Ben is featured in this photo taken in 1942 by Major David Jenkins, my uncle and owner of Ben.

Characteristics of the breed
A picture can say a thousand words and Ben is a good specimen of the breed. Their coat is brown. Some have a warmer shade than others. Ben had the warmer lighter shade. The hair is very wavy and dense. Really thick fur, which insulates the body and keeps it warm while plunging into a river or creek to retrieve game that has been shot down.

Though the name is Chesapeake Bay Retrievers, families living alongside the rivers and smaller creeks feeding into the Chesapeake Bay own the dogs. The water of the tributaries is a brine rather than pure fresh water one might find in a land-locked lake.

In Maryland there are tides coming in and out regularly bringing water from the lower bay at the Atlantic Ocean up into the Chesapeake Bay, making their way into the smaller tributaries.

Chesapeake Bay Retrievers are full-bodied dogs but not so tall. Their stockier legs give them power running through grasses or reeds alongside creeks to get the prey. They are strong. Ben represents a good example of a male dog, the females might not have such a wide body.

They have medium brown eyes that compliment the color of their fur. Notice in the photo that they have a rather large nose that twitches to catch the scent.

Interaction with people
From my experience with many Chesapeake's over the years I would not classify them as family pets like I would with Golden Retrievers. The Chesapeake Bay Retriever is bred as an outdoor dog to withstand nature's elements. Think where the Chesapeake Bay is located. Though south of the Mason Dixon Line in Maryland and Virginia, it still has sharp winter sleets and snows, so the breed adapted for those unique conditions. The dogs are in their element with their master outdoors, not cuddling with the family around a hearth.They are dedicated to their master.