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.
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