Breed FAQ
Here are a few commonly asked questions about Chesapeake Bay Retrievers.
Chessies tend to have relatively large litters, averaging close to 10 puppies. But although the breed excels at hunting, the overwhelming majority of CBRs are bred for companionship.
No. Although the Chessie shares some traits with other types of retrievers, he is a distinct dog breed unrelated to Goldens or Labs.
The Chessie is a willful dog who benefits from obedience training, and the sooner the better: you can start teaching him basic commands the first instant he crosses your threshold, as he is a quick study and tends to retain his training. Enrolling in an 8- to 10-week basic obedience course is recommended once he's been dewormed and had his first series of vaccinations, and is deemed generally healthy. If you give him an inch, he'll take a mile, so it's especially important to be consistent in your expectations and make sure everyone in the household observes the same dog rules.
It's simply a quirky habit: Chessies possess a toothy, ear-to-ear grin, at times even comically baring the front teeth. This peculiarity is generally believed to indicate happiness, which Chessies also express occasionally with vocalizations.