1. Red-brown: is a natural color for your Tennessee River Chesapeake . But it can also be caused by food lacking in oils, sun bleaching or it can occur when your Tennessee River Chesapeake is close to shedding.  If you will increase the fish oils in your Tennessee River Chesapeake’s diet you will often quickly lose the reddish color.
2. Dark Brown: This is the most desired and popular color for a Tennessee River Chesapeake. White markings on the chest and toes are allowed but any white on the chin or face is improper.
3. Medium Brown: often described as the color of quality cowhide leather this shade of brown is a medium tan and it is much lighter than the dark brown shade.
4. Deadgrass: Blonde almost a yellow lab color however sun bleaching can lighten or add red to any of these colors.
5. Light brown: The color is as light as deadgrass but has less golden blonde yellow.
6. Sedge: This is a very light reddish brown similar to the light brown. But this is a red-brown-gold color.  What Light brown is to dark brown sedge is to Red Brown.  This is a light version of reddish brown.

1. Tanpoint: Tan on the feet or extending up the legs. This will be seen as tan hound like markings on the chest, eyes or tail.  Remember that Chesapeake Bay Retrievers were first bred to many hounds in the early history of the breed around Chesapeake Bay. These colors are undesired in the show ring but the dog may still be a good retriever.
2. Shading masking or masked sedge: In Chesapeake Bay Retrievers the “cap” on top of the head can be accompanied by lighter shading on the cheek and throat bordered by darker hair down the sides of the neck and across the chest.  Again an undesired color for the show ring for your Chesapeake Bay Retriever.

Chesapeake Bay Retriever pups often have “shading” or “puppy fuzz” which will be gone at 2 months except for the curly darker area on the back and the tail. The backbone and tail of a Chesapeake Bay Retriever should always have curls.