Judging The Chesapeake Bay Retriever

Photo Courtesy of American Chesapeake Club

By Dyane Baldwin

The Chesapeake Bay Retriever was one of the early breeds recognized by AKC (1878) and is the only American developed Retriever. Chesapeakes were represented at shows throughout the country from Seattle to Boston in those early years.  They were there on the bench at the first Westminster Kennel Club show in 1877. The parent club for the breed, American Chesapeake Club, was recognized by AKC in 1918.

Selection in breeding was not based on appearance but entirely for their work. “Certain physical qualities have been recognized as necessary for the proper performance of the work expected of them, such physical qualities as a strong and well muscled frame especially suited to the motion of swimming; a color that will not show prominently when they are lying down on a marsh or among the autumn weeds or fields of grain; feet well webbed and opening out so as to form broad paddles; and a coat that will protect their skin from the icy, cold water into which they have to go.”  Today the breed maintains the ability to title a Dual Champion retriever-the only retriever breed capable of that accomplishment. It also does not differ greatly in appearance from its early dogs.

As in any breed valued more for its work than cosmetic features, Chesapeakes are not an easy breed to judge. There are acceptable variations of style, which is very typical of a breed that is bred primarily for working traits. Chesapeake breeders are not concerned about cosmetic features such a nose and eye rim pigmentation, expression, eye color or tail set.  The breed should and must be judged on those traits that are the most important for its function as a retriever.

Size in the breed has a broad range – 21″-24″ females to 23″- 26″ males and note the overlap of size in the lower range of the sexes. This wide range of size is due to the many different hunting conditions that the breed works in.  There should be no preference for color. Far too often the deadgrass and sedge dogs are ignored for the brown. The following areas are in my opinion where judges often go wrong or are confused when judging this breed.

Recognition of correct proportion- ONLY slightly longer than tall with a short well-coupled loin.  To keep the right body length proportions is a very difficult trait to maintain in breeding. Many of  the CBRS that you see are generally too long in loin length with the MOST grievous fault long in body and short in leg. Long in body and short in leg with a large head and a cloddy appearance (bone is often round) is the first stage of dwarfism in the breed. Too often the just off square dog is viewed as “wrong” instead of as right.

Photo Courtesy of American Chesapeake Club

Recognizing substance- Depth of chest reaches to AT LEAST the elbow. The chest should have width and depth that fills your hands-not cut away to under the chest. It is also worth bearing in mind that the breed standard does not call for a  well developed or prominent fore-chest.  In this breed, the appearance of a well developed front is created by  legs that are set under the dog (well laid back shoulders) and good & matching length of upper arm-not by a prominent pro-sternal bone. The breed has width to its body-ribs are well sprung. Rears must be  strong with width in the second thigh area (and generally these dogs have the well bent stifles required in the standard). Good bone but not overdone-is the appearance athletic or cloddy?

Understanding Coat- There is not a one preferred coat style by the standard. Waving patterns vary- some tighter and some looser but there should be texture and undercoat no matter the pattern.  The best working coats have sufficient texture and oil to repel the water and enough undercoat to keep warm and dry quickly. Sometimes the undercoat is so abundant that while pleasing to the eye, it takes too long to dry.  Some breeders place a lot of emphasis on coat but without the substance, proportion and structure, the coat will not make the dog’s work easier of itself.  A small secret-the reason the CBR tolerates the cold so well is that they have a high threshold for pain & cold, intensity to swim and retrieve and a covering layer of fat to insulate. The CBR body is not tight in skin like many of the other sporting dogs.

Photo Courtesy of American Chesapeake Club

Recognizing details- Feet are large & hare shaped. Small ears-set high.  Muzzle with length-better to have a little too much length rather than a bit too short. Top line-not swayback, but a trifle rise to the rear or level.

Gait-Rears should not be cow-hocked and fronts should not show elbows out. It appears lately that these problems of being unsound in front and especially in the rear are being ignored by judges.  Cow hocks indicate weakness in the rear and should not be overlooked simply because a dog has a nice coat or pleasing head.

Breed Traits & Faults - Traits that are important and often hard to maintain in the breed are: Proportion of slightly longer than tall; Sufficient length of muzzle; Shoulders and rears balanced and well angled; Depth and width of chest with Chest depth ideally  below the elbow; Substance in keeping with size and Small ears.

The following are faults which seem the most difficult to correct: lack of body depth, too long in loin, straight stifles/weak second thighs; lack of balance front to rear and weak rears. Of course, you judge the whole dog but if you have a dog strong in the areas that are hardest to fix with substance and  many of the important breed traits, give it credit for those virtues.

This breed is not for everyone as they are independent thinking dogs, highly intelligent, physically tough and with a watch dog nature. An owner needs to establish a master to dog relationship; socialize the dog from puppyhood and admire and want a dog that will think on its own. They are extremely loving and devoted to their owners/family and are very calm and easy to live with indoors. You can train them to almost anything.  If they are the right dog for you, you will never want another breed.

About the Author: I have been involved with dogs since 1977 and always Chesapeakes. I have bred 147 AKC champion Chesapeakes as well as 130 performance titled Chesapeakes. I have personally trained & titled dogs in conformation (group wins and SS wins), obedience (all levels) and hunt tests to SH level.  I have edited a book on Chesapeake Bay retrievers and have given numerous seminars here and abroad. I have authored articles on the Chesapeake in numerous magazines. I have judged Chesapeake National Specialties in the US, England, Germany, Sweden,  & Czech Republic. As well I have judged them in Ireland & Switzerland. I also judged AKC hunting tests Junior level and have judged other field events for retrievers. For the American Chesapeake Club I have served in numerous positions-historian, club secretary, chair of Judges Education, Judges Education Coordinator, and AKC Delegate. 

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Posted by chesliepickett on Jan 10 2014. Filed under Featured, The Buzz. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.