CHESAPEAKE BAY RETRIEVER 
The full history of the development of the Chesapeake Bay Retriever can never be known. It is certain that for more than two centuries dogs have been used on the Chesapeake Bay to recover the waterfowl which were shot down, formerly in great numbers, especially at the time of the migration which took place in the winter season. The dog for this work must not only love water, birds and retrieving; it must be psysically strong and able to resist extremes of temperature and rough icy waters. All stories of the beginnings of the retriever breeds seems to hark back to a water spaniel, unlike any spaniel we know today. Crosses with hounds, setters, Newfoundlands and other were made. For many years it has been generally believed that the special attributes of the Chesapeake Bay Dog derive from two Newfoundland puppies rescued from a shipwreck in the year 1807. Their superio qualities resulted in an improvement of whatever local ducking dogs were being bred for a purpose, not for profit. | 
