ms. Janel E. Hopp
   1705 RD 76
   Pasco, WA 99301
     _________________________________________________________________

    Chesapeake Bay Retriever FAQ
    Cindy Tittle Moore, [e-mail]