By luck of the alphabet, I get to have the breed closest to my heart first on this Web site. No breed better epitomizes America's outdoor heritage than the Chesapeake Bay Retriever. Developed along the rugged Chesapeake Bay to hunt waterfowl from dawn to dusk under the most strenuous weather and water conditions imaginable, and bred with a coat that sheds water and insulates against the cold, the Chessie is well suited to the task. Structurally put together with strong hindquarters for swimming and powerful, but gentle, jaws for retrieving large birds, the Chesapeake is a true waterfowling dog.

Throughout its history, the Chessie has been tagged as a surly, almost vicious dog to be trained with a 2 x 4 and only for the most dedicated of waterfowlers. Breed supporters, though, know a dog that is a highly intelligent animal that needs to be reasoned with sometimes but does not require a lot of force. They show devotion to their family and property, and although not an overly affectionate breed, they do desire to be part of the family and will protect it vehemently if the need arises. One look into the yellow eyes of this breed and you will have been struck by the aura of these wonderful dogs.

The Chessie has fallen out of favor with today's hunter who no longer has the ability to hunt for a living and does not require a dog with the drive the Chessie possesses. Also, being known as a waterfowling specialist has hurt the Chessie's reputation as more and more hunters chase both upland birds and waterfowl. Their drive and determination definitely carries over into the uplands though, and given the proper exposure the Chessie can go toe-to-toe with any dog in the uplands.

Recently the breed has been show to be afflicted by a dreaded neurological disease, degenerative myelopathy. While there is not currently a test for this disease it is highly recommended to prospective puppy buyers that they research this disease and its occurrence in their breeder's lines. Generally speaking the breed is a healthy one, with most breeders going through the appropriate health clearances to assure the continued health of the breed.

The Chesapeake Bay Retriever is definitely not the dog for everyone. They are a dog that requires patience, time and dedication. They require a special hand during training and do not always respond well to the popular, repetitive training exercises used today. Lastly, as with any of the sporting dogs, they should not be locked in a run nine months out of the year and hunted a few times during hunting season. They are an intelligent dog that needs stimulation, whether that be training and hunting or nightly jogs and parlor tricks.

Clubs and Organizations

• American Chesapeake Club
  www.amchessieclub.org

Health Information

• American Chesapeake Club Health Page
  http://www.amchessieclub.org/health.html

Rescue Information

• American Chesapeake Club Rescue Page
  http://www.amchessieclub.org/rescue.html

Other Sites of Interest

• Team Chesapeake
  www.teamchesapeake.com