The Chesapeake Bay Retriever’s top-line is one of the most misunderstood (but also one of the most important aspects) of the breed, and it is unique to this retriever. A Chessie’s topline should show the hindquarters to be as high, or a wee bit higher, than the shoulders. Why? Simple. The Chessie’s hindquarters are so powerfully built to enable the dog to swim, they tend to make the topline look slightly higher at the rear. For the person who believes that form follows function, this is a thing of beauty.

From 1964, a Chesapeake Bay Retriever Print available on Ebay