Have you ever heard of a dog breed known as the Chesapeake Bay Retriever? Many people have not. It's origins are hard to track as well. Some suggest that it is a retriever that has been bred with coon hounds, while other legends suggest an English water poodle. Regardless, the one thing that all stories about this dog breed share is the fact that it is a great water dog that is excellent for hunting any sort of bird game.

This dog has some specialized traits that help it be a great hunting dog. It excels in bad conditions, even. First and foremost it is smart and has a great short term memory. Because of this it can remember where a number of birds are.

Secondly, the dog does well in water. It likes water and will readily get wet, even in cold water. This trait alone make the Chesapeake Bay Retriever unique and prized even in comparison with other retrievers.

Third, the dog has a very thick coat. Water and cold don't penetrate it easily, allowing it to stay nice and warm and dry in conditions that would really bother other dogs.

Lastly, the dog has a great deal of stamina. A Chesapeake Bay Retriever can run all day long. This makes it a tireless bird dog. Add all of the positives together and you have a great hunting companion.

There are some drawbacks to the breed however. For starters, it's not the easygoing friendly dog that you will get with a golden retriever or a Labrador retriever.

You don't want to pick this dog for a family pet, for instance. Chesapeake Bay Retrievers aren't as affectionate as other retrievers, and are inclined to fight besides.

Still, as a bird dog for use in cold weather climates it is unparalleled. It can perform well in practice, which makes it worth the trouble even though it can sometimes be aggressive.