The Chesapeake Bay Retriever is not an apartment dog. She needs plenty of room to exercise and having a body of water available for work and play is appreciated by her. She is a strong dog with a mind of her own so an experienced owner is a must. She likes children and enjoys hard play. She can get along with other pets with strong early socialization but she is territorial and wants to dominate.

Good With Children?

She generally gets along well with children. As a reminder, never leave a young child unsupervised with a puppy or dog.

Good With Other Pets?

She can get along with other pets, especially with early socialization. She tends to be territorial and will want to dominate.

Trainability

She can be slow to train with a low learning rate.

Approximate Adult Size

The approximate adult size (two years old or older) of the male Chesapeake Bay Retriever is 23 to 26 inches to the withers (highest point of the shoulder) and 65 to 80 pounds. The female ranges from 21 to 24 inches to the withers and 55 to 70 pounds.

Special Health Considerations

Most dog breeds have certain inherited health problems associated with that specific breed and the Chesapeake Bay Retriever is no exception. Be on the look out for canine hip dysplasia (genetic based looseness in the hip joint that can lead to arthritis pain and lameness), Von Willebrands disease (a problem with blood clotting), skin problems and eye problems. This disease list is an informative guideline only. Other diseases may also be significant threats, please contact your veterinarian for a complete list.

She should visit the veterinarian several times in the first year for shots, boosters and check up. Then, as an adult, she should visit the veterinarian yearly for shots and check up. As she gets older, six years and on, she should visit the veterinarian twice a year for check ups and shots. Remember; avoid feeding your dog sweets.

Grooming

The Chesapeake Bay Retriever has a thick, harsh, oily and short coat with a wooly, dense under coat. She should be bathed only when necessary as this will strip her protective oils from her coat. She should be brushed regularly and is an average shedder. Brushing will help her maintain a clean and healthy coat, avoid mats and help you keep a closer eye on her health and strengthen your emotional bond with her.

Her teeth should be brushed at least twice a week with toothpaste and toothbrush designed for dogs. Brushing removes the accumulation of plaque and tartar which can cause cavities (rarely) and periodontal disease. Dog periodontal disease can lead to pain, loss of teeth, bad breath and other serious disease.

Her toenails may need to be examined for growth and clipped regularly. The toenails of the rear feet grow slower than the toenails of the front feet. Generally a guillotine type trimmer is the best for this chore and competent instructions to accomplish this can be found on the net.

Life Span

The Chesapeake Bay Retriever can live between 10 and 12 years with proper nutrition, medical care and excellent living conditions.

Chesapeake Bay Retriever History

This breed was developed in the Cheasapeake Bay area around 1807 to hunt waterfowl under bad conditions. She is a champion duck retriever. They were first registered by the American Kennel Association in 1878.