A Chesapeake Bay Retriever’s three most favourite things in life are swimming, training and hanging out with their family. Devote lots of time to training and exercising your dog and you’ll have a wonderful family pet.
Their ability to swim and hunt in the water is second to none. If you love the great outdoors and a perfect weekend for you is exploring new running tracks, heading to the beach and going for a hike, a Chesapeake Bay Retriever is an ideal dog to accompany you. They have a huge amount of energy and require copious amounts of exercise. A morning run and an afternoon walk down to the beach for game of fetch makes this one happy dog. They are not ideal pets for couch potatoes or novice dog owners – don’t provide enough exercise and you can expect an unruly, badly behaved dog that does what they please. Highly intelligent, they also tend to be stubborn and like to think for themselves so consistent training from a young age is key. Give them a job to do and they’ll thrive.
Fun fact: The Chesapeake Bay Retriever was bred in 1807 when
two Newfoundlands survived a shipwreck. They were cross bred
with local dogs to produce the Chesapeake Bay Retriever,
which garnered the reputation as a tough, hardy dog that loves
swimming, even in icy waters.
Have children, other dogs and a cat? Don’t worry, your Chesapeake Bay Retriever is super friendly and known to get along brilliantly with children and other pets as they enjoy the company. Be sure to socialise them from a young age though. They have a low tendency to bark but are protective and loyal of their family. They tend to be reserved with strangers and will defend their family if the need arises, but Chesapeake Bay Retrievers are not aggressive. They are aloof with strangers and not super friendly like a Labrador retriever. The love chewing so establish good habits early on. Chesapeake Bay Retrievers shed little. They are also low maintenance and only require a good brush once a week to remove loose hairs.
Scheduled six-monthly health checks and visits to the vet are important to ensure your dog is healthy and happy throughout all life stages. It’s important that together with your vet a preventative healthcare program is determined and maintained based on the individual needs of your canine companion. Strong and hardy, there are few hereditary diseases that affect this breed. Bone developmental issues such as elbow and hip dysplasia and some eye disease can occur. A Chesapeake Bay Retriever can life to 12 years.
Size
They are a medium-sized breed weighing 25-36kgs with an average height of 53-66cms.
Space
A large dwelling with a yard is ideal for this breed. They are highly energetic and benefit from being able to run around.
Energy Levels
They have high energy levels. A daily run, swim and lots of games will keep this dog happy.
Difficulty Of Training
They are intelligent dogs and can learn quickly, but can have an independent streak. They need to be trained properly otherwise they will become bored and destructive.
Family suitability
Great family pets and loyal companions.
Suitability to other pets
If socialised from a young age, your dog will befriend other pets.
Need for company
They have a moderate to high need for company and enjoy being by their human’s side at all times.
Hypoallergenic dog breed?
Yes
Coat and grooming needs
This breed requires low maintenance. Brush weekly. Don’t over-brush or bathe as it can destroy their waterproof coat.
Shedding
They shed little.
Tendency to bark
They have a low tendency to bark so don’t expect much noise.