| The ancestry of the Chesapeake Bay Retriever is less
obscure than that of many breeds. Indeed, its origins
can be pinpointed to 1807, when an English brig was
shipwrecked off the coast of Maryland. An American
ship, the Canton, rescued the English crew and two
Newfoundland puppies. One puppy was a male called
Sinbad, which has been described as dingy red in
color, while the other was a black bitch, which
became known as Canton after the rescue ship.
The pups were presented to the families that had
given shelter to the English sailors and were trained
as duck retrievers. In time, they
mated with various working
breeds in the Chesapeake Bay
area. It is likely that the cross
bloods added were those
of the Otterhound and the
Curly-coated and Flat-coated
Retrievers. The matings
produced a variety with the
swimming ability of the
Newfoundland and the duck-
retrieving abilities of local dogs.
Until fairly recently, the
Chesapeake Bay Retriever
was kept strictly as a sporting
dog. However, it is now finding
its way into the family home
and becoming a contender
in the show ring.
The Chesapeake is good
natured and does well in field
trials. It has an oily coat that needs
regular brushing and gives off a
slight, but not unpleasant, odor.
It has yellow-orange eyes. Like all
gundogs, it needs plenty of exercise
and does best in an environment
where it has space to roam freely.
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