![Maggie Diving](images/maggiedive.jpg) |
Chesapeake Bay
Retriever
"The Maryland State Dog" |
![Maggie Splashing](images/maggiesplash.jpg) |
A working dog bred to recover waterfowl for hunters, the Chesapeake
Bay Retriever is one of only a few breeds actually developed in the
United States. Nonetheless, the history of this dog is unclear.
Legend tells of an English vessel shipwrecked off the coast of
Maryland in the early nineteenth century. Among the survivors were
two young dogs of a Newfoundland breed. Supposedly bred to local
coonhounds, they evolved into the present-day Chesapeake Bay
Retriever.
The American Kennel Club registered its first Chesapeake Bay
Retriever in 1878. By then, a definite type had evolved with
characteristics suited to the often rigorous duck hunting conditions
around Chesapeake Bay. Dogs of the breed are intelligent with
powerful bodies of moderate size and strong jaws. Their double
coats, with a coarse, wavy outer coat and a fine woolly undercoat
containing lots of natural oils, protect them from icy waters.
Chesapeake Bay Retrievers may be brown, sedge, or deadgrass, colors
which blend with their hunting environment.
Retrievers are characterized by their versatility, strength,
endurance, and loyal devotion. These dogs excel in field and obedience
trials. As service dogs, Chesapeake Bay Retrievers are found working
with drug enforcement agencies, and visiting hospitals and nursing
homes. Some are trained for search and rescue work, even as avalanche or
sled dogs.
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