The Chesapeake Bay Retriever Breed Standard

General Appearance
	Well proportioned, active worker with a distinctive coat and intelligent expression. Strong muscular appearance.

Characteristics
	Independent, affectionate, and courageous, with a great love of water. Makes a good guardian and companion, especially with children.

Temperament
	Bright and happy disposition, alert and intelligent and showing a willingness to work.

Head and Skull
	Broad and round with medium stop. Medium-short muzzle, pointed but not sharp. Lips thin, not pendulous. Nostrils well developed. Nose and lips of colour to harmonise with coat.

Eyes
	Medium size, very clear, of yellow or amber colour and set wide apart.

Ears
	Small, well set up on head, hanging loosely and of medium leather.

Mouth
	Jaws strong with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to the jaws. Level bite tolerated.

Neck
	Of medium length with a strong muscular appearance tapering from head to shoulders.

Forequarters
	Forelegs straight, with good bone of equal length to depth of body and showing good muscle. Shoulders well laid back, long in blade with upper arm of equal length placing legs well under body with no restriction of movement. Strong. Pasterns slightly bent. Dewclaws may be removed.

Body
	Chest strong, deep and broad, with well sprung ribs. Body of medium length, short but not cobby. Flanks well tucked-up. Back well coupled and powerful. Topline not roached, but rather approaching hollowness.

Hindquarters
	Should be as high or a trifle higher than shoulders. Powerful to supply power for swimming. Stifles well angulated. Good hindquarters are an essential requirement for this breed. Hocks of medium length. Dewclaws, if any, must be removed from the hindlegs.

Feet
	Of good size, hare feet well webbed. Toes well rounded and close.

Tail
	Should extend to hock. Medium heavy at base and strong. Should be straight or slightly curved. Moderate feathering is permissible.

Gait/Movement
	Powerful with no restriction of movement. Correct conformation will lend to single track movement.

Coat

Coat and texture. A distinctive feature. Coat should be thick and reasonably short, not over 4 cms (11/2 ins) long, with harsh oily outer coat and dense, fine woolly undercoat covering whole body; hairs having tendency to wave on neck, shoulders, back and loins. Hair on face and legs only should be very short and straight. Moderate feathering on stern and tail permissible. Curly coat not permissible. Texture of coat very important as dog is used for working under all sorts of adverse weather conditions, often working in ice and snow. Oil in harsh coat and woolly undercoat of extreme value. The coat should resist water.

Colour
	Dead grass (straw to bracken), sedge (red gold), or any shade of brown. White spots on chest, toes and belly permissible. The smaller the spot the better. Self-coloured dogs preferred. Colour of coat and its texture must be given every consideration when judging.

Size
	Height: dogs: 58-66 cms (23-26 ins); bitches: 53-61 cms (21-24 ins). Oversized or undersized dogs highly undesirable.

Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog.

Note: Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.