The coat of the Chesapeake dog is thick and short with a dense woolly undercoat. The coat can be wavy but is not generally curly, feeling oily when touched. It is advised not to wash this dog, as damage can be done to its waterproof coat.Also take care when brushing, which should only be necessary when the dog is moulting. Brushing will remove the dead and loose hairs. Bathing and excessive brushing could damage the texture of the coat - and so the Chesapeake can sometimes have a rather strong dog smell about them.