Is a CBR for me?

You ask yourself, "Why do I want a Chesapeake Bay Retriever?"

If your answer is; "because I enjoy my friends Lab or Golden" or "I like the retrievers", let me point out Chesapeakes have very little in common with the other retrievers.

In a discussion of breed differences with Chris Walkowicz, author of The Perfect Match: A Dog Buyer's Guide, her comment was "The only thing they [Chesapeake vs Lab or Golden] really have in common (besides the leg in each corner, etc.) is the will to retrieve!"

If you want a dog your friends will enjoy, you may find the Chesapeake a poor choice. Chesapeakes are inclined to be aloof and indifferent to other people.

Chesapeakes are protective, loyal dogs who are serious about the work they do. They bear the reputation as hard headed and they still retain the mental toughness and independent single mindedness of their history.
Chessies are a dominant breed that needs firm consistent owners who offer firm consistent training. Once a Chesapeake knows who is giving the orders you will have a hard and willing worker. With this training in place, they make superb companions. Basic obedience and good manners are not optional for a Chesapeake.

A Chesapeake is a devoted family dog who loves children and is a water lover extrordinare. Although most families could hardly provide the kind of work performed by one early dog, who “all his life worked an average of five days of every seven,” it is necessary to provide your Chesapeake with adequate exercise and some kind of job to make him - and consequently his owner - content. Time in the yard or room to run are not enough for this breed.

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An important point to remember; if you don’t teach your puppy how you want it to behave, Pups will make up their own rules, and odds are, these will not please you. Many of these self-taught habits may be “cute” the first time you see them, but just wait until your pup is a bit older and quite a bit bigger! Start him off on the right foot with early training.

We believe that basic training is essential for any dog; however,

Chesapeakes have a particularly strong need work, not only exercise but an activity that involves mental stimulation.  Doing so is not only an enjoyable pastime, but will also result in a dog who is most attentive and responsive to you.  Once a Chesapeake has learned something they are apt to retain it.  Remember that puppies will grow into assertive determined adults.  Chesapeakes generally will not work readily for trainers, resulting in many who label the breed as stubborn.  The Chesapeakes tend to shine when trained by their owner.

As a protector, the Chesapeake will take responsibility for the yard, the car, the children, the house, their cat. This necessitates a solid temperament and a lot of socialization to help teach the Chessie to distinguish the good guy from the bad guy.

Do not get a Chesapeake Bay Retriever if;