#1 What kind of dog is that, is it a Labradoodle? This is one of the most commonly asked questions we encounter when shopping or walking in public. No unlike the Labradoodle, the Chesapeake Bay Retriever is a pure-bred dog recognized by the AKC for 142 years. 

#2 Are they a new designer breed? No, they are not new. However, like many dog breeds you know today they were bred for a specific purpose and owe their ancestry to a couple Newfoundland pups who survived a ship wreck off the shores of Maryland in 1820, named Sailor and Canton. Both pups were gifted to Maryland rescuers by the ship captain for their assistance.

Over the next 60 years waterfowl hunters, ranchers/farmers, and businessmen from the eastern and western shores of Maryland continued to refine the breed. The Chesapeake Bay Retriever was one of the original eight dog breeds eligible to be registered with the American Kennel Club, AKC in 1878 making the breed one of the few truly American dogs actually born or made in the USA.

The Chesapeake Bay Ducking Dog breed club formed in 1880 but failed to become recognized as the parent breed club. Another 38 years passed before the club was officially recognized by the AKC in 1918 as the American Chesapeake Club.

#3 Do you hunt with them?

Absolutely, we hunt with Chessies. Is there a better reason to owe one? The breed in our mind is first and foremost a hunting waterfowl retriever. We also enjoy running them in hunt test and field trials.

#4 What is EPPeake and how do you pronounce it?

We wanted to establish a unique brand name for us. So, we created the word EPPeake from, “Epp” in our last name and Peake from the breed’s name. The pronunciation “Epic” is intended and close enough.