(AKC Sporting Group)
Size: Large.
Weight: 65 to 80 pounds (male); 55 to 70 (female).
Availability: May take some effort to find.
UTILIZATION : Retriever equally proficient on land and in the
water.
GENERAL APPEARANCE : Equally proficient on land and in the
water, the Chesapeake Bay Retriever was developed along the
Chesapeake Bay to hunt waterfowl under the most adverse weather
and water conditions, often having to break ice during the course of
many strenuous multiple retrieves. Frequently the Chesapeake must
face wind, tide and long cold swims in its work. The breed’s
characteristics are specifically suited to enable the Chesapeake to
function with ease, efficiency and endurance. In head, the
Chesapeake’s skull is broad and round with a medium stop. The jaws
should be of sufficient length and strength to carry large game birds
with an easy, tender hold. The double coat consists of a short, harsh,
wavy outer coat and a dense, fine, wooly undercoat containing an
abundance of natural oil and is ideally suited for the icy rugged
conditions of weather the Chesapeake often works in. In body, the
Chesapeake is a strong, well-balanced, powerfully built animal of
moderate size and medium length in body and leg, deep and wide in
chest, the shoulders built with full liberty of movement, and with no
tendency to weakness in any feature, particularly the rear. The
power though, should not be at the expense of agility or stamina.
Size and substance should not be excessive as this is a working
retriever of an active nature. Distinctive features include eyes that are
very clear, of yellowish or amber hue, hindquarters as high or a trifle
higher than the shoulders, and a double coat which tends to wave on
shoulders, neck, back and loins only.
IMPORTANT PROPORTIONS : Height from the top of the
shoulder blades to the ground should be slightly less than the body
length from the breastbone to the point of buttocks. Depth of body
should extend at least to the elbow. Shoulder to elbow and elbow to
ground should be equal.
its bright and happy disposition, intelligence, quiet good sense, and
affectionate protective nature. Courage, willingness to work,
alertness, nose, intelligence, love of water, general quality and, most
of all, disposition should be given primary consideration in the
selection and breeding of the Chesapeake Bay Retriever.
Extreme shyness or extreme aggressive tendencies are not desirable
in the breed either as a gun dog or companion.
CRANIAL REGION :
Skull : Broad and round.
Stop : Medium stop.
FACIAL REGION :
Nose : Nasal bridge medium short.
Muzzle : Approximately the same length as the skull, tapering
pointed but not sharp.
Lips : Thin, not pendulous.
Jaws/Teeth : Scissors bite is preferred, but a level bite is acceptable.
Eyes : Are to be medium large, very clear, of yellowish or amber color
and wide apart. Intelligent expression.
Ears : Are to be small, set well up on the head, hanging loosely, and
of medium leather.
NECK : Should be of medium length with a strong muscular
appearance, tapering to the shoulders.
BODY : Of medium length, neither cobby nor roached, but rather
approaching hollowness from underneath as the flanks should be
well tucked up.
Topline : Should show the hindquarters to be as high as or a trifle
higher than the shoulders.
Back : Short, well coupled and powerful.
Chest : Strong, deep and wide. Rib cage barrel, round and deep.
TAIL : Of medium length; medium heavy at the base. The tail should
be straight or slightly curved and should not curl over back or side
kink.
LIMBS
FOREQUARTERS : There should be no tendency to weakness in the
forequarters. They are medium in length and straight, showing good
bone and muscle. The front legs should appear straight when viewed
from front or rear.
Shoulders : Should be sloping with full liberty of action, plenty of
power and without any restrictions of movement.
Pasterns : Slightly bent and of medium length. Dewclaws may be
removed.
HINDQUARTERS : Good hindquarters are essential. They should
show fully as much power as the forequarters. There should be no
tendency to weakness in the hindquarters. Hindquarters should be
especially powerful to supply the driving power for swimming.
Legs should be medium length and straight, showing good bone and
muscle. The hind legs should look straight when viewed from the
front or rear. Dewclaws, if any, must be removed from the hind
legs.
Stifles : Well angulated.
Hocks : The distance from hock to ground should be of medium
length.
FEET : Well webbed harefeet, of good size with toes well-rounded
and close.
GAIT / MOVEMENT : The gait should be smooth, free and
effortless, giving the impression of great power and strength. When
viewed from the side, there should be good reach with no
restrictions of movement in the front and plenty of drive in the rear,
with good flexion of the stifle and hock joints. Coming at you, there
should be no sign of elbows being out. When the Chesapeake is
moving away from you, there should be no sign of cowhockness from
the rear. As speed increases, the feet tend to converge toward a center
line of gravity.
COAT :
HAIR : Coat should be thick and short, nowhere over 1 1/2 inches (
4 cm) long, with a dense, fine, woolly undercoat. Hair on the face
and legs should be very short and straight with a tendency to wave
on the shoulders, neck, back and loins only. Moderate feathering
on rear of hindquarters and tail is permissible. The texture of the
Chespeake’s coat is very important, as the Chesapeake is used for
hunting under all sorts of adverse weather conditions, often working
in ice and snow. The oil in the harsh outer coat and woolly undercoat
is of extreme value in preventing the cold water from reaching the
Chesapeake’s skin and aids in quick drying. A Chesapeake’s coat
should resist the water in the same way that a duck’s feathers do.
When the Chesapeake leaves the water and shakes, the coat should not
hold water at all, being merely moist.
COLOR :The color of the Chesapeake Bay Retriever must be as
nearly that of its working surroundings as possible. Any color of
brown, sedge or deadgrass is acceptable, self-coloured Chesapeakes
being preferred. One colour is not to be preferred over another. A
white spot on the breast, belly, toes, or back of the feet (immediately
above the large pad) is permissible, but the smaller the spot the
better, solid colored preferred. The colour of the coat and its
texture must be given every consideration when judging on the
bench or in the ring. Honorable scars are not to be penalized.
SIZE AND WEIGHT :
Height : Males should measure 23 to 26 inches; (58-66cm) ;
Females should measure 21 to 24 inches; (53-61cm).
Oversized or undersized animals are to be severely penalized.
Weight : Males should weigh 65 to 80 pounds (29,5-36,5kg); females
should weigh 55 to 70 pounds (25-32kg).