The Chesapeake Bay Retriever is a dog with a mysterious lineage. Some say it is part coon hound. Other stories suggest that the breed is part English water poodle. No matter. All stories show how great this dog is when you are hunting wild fowl.

If you are going hunting in tough weather conditions and need a hunting dog, you'll never find better. This is due to several of its natural attributes. For starters, it has a great short term memory and is quite intelligent. It can track a good number of birds and remember locations.

The dogs also enjoy water. They even like going out into cold water, which makes them unique among retrievers. Most dogs, even if they tolerate water, dislike cold.

A third bonus to this breed is its exceptionally thick coat. This helps keep it both warm and dry even in horrible conditions.

Lastly, the dog is very hardy physically. It can run all day and has tons of stamina. This makes for a great bird dog, when you add it to all of the other positive attributes of the breed.

The negatives for Chesapeake Bay Retrievers are not all that important for a bird dog, but are more relevant when you are choosing a pet. For instance, it is less friendly than other retriever breeds.

These dogs tend to be aggressive and fight. They also are less affectionate. Obviously, this is not the breed to choose for your kids' companion.

Still, if you are choosing a dog to be a hunting companion instead of a family pet, this is the ideal breed for you. Even with its aggressive nature, it's still a natural choice for cold weather hunting.