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.