The Dog Centre - for professional dog trainers in the UK

Retriever (Chesapeake Bay)

General Appearance

Well proportioned, active worker with a distinctive coat and intelligent expression. Strong muscular appearance.

  Below Average Above Key
Likelihood to wander   Medium    
Protectiveness   Medium    
Destructiveness   Medium    
Quietness     High  
Good with children     High  
Affinity to other dogs     High  
Size     High  
Lifespan   Medium   Below: < 10 years
Average: > 10 years
Above: > 15 years
Location     High Below: Town only
Average: Town and Country
Above: Country only

Characteristics

Independent, affectionate, and courageous, with a great love of water. Makes a good guardian and companion, especially with children.

Temperament

Bright and happy disposition, alert and intelligent and showing a willingness to work.

Head and Skull

Broad and round with medium stop. Medium-short muzzle, pointed but not sharp. Lips thin, not pendulous. Nostrils well developed. Nose and lips of colour to harmonise with coat.

Eyes

Medium size, very clear, of yellow or amber colour and set wide apart.

Ears

Small, well set up on head, hanging loosely and of medium leather.

Mouth

Jaws strong with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to the jaws. Level bite tolerated.

Neck

Of medium length with a strong muscular appearance tapering from head to shoulders

Forequarters

Forelegs straight, with good bone of equal length to depth of body and showing good muscle. Shoulders well laid back, long in blade with upper arm of equal length placing legs well under body with no restriction of movement. Strong. Pasterns slightly bent. Dewclaws may be removed.

Body

Chest strong, deep and broad, with well sprung ribs. Body of medium length, short but not cobby. Flanks well tucked-up. Back well coupled and powerful. Topline not roached, but rather approaching hollowness.

Hindquarters

Should be as high or a trifle higher than shoulders. Powerful to supply power for swimming. Stifles well angulated. Good hindquarters are an essential requirement for this breed. Hocks of medium length. Dewclaws, if any, must be removed from the hindlegs.

Feet

Of good size, hare feet well webbed. Toes well rounded and close.

Tail

Should extend to hock. Medium heavy at base and strong. Should be straight or slightly curved. Moderate feathering is permissible.

Gait

Powerful with no restriction of movement. Correct conformation will lend to single track movement.

Coat

Coat and texture. A distinctive feature. Coat should be thick and reasonably short, not over 4 cms (11/2 ins) long, with harsh oily outer coat and dense, fine woolly undercoat covering whole body; hairs having tendency to wave on neck, shoulders, back and loins. Hair on face and legs only should be very short and straight. Moderate feathering on stern and tail permissible. Curly coat not permissible. Texture of coat very important as dog is used for working under all sorts of adverse weather conditions, often working in ice and snow. Oil in harsh coat and woolly undercoat of extreme value. The coat should resist water.

Colour

Dead grass (straw to bracken), sedge (red gold), or any shade of brown. White spots on chest, toes and belly permissible. The smaller the spot the better. Self-coloured dogs preferred. Colour of coat and its texture must be given every consideration when judging.

Size

Height: dogs: 58-66 cms (23-26 ins); bitches: 53-61 cms (21-24 ins). Oversized or undersized dogs highly undesirable.

Excercise Requirements

Considerable

Grooming Needs

Moderate

Notes

Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.




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