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Chesapeake Bay Retriever Breed Standard
Sporting Group
From the American Kennel Club website (www.akc.org)
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 or 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 either
as a gun dog or companion.
Disqualifications: Specimens that are lacking in breed characteristics
should be disqualified.
Size, Proportion, Substance
Height--Males should measure 23 to 26 inches; females should measure
21 to 24 inches. Oversized or undersized animals are to be severely
penalized. Proportion--Height from 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. Depth of body should extend
at least to the elbow. Shoulder to elbow and elbow to ground should
be equal. Weight--Males should weigh 65 to 80 pounds; females should
weigh 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.
Disqualifications: Either undershot or overshot bites are to be
disqualified.
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 nor 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
in length and straight, showing good bone and muscle. Pasterns
slightly bent and of medium length. The front legs should appear
straight when viewed from front or rear. Dewclaws on the forelegs
may be removed. Well webbed hare feet should be of 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
the 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 the
front or rear. Dewclaws, if any, must be removed from the hind
legs.
Disqualifications: Dewclaws on the hind legs are a disqualification.
Coat
Coat should be thick and short, nowhere over 1½ inches long,
with a dense fine wooly undercoat. Hair on the face and legs should
be very short and straight with a 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 the Chesapeake leaves the water and shakes, the coat should
not hold water at all, being merely moist.
Disqualifications: A coat that is curly or has a tendency to curl
all over the body must be disqualified. Feathering on the tail or
legs over 1¾ inches long must be disqualified.
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 being preferred.
One color is not to be preferred over another. A white spot on
the 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.
Disqualifications: Black colored; white on any part of the body
except breast, belly, toes, or back of feet must be disqualified
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 elbows being
out. When the Chesapeake is moving away from you, there should
be no sign of cowhockness 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 given primary consideration in the selection
and breeding of the Chesapeake Bay Retriever.
Disqualifications:
1. Specimens lacking in breed characteristics.
2. Teeth overshot or undershot.
3. Dewclaws on the hind legs.
4. Coat curly or with a tendency to curl all over the body.
5. Feathering on the tail or legs over 1¾ inches long.
6. Black colored.
7. White on any part of the body except breast, belly, toes, or back
of feet.
The question of coat and general type of balance takes precedence
over any scoring table which could be drawn up. The Chesapeake should
be well proportioned, an animal with a good coat and well balanced
in other points being preferable to one excelling in some but weak
in others.
Positive Scale of Points
Head, including lips, ears and eyes 16
Neck 4
Shoulders and body 12
Hindquarters and stifles 12
Elbows, legs and feet 12
Color 4
Stern and tail 10
Coat and texture 18
General conformation 12
Total 100
Approximate Measurements Inches
Length head, nose to occiput 9½ to 10
Girth at ears 20 to 21
Muzzle below eyes 10 to 10½
Length of ears 4½ to 5
Width between eyes 2½ to 2¾
Girth neck close to shoulder 20 to 22
Girth at flank 24 to 25
Length from occiput to tail base 34 to 35
Girth forearms at shoulders 10 to 10½
Girth upper thigh 19 to 20
From root to root of ear, over skull 5 to 6
Occiput to top shoulder blades 9 to 9½
From elbow to elbow over the shoulders 25 to 26
Approved November 9, 1993
Effective December 31, 1993 |
