General Appearance
qually 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
Neck
Shoulders and body
Hindquarters and stilles
Elbows, legs and feet
Color
Stern and tail
Coat and texture
General conformation
TOTAL |
16
4
12
12
12
4
10
18
12
100 |
Approximate Measurements
in
Inches
Length head, nose to occiput
Girth at ears
Muzzle below eyes
Length of ears
Width between eyes
Girth neck close to shoulder
Girth at flank
Length from occiput to tail base
Girth forearms at shoulders
Girth upper thigh
From root to root of ear, over skull
Occiput to top shoulder blades
From elbow to elbow over the shoulders |
9 1/2 to 10
20 to 21
10 to 10 1/2
4 1/2 to 5
2 1/2 to 2 3/4
20 to 22
24 to 25
34 to 35
10 to 10 1/2
19 to 20
5 to 6
9 to 9 1/2
25 to 26 |
FCI
Standard Nr. 263 d. (29.06.1995)
|
