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COAT- Coat should be thick and short, nowhere over 1 1/2" long, with a dense fine wooly ondercoat. 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 the rear of the 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 1 3/4" long must be disqualified
COLOR- The color of the Chesapeake Bay Retriever must be nearly that of its working surroundings as possible. Any color of brown, sedge, or deadgrass is acceptable, selfcolored Chesapeakes being preferrred. One color is not to be preferred over another. A white spot on the breast, belly, toes or back of feet (immediately above the large pad) is permissible, but the smaller the spot the better, solid colored preferrred. 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 front and plenty of drive in the rear, with flexion of stifle and hock joints. Coming at you, there should be no signs 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.
Standard II
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 hind legs. 4. Coat curly or with a tendency to curl all over the body. 5. Feathering on the tail or legs over 1 3/4" 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 Approximate Measurements Inches Head, including lips, ears and eyes = 16 Length head, nose to occiput = 9 1/2 to 10 Neck = 4 Girth at ears = 20 to 21 Shoulders and Body = 12 Muzzle below eyes = 10 to 10 1/2 Hindquarters and Stifles = 12 Length of ears = 4 1/2 to 5 Elbows, Legs and Feet = 12 Width between eyes = 2 1/2 to 2 3/4 Color = 4 Girth neck close to shoulder = 20 to 22 Stern and Tail = 10 Girth at flank = 24 to 25 Coat and Texture = 18 Length from occiput to tail base = 34 to 35 General Conformation = 12 Girth forearms at shoulders = 10 to 10 1/2 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Girth upper thigh = 19 to 20 Total = 100 From root to root of ear over skull = 5 to 6 Occiput to top shoulder blades = 9 to 9 1/2 From elbow to elbow over the shoulders = 25 to 26
