Curly Coated Retriever vs. Chesapeake Bay Retriever

Do you have difficulty deciding between the Curly Coated Retriever vs. Chesapeake Bay Retriever? These dogs are similar in some respects yet quite different in others. Continue reading to find out which popular breeds are the best fit for your lifestyle!

Before purchasing or rescuing a puppy, be sure that the breed is a suitable match for your lifestyle and household. The Sporting Group includes the Curly Coated Retriever and the Chesapeake Bay Retriever. Although these breeds belong to the same breed group, they have significant variances and similarities, so keep reading to find out more.

History of The Breeds

They are now more renowned for their sweet personalities and as family pets. According to the American Kennel Club, it is the most popular dog breed in America. They started their adventures at various times and locations. It is essential to investigate their past to understand what they could be like as family pets.

🐕Curly Coated Retriever

There isn’t much information about the Curly-Coated Retriever breed’s origins, and his history is sketchy. The dog first appeared in the early nineteenth century, with others suggesting that it was present in England as early as the late 1700s.

This dog, which looks like a Labrador but has a short, curly coat, is thought to be a cross between the Old English Water Dog, the Irish Water Spaniel, and the smaller Newfoundland.

In the middle of the 1800s, the Curly-Coated Retriever became well-liked in England. In 1907, it was imported to the United States. The dog was exported to Australia and New Zealand, where it was recognized in 1924 by the American Kennel Club.

🐕Chesapeake Bay Retriever

The Chesapeake Bay retriever got its name in 1807 when two Newfoundland pups were rescued from drowning. The pups were crossed with other dogs, most likely flat-coated and curly-coated retrievers, after proving to be great duck retrievers. The puppies were also excellent retrievers.

By the mid-1880s, the breed was known as the Chesapeake Bay retriever, and it was reputedly used to recover up to 300 ducks each day. Chessies is the informal name given by specialists to this breed. Irish Water Spaniels, Newfoundlands, and other unidentified dogs are among his forebears. One of the first nine dogs recognized in America in the 1880s was the Chesapeake.

Breed Descriptions

These two breeds are distinct from the others because they are friendly and energetic dogs. Despite being almost similar, the Curly Coated Retriever and the Chesapeake Bay Retriever are two different types of hunting dogs, yet they are both hunting dogs with distinct personalities. Let’s look at some Curly Coated and Chesapeake Bay Retriever similarities.

🐕Curly Coated Retriever

The Curly Coated Retriever breed is a medium-sized dog that stands between 59 and 70cm tall and weighs between 25 and 40 kilograms. The breed, mostly chocolate black brown, is energetic and muscular and was employed to hunt and retrieve birds.

Except for the face and the legs, the coat has little, tight curls all over the body. The black dog has floppy ears and brown eyes, but the liver-colored canines have amber or gold eyes. The tail is rather lengthy. He has a wedge-shaped head, and the fact that his face is longer than broad distinguishes him from other retriever breeds. Of course, the dog’s most recognizable trait is its curly coat.

🐕Chesapeake Bay Retriever

The Chesapeake is a big dog of the Sporting breed family. Perhaps one of the most noticeable traits of the Chesapeake Bay Retriever is the yellowish eyes. This powerful, well-muscled dog stands between 62 and 66cm tall and weighs between 35 and 45kg. The dog’s short, thick coat is weatherproof and comes in various hues ranging from brown to reddish yellow to chestnut.

The Chesapeake’s head is large and roundish, with medium-length floppy ears. The tail is rather lengthy. The webbed toes contribute to the dog’s ability to swim successfully.

Breed Differences

The Curly Coated Retriever and the Chesapeake Bay Retriever are two completely distinct dog breeds. Curly Coated Retrievers are much shorter than Chesapeake Bay Retrievers but weigh almost the same. Let’s take a closer look at these distinctions and others right now.

🐕Temperament

Curly Coated Retriever

The Curly Coated Retriever was formerly a gun dog, but now, like other retrievers, it makes an excellent companion and is an energetic, gregarious, and fun-loving breed. He becomes dedicated and faithful to his human family members, making him an excellent pet, but he must be exercised.

Have him taught and socialized, and he will become an obedient, calm dog, ready to please. He is bright and self-assured, and he gets along well with youngsters and other house pets. He fits in readily in city and rural life, but he would be happiest if he could have big grounds to run, play, and swim on, which he enjoys.

Chesapeake Bay Retriever

The Chesapeake Bay retriever is a better choice if you want a non-traditional guard dog. You must realize that he requires a stern owner willing to commit to extensive training sessions and will not tolerate disorderly behavior in the house. Because the Chesapeake bay retriever does not respond well to a ‘happy-go-lucky’ way of life, the Curly Coated makes a better family friend in a relaxed setting.

Even though they are both working dogs, the Chesapeake bay retriever is the more serious pup and would thrive in a working or hunting environment all day. Chesapeake Bay has a powerful personality that demands an equally commanding boss. While the Curly Coated Retriever is an excellent hunter, he would rather spend his time performing duties, receiving attention, playing, and eating treats.

In addition, the dominant breed of Chesapeake Bay Retriever makes it unsuitable for first-time owners. He is also known to be protective of his family, especially his master, and as such, he may be an intense dog if he is not living with a decent family or environment. However, if you feel this will suit your lifestyle, your attachment to your Chesapeake bay retriever will be incredibly rewarding.

🐕Characteristics

Curly Coated Retrievers are energetic, strong, and have lots of personalities. He is an excellent pet since Curlies is affectionate, loyal, and protective. He is fearless, courageous, independent, and self-assured. These breed gets along well with youngsters and enjoys participating in their activities. Curly coated Retriever gets along nicely with the other animals in the house.

Curly Coated is an energetic dog who will not get along with folks who want to lounge about all day. He enjoys being busy throughout the day and then relaxing with his human family at night. He’s a great all-around who makes a caring, devoted pet.

The Chesapeake Bay Retriever is eager to be your companion and greatest friend. This dog breed is very energetic, and he can easily fit into an active household that can guarantee he is included in all of their activities.

The beauty of the Chesapeake Bay Retriever is that he is normally a calm dog that, once taught and socialized, becomes a genuinely magnificent companion who is affectionate and devoted to its owners.

🐕Exercises

Curly Coated and Chesapeake Bay Retrievers are high-energy breeds that need at least one hour of vigorous exercise daily. Don’t think you’ll get away with a quick sprint in the yard; they’ll punish you with havoc and chewed household belongings.

Curly Coated Retriever

Curly-Coated Retriever activity needs are extremely considerable due to the breed’s active, energetic, and athletic nature. Curly Coated Retrievers need a range of exercises that prepare them physically and challenge them cognitively since they are accustomed to spending hours in the fields on hunts. They’re also great biking partners.

The average adult Curly Coated Retriever will need roughly an hour of exercise every day, depending on age and total activity level, which you may accomplish with a couple of walks, jogs, or bike rides, and a time of play. When your Curly Coated Retriever puppy is three months old, you may begin exercising it by taking it on short leashed walks, and you can gradually increase the duration and frequency of the walks as the puppy matures.

And these early outings are an excellent chance to begin teaching the puppy obedience via leash training: make sure the puppy walks next to or behind you on the leash rather than leading or “tugging” on it. This identifies you as the dog’s leader and should make teaching simpler when the youngster matures.

Chesapeake Bay Retriever

Chesapeake Bay Retrievers make excellent family pets. Their friendly demeanor and a strong desire to socialize make them a great fit for any family. They are inappropriate for low-energy owners since they need frequent exercise programs to keep them healthy and happy.

These lively canines need at least 20 minutes of hard exercise every day. Because they are country dogs, not city dogs, they should have adequate space to roam and keep themselves entertained when you don’t have time for a longer play session.

Despite their reputation as an active breed, many owners forget to explore how much exercise their dogs need. According to surveys, 20 percent of Chesapeake Bay Retriever owners don’t really walk their dogs on a regular basis. If this behavior persists, these dogs may acquire long-term health problems that may have been avoided.

🐕Lifespan

The longevity of the Curly Coated Retriever and the Chesapeake Bay Retriever is the last distinction. The Labrador Retriever outlives the average Chesapeake Bay Retriever. Because they are the same size and weight, this is most likely due to breeding. Let’s go a little further into the statistics.

The Curly Coated Retriever has an expected lifespan of 8 to 12 years, but the Chesapeake Bay Retriever has an estimated lifespan of 10 to 13 years. This is a minor distinction between the breeds, but it is worth considering if you want to adopt either. However, both breeds may live long and happy lives with a well-balanced diet and appropriate exercise.

Proper Caring 

Having a dog is both a luxury and a responsibility. They depend on us for food and shelter but are entitled to much more. When you add a dog into your life, you must be aware of the obligations that come with it. Examine how Curly Coated Retrievers and Chesapeake Bay retrievers are cared for.

🐕Heath

Curly Coated Retrievers and Chesapeake Bay Retriever are generally healthy breeds. Breeders have been meticulous in screening hips, eyes, and the heart. There are certain cancer risks. The breed is also predisposed to gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV), a potentially fatal gastrointestinal disease sometimes known as bloat. Owners must be aware of the signs and respond if they arise.

The National Breed Club recommends the following health tests:

◽️Hip Examination

◽️EIC DNA Examination

◽️DNA Analysis of GSD

◽️PRA DNA Analysis

◽️Cardiac Examination

🐕Grooming

Curly Coated Retriever

Curly Coated Retrievers do not have an undercoat, and the females will normally lose a good quantity of coats every six months. Females may seem nude while without wearing a coat. During the shedding season, a rake-style grooming tool with metal prongs removes dead hair, after which the coat may be scissored down.

Most owners never brush their Curly-Coated Retrievers because it causes the coat to frizz. A simple wet-down and air-dry can typically accentuate the curls. The breed does not need regular bathing. Nails should be cut regularly, as with other breeds.

Chesapeake Bay Retriever

Chesapeake Bay Retrievers are low-maintenance dogs that need little grooming. Weekly brushing is required to maintain a Chessie’s coat in excellent condition. Brushing distributes the natural oil in their coat, keeps your Chessie clean, and keeps shedding to a minimum.

Chesapeake Bay Retrievers do not shed much, but they “blow coat” twice a year, once in the fall as the temperature cools and once in the spring as it warms. Their undercoat is lost in the fall to create a place for a new, thicker Winter coat. The Winter coat is lost in the spring. The amount of shedding and how long it lasts is determined by the climate in which the dog lives. When a Chessie blows coat, regular brushing is essential regardless of the environment.

🐕Training

Both types have high energy and need 60 minutes of daily exercise. They may resist this suggestion, but they must comply with it if they don’t want to start acting destructively around the home. You should make certain that some of the exercises are also physically taxing. This may include going for a run or taking them swimming. They are both excellent swimmers who can recover anything tossed into the water.

Curly Coated Retriever

A Curly-Coated Retriever’s owner must be tough yet kind while teaching the dog. Too hard, and they will turn tail; too gentle or indistinct, and they will not pay attention. They are a clever breed requiring an owner wiser than they are. Too much repetition may weary the dog and cause him to lose interest. It is also critical for an owner to make the learning experience as enjoyable as possible.

The idea is to make Curly love what he is learning. Other Curly Coated Retrievers excel in the obedience ring, but repeating certain activities might induce boredom for some. Fieldwork training requires a skilled approach and should not be harsh. When you are new to the breed and want to begin field training, look for a training organization in your region and evaluate its techniques before joining.

Chesapeake Bay Retriever

Respect Training is the dog training approach we utilize and suggest for Chesapeake Bay Retrievers. A dog that respects you will obey you and stop what he’s doing when you say, “Don’t.” Teaching your dog to respect you entails engaging with him in ways that promote respect.

The technique of training Chesapeake Bay Retrievers comprises teaching certain phrases in precise ways so that your dog not only learns the words but also develops the respectful attitude that makes him delighted to follow you. Teach your dog to comprehend what you’re saying. Teach those words correctly, and he will do what you say.

🐕Nutrition

Curly Coated Retrievers and Chesapeake Bay Retrievers may eat any high-quality dog food. A dish containing at least 20% protein may benefit active or high-energy dogs. Treats may be a great teaching tool, but giving too much may lead to obesity. Kitchen scraps should be used carefully, and cooked bones and high-fat goods should be avoided. Determine what foods are safe for this breed and which are not. Contact your veterinarian if you are worried about your dog’s weight or nutrition.

As the choice of dog foods increases, you may ask if you satisfy your companion dog’s nutritional needs. Curly Coated Retrievers and Chesapeake Bay Retrievers need a variety of nourishment to survive. These are some examples:

✔️Proteins

✔️Cholesterol

✔️Carbohydrates

✔️Vitamins and minerals

✔️Water

Curly Coated and Chesapeake Bay Retriever Health Issues

Curly Coated Retrievers and Chesapeake Bay retrievers are generally healthy breeds of dogs. They need veterinarian checks regularly to live long and healthy lives. Check out what are the health issues of both breeds.

🐕Curly Coated Retriever

❗Bloat or gastric torsion– Gastric-dilation Volvulus happens when your dog’s gastrointestinal system, especially the stomach, twists.

❗Hip dysplasia– This is when your dog’s hip joint’s ball and socket do not grow correctly. The bones grind against one other, ultimately wearing down and making your dog’s movement harder.

❗Progressive retinal deterioration– In the early stages of PRA, you may notice your dog failing to see, especially around twilight and morning. There is currently no therapy for this illness. Your veterinarian should perform annual eye examinations to check for degeneration symptoms.

❗Additional Eye Disorders– Entropion and distichiasis are two examples. Entropion affects the dog’s eyelids and may be painful.

❗Idiopathic epilepsy is a poorly known illness that may affect all canines. It induces seizures for unexplained reasons.

❗Cardiovascular disease– Heart murmurs in your cat might be an early symptom of heart disease. With early identification and the right treatments, your dog may survive heart disease for many years.

❗Pattern baldness– This is a heritable disease known as follicular dysplasia. The hair loss usually begins on the dog’s neck and the backs of its legs. There is currently no therapy available.

❗Certain Cancers– This breed has a greater cancer risk than other breeds. The symptoms vary depending on the kind of cancer and how far it has progressed. Make an appointment with your veterinarian if you observe any substantial changes in your pet’s behavior.

🐕Chesapeake Bay Retriever

❗Hypothyroidism– Hypothyroidism is caused by thyroid gland underproduction. Because the thyroid gland regulates your dog’s metabolism, which may lead to many problems, your dog may exhibit increased or reduced appetite, hair loss, or lethargy. It is properly identified by blood tests but cannot be cured.

❗Dissecans Osteochondrosis- This illness is referred to as abnormal cartilage growth on a bone joint. It usually happens throughout the first 6 to 9 months of a puppy’s life in medium to big-sized canines. While the specific etiology of OCD is unclear, many pups grow out of the illness without needing surgery. Afflicted dogs may need surgery to straighten the joint in more extreme situations.

❗Hip Dysplasia – Unfortunately, these energetic canines are prone to canine hip dysplasia, which happens when a dog’s hip joint is misaligned with the hip socket.

❗Bloat- a hazardous condition caused by an overflow of air in the stomach, limiting adequate blood flow throughout your dog’s body.

❗Progressive retinal atrophy- is the progressive degradation of photoreceptor cells in dogs’ eyes. Over time, the rods and cones in the eye become less efficient owing to genetic changes.

Frequently Asked Questions

What breeds make up a curly-coated retriever?

The curly-coated Retriever is a working game dog that dates back to the 1700s in England. Its precise lineage is unknown; however, it is likely descended from crossings of the ancient English water dog, Irish water spaniel, a tiny form of Newfoundland, and, later, maybe, PoodlePoodle.

Curly Coated Retrievers are rare?

Curly Coated Retrievers were almost extinct in the early twentieth century and are an uncommon breed in the United States. They have a distinctive black coat of tiny, tight, water-resistant curls that let them hunt in cold water and dense underbrush.

Is it normal for a Chesapeake Bay Retriever to shed?

This breed has a short coat with a soft undercoat and a rough outer coat. They shed, and weekly brushing will keep the dead hair on your floor to a minimum. Chessies, in general, do not need much grooming or washing.

Do curly-coated retrievers bark a lot?

Because they may be wary of strangers, they make better security dogs than other retriever breeds. They only bark seldom and rarely drool. The curly-coated Retriever is not a hypoallergenic breed since it sheds a lot at different periods of the year.

Are retrievers with curly coats aggressive?

Curly-coated retrievers, like other retriever breeds, are not typically aggressive. On the other hand, Curly Coated retrievers are more reserved than their Labrador and golden retriever relatives. They need more socialization as puppies to be friendly with new people and animals as adults.

Final Words

Choosing between a Curly Coated Retriever and a Chesapeake bay retriever as a long-term hunting partner is tough. With features inherited from both sides of its breed, including loving, playful, friendly, and hardworking traits, this breed will offer years of delight to any household with proper care. If you have the time and energy to provide them with the appropriate care and exercise, Curly Coated Retrievers and Chesapeake Bay retrievers will be devoted companions for many years. Do you want to know more about chesapeake bay retriever vs chocolate lab? Click here!