Chesapeake Bay Retriever
Description:
The Chesapeake Bay retriever is a dog that is distinguished by the color of its dry hay looking coat and it comes in tones that oscillate from dark brown to dull hay. Its head should be wide and round with a medium stop; its ears are small and highly inserted and its eyes should be medium sized and should have a yellowish or amber color to them and they should portray an intelligent look. The body of this dog is medium sized length and its sides should be well retracted. Its back is short and its chest deep and wide. The front part of its body should look strong and powerful and its hindquarters should be slightly taller than the shoulders, which are inclined and not limited so as to allow it free and easy movement. The feet of these dogs have membranes and are like those of a hare. The hind spurs should be removed. The tail should reach the ankles and should be straight or slightly curved, and should not have too much long hair on them. This dog's outer coat is thick and short and should not be more than four centimeters in any part of its body; the undercoat is thick and wooly. A Chesapeake retriever male weighs around thirty-two to forty kilograms and females between twenty-seven and thirty five kilograms. The height of a male is around fifty-eight to sixty six centimeters and the female between fifty three to sixty centimeters.
Ideal owner:
The Chesapeake Bay terrier is a very athletic and robust dog that enjoys the company of other dogs and people. It tends to play rougher than other retrievers but it's just a good a worker as the rest. Although this dog highly enjoys being with its family, it cannot be inside the house all day. It needs its time outside of the house to be happy and vigorous. The Chesapeake Bay terrier is more territorial than one would think which makes it an excellent guard dog. Obedience training can be done in a big field and can begin at a young age.
Growth:
A newborn Chesapeake retriever's weight is around 280 to 500 grams. The hind spurs should be removed and the front ones are optional. Puppies can vary in size depending on their line of blood. An eight week old puppy can weigh anywhere between four and a half to seven and a half kilograms. This breed matures slowly and it reaches its maximum height around nine to twelve months, however it does not reach full maturity until two and a half to three years of age. Puppies are dark and they become lighter as they grow into adulthood and this can be seen during shedding season. The puppies are born with wavy hair but this disappears and then comes back again with age. At adolescence this dog might appear to be a little uneven as far as its body is concerned, but it evens out. This dog usually eats well depending on its needs during growth. Males might try to show their authority during adolescence so it will be necessary to train them from a young age – it's very important this gets done. The Chesapeake retriever is protective by nature but it does not usually show this characteristic until around the age of eighteen months.
General health:
Although there isn't much veterinary data about it, it is know that this dog can get progressive retina atrophy. Ectropion has also been seen in younger dogs. Hip and elbow dysphasia can also be a worry since it affects many breeds of similar sizes. Otitis is also common in dogs with longer ears. Veterinarians have also reported cases of Von Willebrand disease and cataracts. Since the Chesapeake terrier is known for its athletic qualities and its strong body, it is very resistant to diseases and it can have a long life span ranging from twelve years or more. If you are interested in acquiring one of these dogs make sure its tail is not curled over its back and watch for umbilical hernias. This dog's coat is quite resistant and requires of little care, however it is necessary to brush it regularly to avoid that good old dog smell. This is a breed that requires of a lot of exercise and training.
