Chesapeake Bay Retriever
Chesapeake Bay Retriever, breed of sporting dog trained to discover and fetch killed or wounded game, principally aquatic birds, such as the duck, and land birds, such as the pheasant. The dog originated in the Chesapeake Bay region of Maryland about 1807 from two Newfoundland dogs, unusually gifted as retrievers, that were cross-bred with other breeds trained as retrievers. The male Chesapeake Bay retriever is 58 to 66 cm (23 to 26 in) high at the shoulder and weighs 29 to 36 kg (65 to 80 lb); the female is 53 to 61 cm (21 to 24 in) high at the shoulder and weighs 25 to 32 kg (55 to 70 lb). The animal has a thick, short coat that may be any color from dark brown to a light tan or straw color, sometimes with a white spot on the breast, toes, or belly; and a fine, woolly dense undercoat. The dog has a broad skull; small ears set well up on the head; a muscular neck; strong, sloping shoulders; a deep, wide chest; a body of medium length; and a tail of medium length.
