Chesapeake Bay Retriever

Lifestyle needs

Chesapeake Bay Retriever

The Chesapeake Bay Retriever is a duck retrieving dog.  He loves water and has a virtually waterproof, short, thick coat which requires minimal grooming.  He has energy, strength and stamina and needs an owner who is equally energetic.  He needs to live in a house with a garden, preferably near to open countryside.  He needs plenty of exercise with frequent opportunities to run free.

Inbreeding coefficient – COI

(should be as low as possible)

The breed average COI is 3.7%

See A Beginners Guide to COI.

Health and welfare problems due to conformation

(body shape and physical characteristics)

• As a deep chested breed the Chessie is prone to Bloat and its complication Gastric dilatation and volvulus (GDV) where the stomach twists.  Causes acute pain, vomitting and collapse (urgent vet treatment essential)

BVA/KC Health Schemes  http://www.bva.co.uk/chs

• Hip dysplasia (malformation of the hip joint causing pain and disability): breed mean score 12.9 (parents should be lower)
• Elbow dysplasia (scores ideally 0:0)
• Eye disease:  Hereditary cataract; Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) (gradual loss of sight)

DNA tests available

Parents should be tested for:

• Progressive retinal atrophy (prcd-PRA)
• Degenerative myelopathy (DM) (spinal cord degeneration causing progressive paralysis of the hind limbs)
• Exercise induced collapse

Unofficial (breed club) schemes

None

Ask the breeder to show you the certificates for the above tests/screening for both parents (or check the KC’s health test results finder). If any of the above tests have not been considered necessary by the breeder (and there may be good reasons), ask her to explain why.

Other diseases

(for which there are currently no genetic or screening tests for sire or dam

• Cranial cruciate ligament rupture (hind limb pain and lameness) (US data)
• Shoulder osteochondrosis (males – abnormal cartilage and bone, causing pain and arthritis) (US data)
• Panosteitis (bone inflammation) (US data)
• von Willebrands disease (bleeding disorder) (US data)
• Cancer: Melanoma (skin) (US data)
• Epilepsy

Ask the breeder about the medical history of the parents, grandparents and great grandparents.  Consider carefully whether to purchase a puppy if some of these or other diseases are in the family line.

Ask about the breeder’s policy in cases of serious genetic diseases occurring to your puppy in later life.  Good breeders will request to be informed of such events in order to improve future breeding decisions.  Some breeders will also agree to contribute towards medical costs or refund purchase price.

You are strongly advised to buy from a breeder who uses (or is prepared to use) the RSPCA / BVA AWF Puppy Contract and Puppy Information Pack (PIP):  www.puppycontract.org.uk

You are also advised to buy from a breeder who follows the Dog Advisory Council’s Standard for Breeders: http://www.dogbreedhealth.com/dac-breeding-standard/

List of Dog Breeds