Chesapeake Bay Retriever
Temperament:
The Chesapeake Bay Retriever is a handsome hunting dog breed for ambitious dog owners. It belongs to the largest retriever breeds with a shoulder height of up to 66 cm. It is especially popular in the USA. In 1964, the state of Maryland made him the first dog ever to become a state dog. Affectionately abbreviated, the dog lover also knows him as "Chesapeake" or "Chessie".
Characteristics
The Chessie was as Retriever dog intended for hunting ducks and geese. Its Territory are the marshes and waters in the cold north of America. In addition, he should defend the house and yard and protect the family. His character is therefore described as courageous and persevering described.
Weighing up to 36 kg, it is one of the strong, muscular dogs. The coat colors of the retriever were bred for camouflage in the undergrowth. They therefore range from dark brown to straw-colored. There are also light red tones (sedge) and grayish brown (tan). It is one of the solid colored dogs, although small shades of color do occur.
Its wavy, short coat is striking. From the nape of the neck to the tail stretches this particular coat structure. It is not longer than two and a half centimeters. On the belly and legs, the coat is smooth. The Chesapeake defies snow and sleet with its dense, oily undercoat. It protects the skin from the wet and makes it weather hardy. It is able to wade through icy water for hours.
The Chesapeake Bay Retriever is eager to learn and has a quick thinking. His will to work is legendary. For this reason it is not suitable for a pure family dog. He wants to be challenged physically and mentally.
The right attitude and education are necessary. Then he is still the ideal, good-natured playmate for children. He is loyal to the family and forms a close relationship with his pack leader. Strangers he meets reserved.
Without interesting tasks, the chessie develops overprotective reactions. He reacts with excessive vigilance. He also quickly becomes dominant.
Are you considering keeping a Chesapeake? Then you have to consider that he needs a consistent education. He is by nature independent and idiosyncratic. That is why the question of ranking must be clearly clarified. In addition, he needs for his endurance and his hunting and guarding instinct a balance.
You can of course set it to Hunting take along. Also as Rescue Dog it can be used. If neither of these is an option for you, then perhaps Agility exercises the right thing. You also challenge the Chesapeake with retrieving dummies. Long walks are also a good idea.
As is the case with many large dogs, the Chesapeake Bay Retriever is prone to joint problems. Hip joint dysplasia and Elbow joint dysplasia are among them. Both diseases are influenced by hereditary factors and by diet.
Coat care:
Shedding:
Energy level:
Trainability:
Children suitable:
The right food
In puppy age, you make sure that the food fits the development. High-energy diet leads to growth problems. The skeleton and the joints suffer from too fast growth. With high-quality food you are right. It must be adapted to the age and activities of the puppy.
With puppies it is especially important to pay attention to the optimal supply of vitamins and minerals. Many proteins give the lively little guy the necessary energy. So he grows up healthy and balanced.
Even with full-grown Chesapeake Bay Retrievers, you're pulling Age, size and movement into consideration. That decides the amount of feed. This dog breed has a higher energy requirement than a common family dog. The Chessie is persistent and active. He doesn't tend to get overweight as quickly when he's on the road a lot. However, small rewards with treats are expressly permitted. You can add the energy content to the main meals.
The Chesapeake needs good, high quality feed. It provides his body with everything it needs. This is in view of the Susceptibility to joint disease essential. For bones and skeleton it is also necessary to rely on the Calcium-phosphorus ratio in the feed. Calcium is found in bones and dairy products. More phosphorus is found in meat and offal.
Valuable food positively affects the condition of your Chesapeake Bay Retriever. His coat will shine and he will have a firm stool. You will notice that he is active and feels good all around.
Chesapeake Bay Retriever Care
The coat of the Chesapeake Bay Retriever repels water very well due to the oily undercoat. This also keeps dirt from sticking to it. You can wash with a dog shampoo if necessary. To do this, choose a mild shampoo to preserve the greasy wool. However, this will not be necessary often.
The Chessie does not need a groomer. His coat you should regularly maintain with a brush. With it you remove loose hair. The oily undercoat is thereby aired.
Eyes and ears are sensitive areas. They must be cleaned at regular intervals. Also make sure that no infections develop. It's best to check the condition of the eyes and ears when you brush the coat. This way it becomes a ritual and you both get used to it.
After a walk should be the Paws be cleaned. In doing so, you can recognize any injuries and take care of them.
Grow the claws too long, you can hear them clacking on the floor. This can cause problems with your paws. If you have practice at it, you can trim them yourself. Otherwise, you should rather leave it to a specialist, so that you don't hurt the nerve endings accidentally. In any case, it ensures painless for short claws.
Healthy teeth are also important for dogs. Does he have bad breath? This is an indication that your Chesapeake has poor oral hygiene. Gum inflammation is also a possibility. With special Chewables and Dog toothbrushes you can take care of his teeth and prevent tartar and co.
The Chesapeake Bay Retriever needs, you see, little body care. That makes up for the time you put into his employment.
Suitable accessories
What dog items are part of the basic equipment for the Chesapeake Bay Retriever? Typical are collar respectively tableware and leash. A Dog bed, in which he is comfortable, is also useful. In addition still belong food and drinking bowl on the first shopping list. Each dog needs different toy. Since the Chesapeake is a large dog, he is in the car in a Transport box in good hands.
For the coat care you need a brush. It's best to choose one that penetrates to the undercoat. One Pluck brush is well suited. It removes the dead hair and removes dirt.
To get a lot of pleasure from your Chessie, you need working tools. They must be appropriate for his intelligence and efficiency. Dummies for hunting dogs are for the Retrieval training made. They are used for different training purposes. For example, there are Water dummies for retrieving in waters. One Training diary helps you to keep track of the work with your Chessie.
Agility exercises is more your thing? You can get elements from the course for daily practice at home. With different sets, you'll build your own course that you'll both enjoy. The Chesapeake Bay Retriever is an incredibly fast learner and ambitious. No challenge is too hard for him.
Origin & History
The first time a Chessie was registered was in 1978 at the American Kennel Club. The breed standard was established in 1885. But where does the hunting dog come from?
In 1807, the story goes, a ship ran aground in the Chesapeake Bay. On board were two puppies, both Newfoundlanders. Legend has it that they were rescued at the last minute. The two became native to the Bay and were trained as hunting dogs. Their job was to retrieve ducks.
Although these two Newfoundlands were never crossed with each other, they are said to be the ancestors of today's Chesapeake Bay Retrievers. Over time, the pedigree included several breeds. From these, around the Bay, the Retriever of today evolved. Its characteristics became more and more adapted to the harsh conditions of the weather.
The ancestors are thought to include Flat-Coated Retrievers, Curly-Coated Retrievers and Irish Water Spaniels. In addition, various setters and coonhounds were probably involved.
