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History
To understand the rise and development of the Chesapeake Bay
Retriever it is essential to understand something about the region from
which it comes. The Chesapeake Bay is on the East Coast of the
United States, running north up toward Baltimore. This is a land of
harsh winters, icy water, and huge numbers of migratory birds. James
Michener describes the duck hunting in this region in his novel,
Chesapeake. There were literally so many birds that they could be shot
out of the sky en masse, resulting in 10 to 20 ducks for their dogs to
then go out and retrieve at a time. The guns used were more properly
boat-mounted cannons. These hunters needed dogs that were capable of
going out and retrieving all of these ducks, in particular going after
cripples first and then back to pick up the dead ones.
There are many stories and legends about the origin of the Chesapeake
Bay Retriever. The favored story involves the 1807 shipwreck of an
English ship bound for Poole, England. The crew and two puppies
survived the wreck: a brown male named Sailor and a black bitch
dubbed Canton in honor of the rescuing ship. These two puppies were
St. John's water dogs, no doubt bound for Lord Malmesbury's estates,
which at this time was developing the prototype for the Labrador
Retriever breed. These puppies found homes in the Chesapeake Bay
area, on the opposite shores, and were trained and used for duck
retrieving. The dogs that descended from these two ultimately became
collectively known as Chesapeake Bay Retrievers.
Whether or not Canton and Sailor contributed as much to the breed
as they are credited with, or even whether they were bred to one
another at all, it's clear that the Chesapeake, or Chessie as it is often
called, developed in this area from avid hunters who cared about two
things: a fanatical retriever, and a brown coat to blend in with its
surroundings. Thus, many dogs would have been used for breeding
stock as long as they were good hunters and retrievers and had brown
coats. Other St. John's dogs from Newfoundland and retrieving dogs,
including the Labrador upon its return to the Americas, were no doubt
used in the quest for the ultimate duck retriever.
While it's temptingly romantic to paint a picture of a breed coming
about by natural selection in this rugged climate, in all likelihood,
Chesapeakes were bred quite carefully by the families along the Bay for
the qualities they desired. There is anecdotal evidence of breeding
records and pedigrees tracing back to at least the beginning of the 19th
century. In particular, the Carroll Island Gun Club was devoted to
Chesapeakes in the latter half of the eighteenth century and reportedly
kept breeding records going back for decades. The club's members bred
Chesapeakes and hunted over them; sportsmen came from all over the
country to witness their prowess. Unfortunately, in a contribution to
the puzzle of this breed's origins, the club's records were lost in a fire
near the turn of the century. Some of the other breeds believed to have
played a part in the Chesapeake's development include coonhounds,
Curly Coated Retrievers, Irish Water Spaniels, and setters.
Careful breeding over the years has created an outstanding retriever
with incredible enthusiasm and endurance. The Chesapeake Bay
Retriever has been known to retrieve 200 ducks in a single day in
frigid waters. This lively, enthusiastic hunter will come out of a river
or marsh with only a few drops of water remaining on its coat, and
these are quickly eliminated with a shake.
The Chesapeake Bay Retriever was the first individual retriever breed
recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1878. The first recorded
Champion in this breed is CH Barnum (born 1892); the first Field
Champion is FC Skipper Bob (mid 30's), with the first dual Champion,
Dual CH Sodaks Gypsy Prince (1937) following shortly after. The
American Chesapeake Club became the official national breed club in
1918. In contrast, the rest of the retrievers were lumped together until
the late 1920's when the AKC finally separated them into the ones we
know today.
The breed does well in obedience and tracking as well as in retrieving,
hunting tests and field trials. They also make a fine family companion.
Some of the Chesapeake Bay Retriever's talents include: tracking,
hunting, retrieving, guarding, watchdogging, schutzhund, field spots
and competitive obedience.
*******************************************************************
To understand the rise and development of the Chesapeake Bay
Retriever it is essential to understand something about the region from
which it comes. The Chesapeake Bay is on the East Coast of the
United States, running north up toward Baltimore. This is a land of
harsh winters, icy water, and huge numbers of migratory birds. James
Michener describes the duck hunting in this region in his novel,
Chesapeake. There were literally so many birds that they could be shot
out of the sky en masse, resulting in 10 to 20 ducks for their dogs to
then go out and retrieve at a time. The guns used were more properly
boat-mounted cannons. These hunters needed dogs that were capable of
going out and retrieving all of these ducks, in particular going after
cripples first and then back to pick up the dead ones.
There are many stories and legends about the origin of the Chesapeake
Bay Retriever. The favored story involves the 1807 shipwreck of an
English ship bound for Poole, England. The crew and two puppies
survived the wreck: a brown male named Sailor and a black bitch
dubbed Canton in honor of the rescuing ship. These two puppies were
St. John's water dogs, no doubt bound for Lord Malmesbury's estates,
which at this time was developing the prototype for the Labrador
Retriever breed. These puppies found homes in the Chesapeake Bay
area, on the opposite shores, and were trained and used for duck
retrieving. The dogs that descended from these two ultimately became
collectively known as Chesapeake Bay Retrievers.
Whether or not Canton and Sailor contributed as much to the breed
as they are credited with, or even whether they were bred to one
another at all, it's clear that the Chesapeake, or Chessie as it is often
called, developed in this area from avid hunters who cared about two
things: a fanatical retriever, and a brown coat to blend in with its
surroundings. Thus, many dogs would have been used for breeding
stock as long as they were good hunters and retrievers and had brown
coats. Other St. John's dogs from Newfoundland and retrieving dogs,
including the Labrador upon its return to the Americas, were no doubt
used in the quest for the ultimate duck retriever.
While it's temptingly romantic to paint a picture of a breed coming
about by natural selection in this rugged climate, in all likelihood,
Chesapeakes were bred quite carefully by the families along the Bay for
the qualities they desired. There is anecdotal evidence of breeding
records and pedigrees tracing back to at least the beginning of the 19th
century. In particular, the Carroll Island Gun Club was devoted to
Chesapeakes in the latter half of the eighteenth century and reportedly
kept breeding records going back for decades. The club's members bred
Chesapeakes and hunted over them; sportsmen came from all over the
country to witness their prowess. Unfortunately, in a contribution to
the puzzle of this breed's origins, the club's records were lost in a fire
near the turn of the century. Some of the other breeds believed to have
played a part in the Chesapeake's development include coonhounds,
Curly Coated Retrievers, Irish Water Spaniels, and setters.
Careful breeding over the years has created an outstanding retriever
with incredible enthusiasm and endurance. The Chesapeake Bay
Retriever has been known to retrieve 200 ducks in a single day in
frigid waters. This lively, enthusiastic hunter will come out of a river
or marsh with only a few drops of water remaining on its coat, and
these are quickly eliminated with a shake.
The Chesapeake Bay Retriever was the first individual retriever breed
recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1878. The first recorded
Champion in this breed is CH Barnum (born 1892); the first Field
Champion is FC Skipper Bob (mid 30's), with the first dual Champion,
Dual CH Sodaks Gypsy Prince (1937) following shortly after. The
American Chesapeake Club became the official national breed club in
1918. In contrast, the rest of the retrievers were lumped together until
the late 1920's when the AKC finally separated them into the ones we
know today.
The breed does well in obedience and tracking as well as in retrieving,
hunting tests and field trials. They also make a fine family companion.
Some of the Chesapeake Bay Retriever's talents include: tracking,
hunting, retrieving, guarding, watchdogging, schutzhund, field spots
and competitive obedience.
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CHESAPEAKE BAY RETRIEVER
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