Origin
The Chesapeake Bay Retriever has a very unique and distinct coat which means these dogs really do stand out in a crowd. They are large quite compact gundogs that boast an interesting ancestry. They are high energy and therefore best suited to living with owners who lead busy, outdoor lives and in households where one member of the family usually stays at home when everyone else is out. They are a great choice for families with children because Chesapeakes adore being around kids and seem to have an affinity with them.
The Chesapeake Bay Retriever's origins and history are quite interesting. It is thought the breed came about when two puppies were rescued from a shipwreck off the coast of Maryland some 200 years ago. These puppies were very similar to Newfoundland type dogs and it was found they adored being in water. As such they were bred to local retriever type dogs and it's thought the Curly Coat was one of the breeds used to develop the Chesapeake Bay Retriever.
It is thought that other dogs used to create the Chessie included Flatcoated and Curlycoated Retrievers, Irish Water Spaniels and Coonhounds. The result was a gundog with an extraordinarily water-resistant coat that boasted an oily and thick texture which offered these dogs tremendous protection from the elements and cold waters they were to work in.
A breed standard was established for the Chesapeake Bay in 1885 and the American Kennel Club recognised these dogs as a breed in their own right in 1933. The first Chessies arrived in the UK in 1933 and by the seventies, the Chesapeake Bay Retriever was already a popular gundog breed. Today, these attractive and lively dogs are still popular in the field, but they have also become a popular choice as both companion dogs and family pets, thanks to their affectionate, loyal although sometimes independent natures and the fact they appear to have an affinity with children.
