Chesapeake Bay Retriever at a glance
- Size
- Large
- Height
- 53–66 cm
- Weight
- 25–36.4 kg
- Life expectancy
- from 10 years
Typical for the breed, not a promise about any one dog. Not assessed yet: Time alone, Cats and small pets.
Is the Chesapeake Bay Retriever right for you?
Like every breed, the Chesapeake Bay Retriever is not the right fit for every home. Based on the breed’s typical traits:
May suit you if…
- You enjoy long walks and an active, outdoor life.
- You have, or would like, another dog.
- You would like a coat that is fairly easy to look after.
Consider another breed if…
- You cannot offer well over an hour of exercise every day.
- You live in a flat or a small home.
- You have young children at home.
- This would be your first dog.
How would the Chesapeake Bay Retriever fit your lifestyle?
Choose a few details for a general, non-guaranteed view.
About the Chesapeake Bay Retriever
The Chesapeake Bay Retriever is a large, strong and muscular gundog, a little bigger and longer in the leg than the Labrador. Its dense, oily, water-resistant coat and webbed feet make it an excellent swimmer, and it is typically bright, cheerful and independent.
Key characteristics
General breed tendencies, not a prediction for an individual dog.
- Size
Large
A large dog.
- Exercise
Very high
Usually needs several hours of activity or work a day.
- Energy level
Very lively
Very lively and usually keen to be busy.
- Grooming
Weekly
The coat usually needs brushing about once a week.
- Shedding
High
Tends to shed a lot, so expect hair around the home.
- Trainability
Independent
Can be independent-minded; patient training helps.
- Good with children
Older children
Usually better with older, calmer children.
- Good with other dogs
Usually sociable
Usually sociable with other dogs.
- Good with cats
Not assessed yet
Our sources do not say enough yet.
- Suits first-time owners
Experienced owners
Best with an experienced owner.
- Barking / vocality
Can be vocal
Often quick to bark at visitors or unusual sounds.
- Time alone
Not assessed yet
Our sources do not say enough yet.
The breed is American and takes its name from Chesapeake Bay, a huge area of wetland stretching from Maryland to Virginia. Wildfowl hunters there needed a robust, powerful dog that could find and retrieve shot game from icy water.
Its ancestors are traced back to two Newfoundland puppies rescued from a ship wrecked off the Maryland coast in the early 19th century. They were later mated with local retrieving dogs, combining the Newfoundland's water ability with retrieving skill. The breed shares some common ancestry with the Labrador and is renowned for its strength, stamina and love of work, and its duck-retrieving skills are legendary.
Chesapeake Bay Retriever temperament
Chesapeakes are usually playful, cheerful dogs, but they are hard-working gundogs that really want a job to do and will not be happy lazing around. They are less outgoing than many other retrievers and are often reserved with strangers.
They can be very enthusiastic, even rude, in play if they are not well trained and socialised, so kind, consistent training matters. They tend to be generally friendly with other dogs, and may alert you to visitors with a bark.
Size and appearance
This is a large breed. Adults typically stand 53–66 cm at the shoulder and weigh 25–36.4 kg.
The coat is short, thick and harsh with an oily feel and a dense woolly undercoat, smooth on the face and legs and wavy over the shoulders. Breed standard colours are shades of brown, sedge, deadgrass and ash, which give the coat a camouflage look. Small white spots on the chest and feet may be seen.
How much exercise does a Chesapeake Bay Retriever need?
The Chesapeake needs more than two hours of exercise a day, ideally over varied ground and including swimming and retrieving from water. It will want to go out whatever the weather, so it suits owners who love the countryside and do not mind getting wet and muddy.
Games that involve swimming, scenting out hidden toys and retrieving help keep it fulfilled. A large house, a secure large garden and access to rural walks suit the breed better than a small urban home.
Training a Chesapeake Bay Retriever
Chesapeakes have a very independent mind, and if they think you do not know what you are doing, they will decide for themselves. They love food and retrieving, though, so they are not hard to motivate.
- Be consistent and use positive reinforcement.
- Use food and retrieve games as rewards for tasks they enjoy.
- Work hard on polite behaviour around other dogs and people, especially children.
- Give them an outlet such as gundog work or sports based on water, scent or retrieving.
Chesapeake Bay Retriever grooming
The coat needs little grooming: brushing is usually only necessary when the dog is moulting, to remove dead and loose hair. Washing is not advised, as bathing and too much brushing can damage the waterproof coat. As a result, Chesapeakes can have a fairly strong doggy smell.
Living with a Chesapeake Bay Retriever
The Chesapeake is big, bold and needs a lot of exercise, so it is better suited to homes with older children, teenagers or no children. It can be very enthusiastic in play, so training and socialisation around children are important. Whatever the breed, dogs and young children should never be left alone together, and an adult should supervise every interaction.
Children
Usually better with older, calmer children.
Other dogs
Usually sociable with other dogs.
Flats and smaller homes
Usually needs a roomy home.
Garden
A secure garden is strongly advised.
First-time owners
Best with an experienced owner.
Chesapeake Bay Retriever health
Not yet reviewed by a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice: speak to your vet about your own dog’s health.
Purina describes the Chesapeake as a generally healthy breed, but the Royal Kennel Club recommends several health tests before breeding. Knowing about these conditions helps you ask a breeder the right questions; it does not mean every dog will be affected.
Hip dysplasia
A condition affecting the hip joints. The Royal Kennel Club recommends hip testing under the BVA/RKC Hip Dysplasia Scheme.
Elbow dysplasia
A condition affecting the elbow joints. The Royal Kennel Club recommends elbow testing under the BVA/RKC Elbow Dysplasia Scheme.
Degenerative myelopathy (DM)
A condition that causes progressive paralysis of the hind legs. A DNA test is recommended, and because DM is common in the breed, the Royal Kennel Club advises breeding it out gradually to protect genetic diversity.
Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA)
An inherited disorder in which part of the eye degenerates, which can lead to blindness. A DNA test for prcd-PRA is part of the Royal Kennel Club's best-practice testing.
Hereditary cataracts
The lens of the eye becomes cloudy, which can result in blindness. Eye testing under the BVA/RKC/ISDS Eye Scheme is recommended.
Bloat
The breed is prone to bloating and stomach problems. Purina notes that smaller, more frequent meals can help reduce the risk.
What health checks should you ask about?
Responsible breeders and rescues are happy to talk about health, and any pressure to decide quickly is a reason to walk away. Before taking a Chesapeake Bay Retriever home, it is reasonable to ask about:
- Health testing of the parents. Ask which health tests the parents have had for conditions known in the breed, and to see the results.
- Veterinary and vaccination records. Puppies should have had a first vaccination and a vet check, with records you can take home.
- Microchip information. In England, Scotland and Wales puppies must be microchipped and registered by eight weeks old. Ask who the chip is registered to and how the transfer works.
- Registration paperwork. Registration papers, where they apply, record pedigree. They do not by themselves prove health or how a puppy was raised.
How much does a Chesapeake Bay Retriever cost to own?
There are two costs: bringing a Chesapeake Bay Retriever home, and looking after one well. Puppy prices depend on the breeder, health testing and demand; the adverts below show what sellers are asking today.
Ongoing costs are the ones new owners most often underestimate: food, insurance (which usually rises with age), routine vet care, vaccinations and parasite treatment, dental care, grooming, training, bedding and equipment, and boarding or a sitter for holidays. Budget for the whole of the dog’s life, typically from 10 years, not just the first year.
Buying a Chesapeake Bay Retriever
If you have decided the Chesapeake Bay Retriever suits your life, take the same care choosing where your dog comes from. Meet the puppy in person, see it with its mother, and look at how the litter is raised.
- Check who you are dealing with: every Mypetzilla advert shows the seller type and what we have checked.
- Ask about health testing, vaccinations and the microchip before you commit.
- Take your time. Do not be rushed by deposits or "last one left" stories.
- Meet in person before paying anything, and keep conversations on Mypetzilla.
Adopting a Chesapeake Bay Retriever
Chesapeake Bay Retrievers do come up for adoption, through rescue organisations, breed rescues and private rehoming, often because an owner’s circumstances have changed rather than any fault of the dog. An adult dog arrives as a known quantity: its size, coat and character are already on show.
Rescues will usually talk you through the dog’s history, any medical care, and the home it needs, including children, other animals and time alone. Be honest about your circumstances: a good rescue would rather place a dog once, well.
Chesapeake Bay Retrievers looking for homes
Live from Mypetzilla, updated as pets are listed.
There are no Chesapeake Bay Retriever adverts at the moment.
Find Chesapeake Bay Retriever adverts for sale and for adoption on Mypetzilla now.
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Chesapeake Bay Retriever FAQs
Is the Chesapeake Bay Retriever good with children?
Usually better with older, calmer children. Individual dogs vary with breeding, upbringing and health, so ask about the dog you are considering.
Can the Chesapeake Bay Retriever live in a flat?
Usually needs a roomy home. Exercise and company matter more than floor space.
How much exercise does the Chesapeake Bay Retriever need?
Very high: usually needs several hours of activity or work each day. Puppies and older dogs need less structured exercise.
Does the Chesapeake Bay Retriever shed?
Tends to shed a lot.
How much grooming does the Chesapeake Bay Retriever need?
Typically: about once a week.
Is the Chesapeake Bay Retriever easy to train?
Can be independent-minded; patient training helps. Kind, reward-based training works best.
Does the Chesapeake Bay Retriever bark a lot?
Can be vocal. Individual dogs vary with breeding, upbringing and health, so ask about the dog you are considering.
How long does the Chesapeake Bay Retriever live?
Typically from 10 years. Lifespan varies with genetics, weight, care and luck.
How big does the Chesapeake Bay Retriever get?
Adults typically stand 53–66 cm at the shoulder and weigh 25–36.4 kg.