Chesapeake Bay Retriever vs Labrador Retriever?

[Catstar68]

After 25 years in veterinary medicine, I'm going to massively generalize here

I have see extremes on all sides of the spectrum and an ill-bred dog or one with a bad upbringing can happen in any breed.
My personal experience has been (keep in mind a vet office rarely brings out the best in a dog):
Chessie - I've always been cautious with chessies. I seem to have run into alot that have had a screw loose. If a lab and a chessie were in the waiting room and I had to bet money on which one was going to get spooky on me, I'd bet on the chessie.

Chocolate lab - one step below the chessie in spookiness. The most likely lab that would be a problem back in the surgical suite for catheters, nail trims, blood draws.

Black lab - generally easy to handle and willing to be handled. I've only met one truly vicious lab - one that would try to bite you if your back was turned. I've met a few fear biters but that is just poor socialization for the most part.

Yellow labs - big babies. also tend to be the more high-energy of the bunch. We had one, Jeter, that we eventually amputated his front leg because his fracture would not heal - he blew off 2 plates and broke numerous screws and pins. It did not slow him down.

Just personal experience and I've met dogs of all these breeds that I have fallen in love with and would have had as my dog in a heart beat.
Upbringing is so important with any dog. Good luck with your search!

 

[roocrazy]

Not one of your choices but have you considered German Shorthaired Pointers, they're chocolate,(LIVER), but its the same color. Our dogs are great, we have a great line of dogs. Do NOT listen to people that say german shorthaired pointers are high strung! Ours are the mellowest dogs weve ever owned not even close to the labs or springers that we have had who were very high strung, and my neighbors have had chesepeke bay retrievers and they were very high strung and and maybe it was the training of the dogs but they were dumber than a door nail.
I cannot stress how much our three shorthairs are family dogs my one year old niece loves the puppies and they love her they are around her a lot and not one single growl just love and kisses. My dog Huck is around me all the time and dosnt bug me just is by me he is my all time best friend aside from my brother. Shorthairs are awsome hunters, mine have retrieved all of my waterfowl and he is only one year old. Jess my brothers dog has won Grand Champion in: Obedience, Showmenship, AgilityX2, and got reserve in Agility and is an outstanding hunter she is awesome goose, duck ,pheasant, and grouse hunter, we also take all them out fishing in a 12 foot aluminum boat and not once have we tipped all they do is lay down. Jess, on june 1st gave birth to nine puppies all surviving and all sold very fast she was a very good mother for a first time mom.they are a very social breed of dogs

I believe that German Shorthaired Pointers meet your standards, why dont you give them a try, Trust me you Wont reget it
~RoO~

 

[Mrs. Feathers]

Did you get your dog yet???
We just lost our 13 year old English chocolate lab. He was the greatest dog I have owned right from day one. I did not do any field work with him so can`t comment on that. He was amazing with children, easy to train and later in life was a Pet Therapy dog visiting severely physically and mentally disabled adults. Always wanted to be around people, DH use to laugh that he could walk out of the room, come back 2 minutes later and always receive a joyful look from Beau. Downside....he was driven by his stomache and I am sure would go with whoever offered him the next best meal. "Leave it" was the biggest part of his training.
We have had black labs but not yellow. I must say I do not agree with the comments that behaviours are colour specific with labs. The most aggressive lab I have seen was a yellow, the spinniest we ourselves had was a black and Beau has been the mellowest and most easy going.
I think Chesapeakes are very beautiful too...I have a friend who has one. The first two years took lots of work as she was very strongwilled (the dog not my freind

) in regard to obedience training. She is now a lovely, loyal well behaved and socialized dog. My opinion is that a healthy dog, with good breeding and proper care, proper socialization and training will be a good companion.
Please post us a photo when you get your new puppy!

 

[Slinkytoys]

Yup, you have to be smarter than your Chessie and just as stubborn. Once you make it through that, you have the best, most loyal and innovative fur friend evah.
Go Chessies!

Slinky (who currently has 6 Chessies, showing one in conformation now)

 

[J.Pryce]

I have a chocolate male lab. He is the 2nd I've owned & they were both the runts of the litter & very well behaved. I have heard that the Chessies can be hard headed & hard to train.

 

[Slinkytoys]

No, they are more like mules. You can't get a mule to put themselves into harm's way. With a Chessie you have to have them understand that you are smarter than they are-----then they will do anything for you. Most hunters try to train them like a Lab or Golden, it doesn't work that way. Chessies think. They have fabulous marking abilities and much longer attention spans. You have to be fair with them, they'll take a correction but not abuse. For sure, a Chessie is NOT the dog for everyone. Just those of us who can appreciate their uniqueness.
Slinky

 

[brownlikewoah]

Quote:
this. I'm a groomer and nearly all the chessies we get have to be muzzled for some part of the grooming. Try to find a well bred lab with a good healthy background and temperament.

 

[sourland]

It's all about the breeder. When you make your choice, visit breeders and see how their dogs react and behave. Like begets like. A Chesapeake Bay retriever would absolutely fill all of your husband's criteria. That being said, they can be very stubborn, one man dogs and under the right/wrong circumstances aggressive. Labs are all over the spectrum as far as personality. One of the most common dogs in shelters is the black lab. Whichever you get, take it to obedience training and work with it daily. Both breeds are high energy and need work to be happy.

 

[iluvsedward]

Quote:
my neighbor has one and it played with my chicken, it carried my hen back to its dog-house and let go, my hen flew/ran back home