Chesapeake Bay Retriever
American Duck Retriever, Brown Winchester, Red Chester
The Chesapeake Bay Retriever is a gundog that brings back shot birds from both land and water to their waiting hunter. It excels at working in icy waters at freezing temperatures. Although many gundogs can retrieve, the category of retrievers are more specialized at the task of finding drowned waterfowl.
Chesapeake Bay Retriever Standards
- AKC (Sporting)
- FCI (Group 7)
- KC (Gundog)
- UKC (Gun Dog)
- 21-26"
- 55-80 lbs
- large retriever
- small ears hang loosely
- medium length tail
- short, thick, oily double-coat
- brown
- deadgrass
- sedge
History of the Chesapeake Bay Retriever
The Chesapeake Bay Retriever can trace its history to a shipwreck off the coast of Maryland in 1807 that involved an English trading ship. When the crew and cargo were rescued two Newfoundland puppies that had been on board made their way to the mainland. These pups were given to two hunters, Dr. James Stuart and John Mercer and were subsequently crossed with unknown local retrievers. These pups grew into exceptional gundogs, with the added bonus of the aquatic abilities of Newfoundlands. By the mid-1800s the breed was distinguishable from other retrievers and prized for their working abilities in the ice packed waters of the bay.
Related Breeds: