The Chesapeake Bay Retriever is one of 6 retriever breeds – one which was developed right here in the United States. They are not related to Labs or Goldens and have very different temperaments than what most people are used to when they think of a retriever. These large dogs love swimming more than anything else in life and will not hesitate to jump into even a freezing-temperature pond. These are loyal, loving and sensitive companions that make just as great of a pet as they do a hunting companion, as long as their unique needs are met.
Chessies are quite expressive, known to smile when they are happy (which is quite often). Many will talk and grunt when excited. Most love to be in the middle of the action, whether it be a family game outside or a quiet evening in front of the tv. This breed does well with either single people or in large families, provided they have been socialized. When small kids are involved, it is important to teach the children how to respect the dog. They don’t do well when left home alone every day and therefore don’t make great pets for those who are always at work. Although most are polite to strangers, they are usually fairly indifferent to other people (as well as other dogs).
Chesapeake Bay Retrievers are a low-maintenance breed when it comes to grooming. In fact, too much brushing or bathing can wreck their normally oily, waterproof coat. A once-weekly brushing and occasional bath should be enough to keep the coat in good condition. Keeping nails short and ears cleaned are two of the most important grooming tasks for these retrievers. Keep in mind that the wavy coat does shed, and twice a year it is common to have brown tumbleweeds blowing across the house!
The majority of care for a Chessie comes not from grooming sessions, but from exercise. Chessies are not lazy couch potatoes and do require a moderate to high amount of daily exertion. While some may do just fine exercising themselves in a fenced yard, more active individuals benefit from long walks or jogs with their owner. Fit adults love to run alongside a bike, although this should only be reserved for mature dogs and not growing puppies.
Chessies are usually very willing to please and therefore are a delight to train. They love learning new things and working alongside their owners, and are usually quite intelligent although they do have a stubborn side! Despite their generally amiable nature, these big strong dogs need obedience training to keep from becoming too much to handle. Furthermore, many Chessies tend toward being more dominant than other breeds of dog and will take advantage of a lax household. The breed needs a job to do and obedience is one such job, which can be combined with duties such as tracking, hunting or agility. Chesapeakes are happiest when being given a task. Just letting them “be” in a household without any rules runs counterintuitive to the way that their brains are wired.
The Chesapeake Bay Retriever tends to be more protective than the other retriever breeds. Naturally territorial, he will not only protect his owner but also his home and even car. It is important that owners socialize early and train throughout the dog’s life to keep this from getting out of control, but most of the time these dogs don’t have aggression problems. Normally, the breed has a good sense about who is friend or foe, and there have been many stories of devoted Chessies protecting their owners from dangerous threats. A well-bred Chessie should be confident without being aggressive or shy, but it does take work to make sure they reach their full potential.
Although they love their people, Chessies are not overly demonstrative dogs. Unlike some of their retriever cousins, they are not prone to extreme excitement behaviors such as jumping up or licking their owners to death. They prefer to stay near their “person” quietly and politely. Furthermore, their sensitive nature means that they will pick up on the emotions of their owner and respond accordingly. Living with a Chesapeake has been compared to living with a loyal, yet reserved friend.
