When the Chesapeake leaves the water and shakes, the coat should not hold water at all, being merely moist. Honorable scars are not to be penalized. As speed increases, the feet tend to converge toward a center line of gravity. Courage, willingness to work, alertness, nose, intelligence, love of water, general quality and, most of all, disposition should be given primary consideration in the selection and breeding of the Chesapeake Bay Retriever. Specimens lacking in breed characteristics.
Teeth overshot or undershot.
Dewclaws on the hind legs. Coat curly or with a tendency to curl all over the body. White on any part of the body except breast, belly, toes, or back of feet. The Chesapeake should be well proportioned, an animal with a good coat and well balanced in other points being preferable to one excelling in some but weak in others. From elbow to elbow over the shoulders 25 to 26 .