Good natured and energetic, this retriever not only is excellent with kids, but also has an interesting history.  In 1807 a British ship was shipwrecked off the coast of Maryland.  Two of the survivors were the ship's dogs -  named Sailor and Canton, a male and female who  proved later to be excellent water retrievers. These dogs were bred with some of the local sporting dogs and a new breed developed from this hearty stock. Named for the Chesapeake Bay in  Maryland, these dogs love the water and are very powerful swimmers. They are great duck retrievers and have long been known to rescue children in trouble in the water. They stand just about 23 to 26 inches tall at the shoulder and weigh roughly 65 to 75 pounds. The females are usually slightly smaller and lighter.  Their coat is thick with a short undercoat that makes them very well insulated from cold water and freezing temperatures - their oily coat also means that they can usually shake themselves dry very quickly. A good owner for these loyal and energetic dogs knows that they shed heavily and need to be brushed daily as well as given lots of outdoor exercise.