| Chesapeake Bay Retrievers Have A Unique Story | | | | Some of the owners of the new Chesapeake |
| In The History Of Dogs | | | | Bay Retrievers were commercial hunters. At the |
| Chesapeake Bay Retrievers are thought by many | | | | time that Chessies were being developed, |
| to be the ultimate waterfowl dogs. Their | | | | enormous flocks of birds were common. There |
| toughness, intelligence, and huge capacity to work | | | | could be thousands of birds in a flock. Since there |
| long hours in extreme conditions is legendary. | | | | weren't hunting limits placed on the hunters, they |
| When did the breed begin and how was it | | | | would often shoot hundreds of birds a day. All of |
| developed? | | | | the dead and wounded birds had to be pulled |
| The Chessies origins go back to 1807. It was in | | | | from the icy waters where they fell. This was |
| that year that the crew from a British ship was | | | | exhausting work but the Chesapeake proved to |
| rescued as the ship sank in the Chesapeake Bay. | | | | be up to the task. |
| Among the rescued were two Newfoundland | | | | When the giant flocks of ducks and geese began |
| puppies. George Law, who served on the rescue | | | | to disappear, the breeding requirements changed. |
| ship, the Canton, bought the puppies from the | | | | Breeding was no longer solely focused on function. |
| British ships captain. The male was named Sailor | | | | Appearance became a bigger factor. In fact, at |
| and the female called Canton. Because Laws was | | | | one time there seemed to be a split in the breed. |
| returning to sea, he gave the puppies away to | | | | Some breeders were breeding for appearance |
| two different owners. Eventually, both animals | | | | and the show arena. Others didn't seem to really |
| ended up with owners who were heavily involved | | | | care what the dogs looked like. To them, all that |
| in waterfowl hunting. | | | | mattered was how it performed in the field. |
| Chesapeake Bay Retrievers were developed | | | | Fortunately, these two different outlooks have |
| from these two Newfoundlands. Other breeds | | | | merged. The physical appearance and other |
| that contributed to the Chesapeake were English | | | | physical attributes became increasingly |
| Otter Hounds, Flat Coated Retrievers, Curly | | | | standardized over the years. The American |
| Coated Retrievers and the local coonhounds. The | | | | Kennel Club recognized the breed in 1878. |
| breeding was not as tightly controlled and | | | | The reputation of the Chesapeake Bay Retrievers |
| documented as is today. It's unclear if Sailor and | | | | began to spread beyond the Mid-Atlantic States. |
| Canton were ever bred with each other. Even if | | | | Besides both coasts, other areas, including the |
| they weren't, some of their offspring certainly | | | | American West, began producing top quality |
| were. | | | | animals. In 1918 the American Chesapeake Club |
| The primary qualities that were bred for in the | | | | was established. The goal of this organization is to |
| early days were aimed at function, not | | | | promote the breed and to educate people about |
| appearance. The most important of these qualities | | | | the breed. |
| were the ability to work in freezing, often icy, | | | | With a strong 200 year history behind them, |
| water and the ability to retrieve. Besides these | | | | Chesapeake Bay Retrievers are sure of a bright |
| two qualities, the animals had to have a great deal | | | | future. |
| of endurance and the desire to work. | | | | |