Chesapeake Bay Retriever

Its origin is traced to 1807, when two Newfoundland-type puppies survived a shipwreck off the coast of Maryland and were bred locally with existing retrievers, hounds and setters. The resulting dogs were prized by market hunters and watermen who needed a retriever able to work all day in icy, rough water, breaking ice if necessary, and still haul a boat's worth of ducks back to shore. It became the official state dog of Maryland in 1964.

Living with a Chesapeake means living with a strong, independent-minded working dog that needs a real job or serious daily exercise to stay content. It is devoted to its family but tends to be more reserved and protective toward strangers than the more universally friendly Labrador or Golden Retriever, and it can be territorial. Its distinctive oily, wavy double coat sheds water efficiently and needs relatively little grooming beyond regular brushing, though it does carry a noticeable "wet dog" smell that is hard to eliminate entirely.

The breed's toughness and drive mean it does not suit a sedentary household; without adequate exercise and mental stimulation it can become destructive or difficult to manage. It also tends to mature slowly, staying puppyish in outlook well past a year old.

Today the Chesapeake is still used by working wildfowlers in North America and increasingly competes in field trials, while also serving as a loyal, capable family dog for active owners prepared to meet its exercise needs.