Chesapeake Bay Retriever

Good to know

• Built for icy water: bred to retrieve ducks from the cold, rough waters of the Chesapeake Bay, they are powerful, tireless swimmers.
• An oily, waterproof coat: the short, wavy double coat is oily to shed water, so it needs little grooming and should not be bathed too often, which strips those oils.
• More independent than other retrievers: Chessies are loyal and loving but can be strong-willed, so they do best with consistent, patient training from puppyhood.
• Protective streak: many are watchful and reserved with strangers, which makes good socialization early in life important.
• Needs a job: a high-energy working dog, they need daily vigorous exercise, and swimming and retrieving games suit them perfectly.

Getting out with a Chesapeake Bay Retriever

They need daily exercise beyond a stroll: longer trails, games of fetch and time to run at the park.

Explore more breeds in the Sporting group