Chesapeake Bay Retriever
切薩皮克灣尋回犬
Updated 2026-09-09
At a glance
The Chesapeake Bay Retriever is America's own duck dog — a powerful, wavy-coated retriever developed on Maryland's Chesapeake Bay to work icy, rough water all day. Chessies are bright, affectionate and tireless with their own people but more reserved and protective than the other retrievers, with a mind of their own; they need a job, a lot of exercise and early obedience training, and they love to swim.
Facts
| Size | Large |
|---|---|
| Height | 53–66cm |
| Weight | 25–36kg |
| Life expectancy | 10–13years |
| Breed group | AKC: sporting FCI: 8 |
| Role | Sporting |
| Coat | Double coat |
| Shedding | 3/ 5 |
| Exercise | 60–150min/day |
| Can be left alone | up to 4 hours |
| Companionship need | 4/ 5 |
| Trainability | 5/ 5 |
| Barking | 3/ 5 |
| Good with children | 3/ 5 |
| Good with other dogs | 3/ 5 |
| Heat tolerance | 3/ 5 |
| Cold tolerance | 3/ 5 |
Health
This page is general information compiled from published sources. It is not veterinary, legal or purchase advice. Dogs vary within a breed — talk to a vet or a reputable breeder about the dog in front of you.
Health notes are not veterinary advice. Conditions listed are those reported for the breed, not a diagnosis of any dog. Always consult a veterinarian.
Hip dysplasia
Commonly reported in the breed; breeders screen hips by X-ray. Ask your vet about hip screening and about keeping your dog lean and fit.
Elbow dysplasia
Commonly reported in the breed; breeders screen elbows by X-ray. Ask your vet if you notice front-leg lameness, especially in a growing dog.
Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA)
An inherited eye condition reported in the breed; DNA tests and eye examinations are available. Ask your vet or breeder about eye screening.
Inherited eye conditions
Various inherited eye conditions are reported in the breed; annual eye examinations by a veterinary ophthalmologist are recommended for breeding stock. Ask your vet about eye screening.
Degenerative myelopathy
Degenerative myelopathy, a progressive spinal cord condition of older dogs, is reported in the breed; a DNA test identifies risk. Ask your vet if an older dog shows hind-leg weakness.
Neuroaxonal dystrophy / neurological DNA-tested conditions
Inherited neurological conditions are reported in the breed and DNA tests exist for some. Ask your breeder which tests were done.
Behaviour
Loyal and protective — not a Labrador
The CKC says the Chessie should show courage, alertness, willingness to work and a happy disposition, and is noted for its fondness for children — several have been honoured for saving toddlers from drowning; the AKC calls it more emotionally complex than the usual gundog, taking to training but with a mind of its own, protective of its people and polite but not overtly friendly to strangers, making an excellent watchdog.
A water dog that needs a job
The AKC says this intelligent, high-energy breed really needs a job and plenty of exercise — hiking, running, hunting and swimming are what it loves — and that obedience training is a must; the CKC says it is deeply endowed with a love of water, has great stamina and agility and does best in country or seaside settings with lots of outdoor exercise. The Royal Kennel Club puts the need at more than 2 hours a day.
Energy and exercise
Energy level is rated 4/5 (high) on the AKC breed-trait chart. The Royal Kennel Club puts its exercise need at "more than 2 hours per day".
Training and barking
AKC trait chart: trainability 5/5, barking level 3/5. Individual dogs vary; early socialisation and reward-based training are recommended for every breed.
Official guidance
Summaries of official documents are ours; the source is linked. Breed standards, laws and licensing rules change — check the issuing body for the current version.
American Kennel Club — Chesapeake Bay Retriever
Breed overview, breed-trait chart, history, official standard summary and health notes from the AKC and the national parent club.
Read the sourceAccessed 2026-09-09
Canadian Kennel Club — Retriever Chesapeake Bay (Sporting Dogs)
Origin, temperament, activity level, height/weight, coat and grooming as described by the Canadian Kennel Club.
Read the sourceAccessed 2026-09-09
The Royal Kennel Club — Retriever Chesapeake Bay
Breed characteristics (size large, exercise more than 2 hours per day, lifespan over 10 years), plus the recommended pre-breeding health schemes and DNA tests.
Read the sourceAccessed 2026-09-09
FCI nomenclature — Chesapeake Bay Retriever (standard no. 263, group 8)
FCI breed nomenclature entry with the official breed standard PDF in English, French, German and Spanish.
Read the sourceAccessed 2026-09-09
What owners say
Owner advice is quoted from public community posts and reflects those owners' opinions, not PocketPaw's position. It is unverified and not a substitute for professional advice. Each item links to where it was said.
“The parent club's health page says its board strongly advises that all breeding stock be free of hip and elbow dysplasia, PRA and other hereditary eye disease, exercise-induced collapse (EIC) and degenerative myelopathy (DM) — tested normal or otherwise — and also flags chondrodysplasia, chondrodystrophy/IVDD and ectodermal dysplasia–skin fragility syndrome; owners are invited to join the breed health survey and, near participating universities, DM treatment trials.”
— American Chesapeake Club — Health via breed clubWorldwide2026-09-09
Sources
- [1]Chesapeake Bay Retriever — Dog Breed Information — American Kennel Club (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [2]Retriever Chesapeake Bay — Choosing a Breed — Canadian Kennel Club (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [3]Retriever Chesapeake Bay — Breeds A to Z — The Royal Kennel Club (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [4]Chesapeake Bay Retriever — FCI standard no. 263 — Fédération Cynologique Internationale (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [5]How do I help my dog adjust to spending time alone? — The Royal Kennel Club (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [6]Incidence and risk factors for heat-related illness (heatstroke) in UK dogs under primary veterinary care in 2016 (Hall, Carter & O'Neill, Scientific Reports 10:9128) — Nature / Scientific Reports (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [7]Health — American Chesapeake Club — American Chesapeake Club (public health pages) (Accessed 2026-09-09)
Still have questions?
Ask owners on the PawMunity forum — every breed has its own board.
Breed data compiled by PocketPaw from the sources credited on each entry. Text and layout © 2026 NextPath Solutions Limited. Please link to a page rather than copying it.