Chespeake Bay Retriever Dogs Information

Written by: Debbie Moore

Copyright 1997 to 2010 Dogs and Puppies Central
All rights reserved.

Alternate Names: Chessie, Chessie Dogs

Common Misspellings:  Chesapeke Bay Retrievers, Chesapeake Bay Retreivers

Learn all about Chespeake Bay Retriever Dogs and Puppies through our indepth guide to the Chespeake Bay Retriever dog breed. You'll find solid information about Chespeake Bay Retriever dog history, Chespeake Bay Retriever life expectancy Chespeake Bay Retriever dog appearance, Chespeake Bay Retriever temperament and personality, Chespeake Bay Retriever health problems, Chespeake Bay Retriever puppy care, training Chespeake Bay Retriever puppy dogs and more. Also includes important information about choosing a responsible Chespeake Bay Retriever dog breeder.

The Chesapeake Bay Retriever is an American dog breed with a truly unique history. This kid loving, water loving canine companion is an amicable breed that may just be the dog for you and your family. If you are active and fun loving, there's no better breed to add joy and laughter to your life than the Chesapeake Bay Retriever!

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Chespeake Bay Retriever Facts

The Chespeake Bay Retriever Dog Breed In Brief

Country of Origin: United States of America

Chespeake Bay Retriever Height: Males: 23 to 26 inches (58 to 66 cm)
Females: 21 to 24 inches (53 to 61 cm)

Chespeake Bay Retriever Weight: Males: 65 to 75 pounds (29.5 to 34 kg)
Females: 55 to 65 pounds (25 to 29.5 kg)

Chespeake Bay Retriever Color Variations: Colors range from dark brown to a muted tan color.

Chespeake Bay Retriever Size Variations:

Chespeake Bay Retriever Exercise Needs: Demanding

Chespeake Bay Retriever Grooming Demands: Minimal

Chespeake Bay Retriever Trainability: Easy

Chespeake Bay Retriever Life Expectancy: 10 to 12 years

Average Chespeake Bay Retriever Prices: $750 to $2500, depending on Pedigree

Good With Children: Yes

Good With Other Pets: Yes

Breed Group: Sporting

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Chespeake Bay Retriever Dog History

When a British ship capsized off the coast of Maryland in 1807, two Newfoundland puppies which were on board swam to safety from the cold Atlantic waters to the Maryland shore. Named "Sailor" and "Canton" after the ship from which they came, these two pups proved to be exceptional swimmers and water retrievers. The pups were mated with local sporting dogs, thought to be both Curly Coated Retrievers and Flat Coated Retrievers, producing offspring that were legendary sporting dogs, able to withstand the coldest and roughest waters without incident. These dogs eventually came to be considered a breed unto themselves, and the Chesapeake Bay Retriever dog breed was born.

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Chespeake Bay Retriever Dog Appearance

The Chesapeake Bay Retriever is valued more for his talents as a sporting dog than for his appearance. While Chessies are by no means homely in appearance, they possess an oily and somewhat wavy coat which enables them to dry off after a cold swim with a few shakes. The coat is usually dark brown or resembles the color of dead grass, a muted tan.

The Chesapeake Bay Retriever resembles the Labrador Retriever in many ways; the body is roughly the same size and musculature, and the head has a similar appearance. The Chessie also possesses those meaningful brown eyes that always let you know just how much he loves you.

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Chespeake Bay Retriever Grooming

Chesapeake Bay Retrievers require very little in the way of grooming. Since they love to swim, a bath is hardly ever necessary. The coat can be kept free of dead hairs with a weekly brushing - a stiff slicker brush is the best tool of choice for grooming a Chessie.

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Chespeake Bay Retriever Exercise Needs

Chesapeake Bay Retrievers have a strong affinity for water, and enjoy a good bit of exercise. This is not a breed for city dwellers or couch potatoes! Chessies are best suited for active families that live in a suburban or country setting, preferably near a lake, river or other accessible body of water where the Chessie can swim and frolic.

For the sportsman, the Chesapeake Bay Retriever is the perfect breed; energetic, loyal, agile and highly trainable. After all, Chessies were custom made for hunting water fowl.

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Chespeake Bay Retriever Temperament

The Chesapeake Bay Retriever is an all-round fantastic family dog. Chessies adore children; there have been a number of Chesapeake Bay Retrievers honored for having rescued toddlers from drowning - a trait they no doubt inherited from their Newfoundland ancestors.

The only caution when it comes to choosing a Chessie for temperament is to make sure you acquire your Chesapeake Bay Retriever puppy from a reputable breeder. Early socialization and care can be as important as inherited temperament traits, so you want to be sure to get a puppy from a breeder who raises her pups with love and gentle handling from birth, rather from an unknown source, which may be a horror story of abuse and neglect. Never acquire a Chesapeake Bay Retriever puppy through a pet store, newspaper ad or online classified ad.

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Chespeake Bay Retriever Training

Chesapeake Bay Retrievers are a very intelligent breed that are always anxious to please their owners. Whether you plan to use your Chessie as a hunting dog, or a cherished family companion, obedience training should start early and be consistent, with all members of the family taking part and presenting a united front.

Adding a little playtime before and after each training session will make your Chessie even more willing to learn and obey.

Chespeake Bay Retriever Health

Chesapeake Bay Retrievers are a healthy dog breed that are usually free of the hereditary disorders that can plague many purebred breeds of dog.

That having been said, it's extremely important to find a highly responsible breeder from which to purchase a Chesapeake Bay Retriever puppy. A reputable breeder will be very well educated about the Chesapeake Bay Retriever dog breed and carefully screen her breeding dogs for any common canine disorders and congenital problems that may be prevalent in the breed.

Health Problems Which Can Occur in Chesapeake Bay Retrievers include:

• Hip dysplasia
  
• Progressive retinal atrophy
  
• Type 3 von Willebrand disease
  
• Cataracts
  
• Regional Alopecia

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Is the Chespeake Bay Retriever Right For You?

If you are looking for a wonderful family companion, a Chesapeake Bay Retriever can be an exceptional choice. The Chessie's great fondness for children makes him a good match for families with small children, but the breed is equally suited to couples and even seniors - provided they are able to provide the exercise and companionship the breed needs to thrive.

If you are an active family that loves to get out in the great outdoors, a Chesapeake Bay Retriever is a great choice. If your family tends to spend their leisure hours eating chips in front of the Wii, then you should either consider a Pug - or change your lazy ways and get a Chessie!

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Chespeake Bay Retriever Prices

Average Chespeake Bay Retriever Price: $750 - $1000

Price always varies when it comes to the purchase of a quality, home-raised healthy Chespeake Bay Retriever dog or puppy. It's of utmost importance that you place the most weight on acquiring a great Chespeake Bay Retriever puppy from a highly responsible, reputable breeder, and put the price as a secondary concern in making your decision.

Buying a Chespeake Bay Retriever dog or puppy at a cheap price from a breeder of questionable reputation can be a one-way ticket to heartbreak and great additional expense throughout the dog's life, should your Chespeake Bay Retriever puppy have hereditary health problems or behavior and temperament issues (which very often is the case with cheap-priced puppies). Buying from a highly reputable Chespeake Bay Retriever breeder is your best insurance for acquiring a well socialized, healthy puppy of stable temperament.

Chespeake Bay Retriever prices also will vary according to the puppy's conformation; puppies placed as pets and companions will generally be less expensive as show-quality Chespeake Bay Retriever puppies intended to be shown in conformation.

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Finding Chespeake Bay Retriever Puppies For Sale By Reputable Breeders

If you are ready to add an adorable Chespeake Bay Retriever puppy to your family, be sure to check out Dogs and Puppies Central's directory of Chespeake Bay Retriever Puppies For Sale, where you will find photos and information posted by reputable Chespeake Bay Retriever breeders. We actively screen Chespeake Bay Retriever breeders who wish to advertise on our service by asking that they meet and follow our Guidelines For Responsible Dog Breeders. We also ask for - and check - three references from each breeder.

By performing an initial dog breeder screening, it is our hope that we can help put you in touch with a caring, responsible Chespeake Bay Retriever breeder near you. We cannot physically inspect the premises and dogs owned by breeders advertising with us, so you need to be responsible for doing the final inspection and interview.

Let's stop the cruelty of puppy mills. Please help us keep money out of the hands of puppy mills, back yard breeders and pet stores. Buy your Chespeake Bay Retriever puppy only from a responsible, caring hobby breeder that raises their dogs and puppies in a loving home environment.

When you locate that perfect Chespeake Bay Retriever puppy - please be sure to send us some photos to be included in our growing gallery of Chespeake Bay Retriever dog and puppy pictures!

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Additional Chespeake Bay Retriever Resources:

• Chespeake Bay Retriever Wikipedia Profile
• AKC Chespeake Bay Retriever Breed Profile
• Chespeake Bay Retriever Pictures
• Chespeake Bay Retriever Videos

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