Approved by the AKC November 9, 1993, proposed by the American Chesapeake Club

General Appearance

Equally proficient on land and in the water, the Chesapeake Bay Retriever was developed along the Chesapeake Bay to hunt waterfowl under the most adverse weather and water conditions, often having to break ice during the course of many strenuous multiple retrieves. Frequently the Chesapeake must face wind, tide and long cold swims in its work. The breed's characteristics are specifically suited to enable the Chesapeake to function with ease, efficiency and endurance. In head, the Chesapeake's skull is broad and round with a medium stop. The jaws should be of sufficient length and strength to carry large game birds with an easy, tender hold. The double coat consists of a short, harsh, wavy outer coat and a dense, fine, wooly undercoat containing an abundance of natural oil and is ideally suited for the icy rugged conditions of weather the Chesapeake often works in. In body, the Chesapeake is a strong, well balanced, powerfully built animal of moderate size and medium length in body and leg, deep and wide in chest, the shoulders built with full liberty of movement, and with no tendency to weakness in any feature, particularly the rear. The power though, should not be at the expense of agility and stamina. Size and substance should not be excessive as this is a working retriever of an active nature.

Distinctive features include eyes that are very clear, of yellowish or amber hue, hindquarters as high or a trifle higher than the shoulders, and a double coat which tends to wave on shoulders, neck, back and loins only. The Chesapeake is valued for its bright and happy disposition, intelligence, quiet good sense, and affectionate protective nature. Extreme shyness or extreme aggressive tendencies are not desirable in the breed as a gun dog or companion.

Disqualifications

Specimens that are lacking in breed characteristics should be disqualified

Height

Males, 23 inches to 26 inches; females, 21 inches to 24 inches. Oversized or undersized dogs are to be severely penalized.

Proportion

Height fron the top of the shoulder blades to the ground should be slightly less than the body length from the breastbone to the point of buttocks.

Weight

Males, 65 to 80 pounds; females 55 to 70 pounds

Head

The Chesapeake Bay Retriever should have an intelligent expression. Eyes are to be medium large, very clear, of yellowish or amber color and wide apart. Ears are to be small, set well up on the head, hanging loosely and of medium leather. Skull is broad and round with a medium stop. Nose is medium short. Muzzle is approximately the same length as the skull, tapered, pointed but not sharp. Lips are thin, not pendulous.

Bite

Scissors is preferred, but a level bite is acceptable.

Neck, Topline, Body

Neck should be of medium length with a strong muscular appearance, tapering to the shoulders. Topline should show the hindquarters to be as high as or a trifle higher than the shoulders. Back should be short, well coupled and powerful. Chest should be strong, deep and wide, rib cage barrel round and deep. Body is of medium length, neither cobby or roached, but rather approaching hollowness from underneath as the flanks should be well tucked up. Tail of medium length; medium heavy at the base. The tail should be straight or slightly curved and should not curl over back or side kink.

Forequarters

There should be no tendency to weakness in the forequarters. Shoulders should be sloping with full liberty of action, plenty of power and without any restrictions of movement. Legs should be medium length and straight, showing good bone and muscle, pasterns slightly bent and of medium length. The front legs should look straight when viewed from front or rear. Dewclaws on the front legs may be removed. Well-webbed hare feet should be of a good size with toes well rounded and close.

Hindquarters

Good hindquarters are essential. They should show fully as much power as the forequarters. There should be no tendency to weakness in hindquarters. Hindquarters should be especially powerful to supply the driving power for swimming. Legs should be medium length and straight, showing good bone and muscle. Stifles should be well angulated. The distance from hock to ground should be of medium length. The hind legs should look straight when viewed from front or rear. Dewclaws, if any, must be removed from the hind legs

Coat

Coat should be thick and short, nowhere over 1 1/2 inches long, with a dense fine wooly undercoat. Hair on face and legs should be very short and straight with tendency to wave on the shoulders, neck, back and loins only. Moderate feathering on rear of hindquarters and tail is permissible.

The texture of the Chesapeake's coat is very important, as the Chesapeake is used for hunting under all sorts of adverse weather conditions, often working in ice and snow. The oil in the harsh outer coat and wooly undercoat is of extreme value in preventing the cold water from reaching the Chesapeake's skin and aids in quick drying. A Chesapeake's coat should resist the water in the same way that a duck's feathers do. When he leaves the water and shakes himself, his coat should not hold the water at all, merely being moist.

Color

The color of the Chesapeake Bay Retriever must be as nearly that of its working surroundings as possible. Any color of brown, sedge or deadgrass is acceptable, self-colored Chesapeakes are preferred. One color is not to be preferred over another. A white spot on breast, belly, toes or back of the feet (immediately above the large pad) is permissible, but the smaller the spot, the better, solid-colored preferred. The color of the coat and its texture must be given every consideration when judging on the bench or in the ring. Honorable scars are not to be penalized.

Definitions for AKC terms

Self-colored - One color with or without lighter and darker shadings of the same color.

Note: "You will see dogs with varying degrees of other markings such as: masking on topskull, striping effect of light & dark through the body and on legs, distinct & indistinct saddle markings, agouti coloring and tan points. All are acceptable, they are just not preferred". They are not the self-colored pattern. This and more on coat color is explained in an article on the American Chesapeake Club web site. Color in the Chesapeake Bay Retriever

Solid-colored - No white anywhere.

Gait

The gait should be smooth, free and effortless, giving the impression of great power and strength. When viewed from the side, there should be good reach with no restrictions of movement in the front and plenty of drive in the rear, with good flexion of the stifle and hock joints. Coming at you, there should be no sign of the elbows being out. When the Chesapeake is moving away from you, there should be no sign of cowhockedness from the rear. As speed increases, the feet tend to converge toward a center line of gravity.

Temperament

The Chesapeake Bay Retriever should show a bright and happy disposition with an intelligent expression. Courage, willingness to work, alertness, nose, intelligence, love of water, general quality and, most of all, disposition should be a primary consideration in the selection and breeding of the Chesapeake Bay Retriever.

Disqualifications

Specimens lacking in breed characteristics.

Teeth overshot or undershot

Dewclaws on the hind legs.

Coat curly or with a tendency to curl all over the body.

Feathering on the tail or legs over 1-3/4 inches long.

Black colored.

White on any part of the body except breast, belly, toes, or back of feet.

Positive Scale of Points

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