Chessie Facts

The Chesapeake Bay Retriever

The Chesapeake Bay is the most powerful of the retrievers, with the strongest personality, yet possessed of quite good sense. This rugged dog should be taken hiking, biking, jogging, and swimming as often as possible. A walk around the block is not enough to maintain his muscle tone or to satisfy his working instincts. This breed needs a job (learning obedience exercises, fetching a stick or ball, field work), else he will find his own ways to keep himself busy, and you may not appreciate his choices. The most protective of the retrievers, typically he is reserved with strangers and intensely loyal to his family. Most are fine with the pets in their own family, but some are territorial with strange dogs and cats. You must control his tendency to chew on objects and to mouth your hands -- provide a box filled with toys so he can carry something around in his mouth. Confident leadership and obedience training are required to develop respect. This breed will test members of the family to find his place in the pecking order. If you don't take the top position, HE will.
If you want a dog who...
  • Is the most rugged and powerful of the six retriever breeds
  • Has a short harsh "kinky" coat that comes in natural earthtone shades
  • Loves the great outdoors and thrives on vigorous athletic activities
  • Is steady-tempered and dependable
  • Is more serious and more discriminating with strangers than the happy-go-lucky Golden or Labrador Retriever
If you don't want to deal with...
  • Vigorous exercise requirements
  • Rowdiness and exuberant jumping, especially when young
  • Destructiveness when bored or not exercised enough
  • Aggresion or shyness toward people, when not socialized enough
  • Strong-willed mind of his own, requiring a confident owner who can take charge
  • Territorial aggression toward dogs and cats he doesn't know
  • Mouthiness -- carrying and chewing objects, mouthing your hands
...A Chesapeake Bay Retriever may not be right for you.
  • The Chesapeake Bay Retriever originated in the United States
  • The breed is known for its prowess in rough, icy water
  • The Chesapeake Bay Retriever can be brown, sedge or deadgrass in color
  • The Chesapeake Bay Retriever has a thick, short, slightly wavy coat
  • The Chesapeake Bay Retriever's specialty is to swim through icy water to bring in downed ducks and geese​

​Source:
​"Chesapeake Bay Retriever Temperament: What's Good About 'Em, What's Bad About 'EM." Chesapeake Bay Retriever Temperament, Personality, Behavior, Traits, and Characteristics. Michele Welton. Copyright @ 2000-2015