Introduction
The Chesapeake Bay Retriever, also fondly called a Chessie, is a big-sized dog that comes from the Retriever breed group. Historically, they were initially bred during the 19th century in the Chesapeake Bay area, thus their name. The Chessie was intended as a water dog to be used for hunting waterfowl. They are tough, agile and built to endure rough conditions. Given their history, present-day Chessies are still skilled hunters who have an innate love for water. Nowadays, however, they are more popular as human companions, especially for those who live an active lifestyle. Early socialization, thorough training and lots of love are essential when taking on a Chessie for a pet.
Chesapeake Bay Retriever Dog Names in Pop Culture
In spite of being a well-rounded and adorable dog breed, the Chesapeake Bay Retriever is less popular than other Retriever-type breeds, such as Golden Retrievers and Labrador Retrievers. This is particularly true when it comes to pop culture works. As a matter of fact, there are very little instances where a Chessie was featured in any film, television show or literary work. A Chessie had a brief appearance and background role in the 1998 romantic comedy film Hope Floats, starring Sandra Bullock and Harry Connick, Jr.
However, much to the delight of Chessie lovers, there is one film where the Chesapeake Bay Retriever had a starring role. This television film is entitled Pancho, the Fastest Paw in the West, in which the titular character is played by a Chessie. The film was based on a book written by author Bruce Grant and was originally aired in 1969 as episode sixteen from season fifteen of The Wonderful World of Disney series.
The TV film’s plot is centered on Pancho and his owner, a Mexican boy, as they deal with the Old West world. Set in 1880, the boy and his dog are runaways who were aided by a peddler who travels from place to place. They soon befriend each other. So, when the peddler’s horses were stolen, the boy and Pancho take on the task of helping him retrieve his horses. During this time, Pancho became a beloved character and played a role in making Chessies more recognized not only in their home state of Maryland but also in the entire country.
Another prominent role for Chessies is in the documentary entitled On the Wing. Part of the series of Sportscope shorts, this documentary takes a closer look at the hunting of wild geese and the specially-trained dogs tasked to collect the dead birds from snow-covered ponds and fields where the birds fall. In the documentary, the trained dogs being referred to are Chesapeake Bay Retrievers.
On the Wing is particularly interesting because it shows how Chesapeake Bay Retrievers carry out their daily hunting tasks. Not only that, the history of the breed is also being discussed in the documentary, including their origin, how they came to be the hunting dogs that they are and the selection process that occurs and how they are put to the test before being used for hunting. This documentary is a good starting point for those who are enthusiasts of the breed and are wanting to learn more about them.
Even though there are limited Chessie features, they remain to be a beloved dog breed, mostly because of their lovable qualities, versatility and American roots.
Chesapeake Bay Retriever Dog Name Considerations
One of the first things to take care of when getting a new dog is choosing a new name. For Chesapeake Bay Retrievers, the simplest way to pick out a name is to choose one that relates to the various special qualities that the breed possesses. The Chessie is a tough-looking dog with a soft personality. Out of all the retriever-type dogs, the Chesapeake Bay Retriever is perhaps the strongest and most agile. They are powerfully built, independent and active. They are also known for their love for water, intelligence, and hunting and watching capabilities. With these said, a name that symbolizes strength, size and agility would be a great fit for the Chessie. Some examples of such names are “Zeus”, after the Greek god, or “Colossus”, which means “big”.
Another easy but smart way to choose a name for your Chessie is to use its coat color as inspiration. Generally, Chessies come in solid coat colors, either in deadgrass (faded tan), chocolate brown or sedge (reddish-yellow). You may use your own Chessie’s color to come up with a name. For example, if you have a female Chessie with a sedge coat, you may call her “Amber”, after the reddish-brown resin of the same name.
You may also choose a name based on the breed’s origin. The breed was first developed in Maryland, which is why it is the state’s official dog. A Maryland-inspired name would be fitting for a Chessie.
Male Chesapeake Bay Retriever Dog Names
Votes | Name | Vote |
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1 |
Max
Means “great” in Latin
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1 |
Zale
Greek name meaning “power of the sea”
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1 |
Callan
Gaelic name meaning “powerful in battle”
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1 |
Rocky
After Rocky Balboa, a fictional boxer
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0 |
Albion
One of the Titans fathered by Poseidon in Greek mythology
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0 |
Jedrek
Polish name meaning “strong man”; can be shortened to "Jed"
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0 |
Camden
A nod to Baltimore’s Camden Yards
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0 |
Amaro
Native American name meaning “strong”
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0 |
Cal
From Cal Ripken Jr., a baseball player and Maryland native
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0 |
Roddy
American name meaning “famous ruler”
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-1 |
Tank
A steel military vehicle used for war and battle
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-2 |
Archie
Scottish name meaning “true and bold”
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-2 |
Bryce
After Bryce Harper, a famous baseball player from Maryland
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-2 |
Phelps
After Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps, a Maryland native; good for your water-loving Chessie
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-2 |
Kalmin
Scandinavian name meaning “manly” or “strong”
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-2 |
Clancy
Irish name meaning “red-haired”; good for sedge-coated Chessies
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-2 |
Bruno
Means “brown” in German, good for brown Chessies
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-2 |
Courage
Another term for “bravery”
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-2 |
Angus
Gaelic name meaning “unique strength”
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-2 |
Everett
Anglo-Saxon name meaning “strong”
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-2 |
Liam
Irish name meaning “strong-willed warrior”
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-2 |
Rockville
A city in Maryland
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-2 |
Cruiser
A type of yacht
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-2 |
Bernard
German name meaning “brave as a bear”
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-2 |
Morgan
Old Welsh name meaning “sea defender”
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-2 |
Ekon
African name meaning “strong”
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-2 |
Boris
Russian name meaning “fighter”
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-2 |
Remo
English name meaning “the strong one”
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-2 |
Magnar
Norweigan name meaning “strength”
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-2 |
Kula
Means “gold” in Hawaiian; good for tan-coated Chessies
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Female Chesapeake Bay Retriever Dog Names
Votes | Name | Vote |
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2 |
River
A body of water
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1 |
Ebba
German name meaning “strength of an animal”
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1 |
Gesa
Dutch name meaning “strength of a spear”
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0 |
Maude
French name meaning “mighty in battle”
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0 |
Adira
Hebrew name meaning “strong, noble”
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0 |
Nakhti
Egyptian name meaning “strong”
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0 |
Neptune
Roman god of the sea
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-1 |
Amber
A reddish-yellow resin used to make jewelry; good for sedge Chessies
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-1 |
Laurel
A city in Maryland
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-1 |
Precious
Used to refer to someone or something important or beloved
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-1 |
Carla
Portuguese name meaning “someone who possesses strength”
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-1 |
Ruby
A precious red gemstone; good for reddish-coated Chessies
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-1 |
Galena
Spanish name meaning “small intelligent one”
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-1 |
Sparky
Referring to someone lively
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-1 |
Katie
From Katie Hoff, a swimmer and Maryland native
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-1 |
Isa
German name meaning “strong-willed”
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-2 |
Mary
From Maryland, which is where Chessies were first bred
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-2 |
Valencia
Means “brave and strong” in Spanish
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-2 |
Mandy
Derivative of “Amanda”, which means “worthy of love” in Latin
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-2 |
Philomena
Greek name meaning “lover of strength”
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-2 |
Babe
From Babe Ruth, famous baseball player and Maryland native
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-2 |
Lenna
Old German name meaning “lion-hearted”
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-2 |
Honey
A sweet liquid made by bees; good for your sweet, tan-coated Chessie
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-2 |
Trudy
German name meaning “spear of strength”
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-2 |
Keren
Hebrew name meaning “strength and power”
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-2 |
Callie
Greek name meaning “most beautiful”
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-2 |
Brownie
A sweet baked bread; good name for brown Chessies
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-2 |
Kishi
Means “beach, seashore” in Japanese
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-2 |
Brianna
Celtic name meaning “strong”
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-2 |
Blondie
Referring to someone blonde, good for deadgrass-coated Chessies
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