Chesapeake Bay Retriever

The Chesapeake Bay Retriever is the American duck dog — built to break ice and work rough water all day, and the toughest of the retrievers.

History

The founding story is documented: two Newfoundland puppies were rescued from a shipwreck off Maryland in 1807 and bred to local retrievers, producing dogs that market hunters on Chesapeake Bay used to retrieve hundreds of ducks in a day. The oily, wavy coat and the water-shedding undercoat are the breed's whole point.

Temperament

The breed is known for being determined, protective and more reserved than the other retrievers — loyal to its own household, watchful with strangers, and inclined to think for itself rather than please automatically.

Care and training

It needs a great deal of exercise and, ideally, water. Training needs consistency and an owner it respects; it is not the biddable Labrador people expect. The oily coat should not be over-bathed.

Health

Known tendencies include hip dysplasia, progressive retinal atrophy and exercise-induced collapse. These are patterns for the breed rather than a forecast for one dog; the measured facts are in the panel.