Cheasapeake bay retriever

[crackerd]

Re the "untrainable" one above, the guy has had several well behaved Labradors since I've known him, it may be that the Chessie was just not the right temperament for him but I gained the impression it was somewhat thick and obstreperous!

You're only saying that 'cause it's 'Merican-made. But guess what - I'll second your assessment!

Now if you want to discourse on the mini-Chessie (a k a Boykin), only a panegyric will spring forth...

MG

[Anne]

I know someone who had a Chessie a few years ago. He was a huge brute of a dog and definitely not a first time owner's dog. Very strong in body and very obstinate but he made a good guard dog! Don't know about working ability as he was just a pet but other retrievers seem easier to train. Then again I'm only judging on this one dog and others may be OK. His owners certainly said they'd never have another one!

Anne

[newf]

All that being said, if I was seriously looking for a good working chessie then I would search from good stock, like one would do with any breed of gundog. On the American RTF forum there are members who think they are the cat's "meow".

[Rough_mut]

A mate had one as a mountain dog, certainly wasn't water shy!

He never worked it but it once helped him find his quail and brought them all nicely back to him!

I seem to recall he got his from a line of crufts champs, not sure how many working lines there will be?

RM

[crackerd]

...On the American RTF forum there are members who think they are the cat's "meow".

Pssst, newf - those of us who have to train with them can think of another item of feline equipage that might more accurately reflect our feelings.

MG

[Judy]

Of the ones I've seen it isn't the whiskers!

[Naj]

It's the same with any minority breed. Sourcing working parents is always a problem and even when you do there's no guarantee the working qualities and temperament haven't been lost or weakened through generations of neglect. If you desperately want one then accept it may be a compromise, but if youre looking for a dog you can relatively easily train to FT standard then stick to field trial breeding in retrievers or spaniels, which will bring you back to the mainstream working breeds. Some strains of Clumber are the exceptions to this but Cheaseapeakes are light years behind them.

Naj

[newf]

...On the American RTF forum there are members who think they are the cat's "meow".

Pssst, newf - those of us who have to train with them can think of another item of feline equipage that might more accurately reflect our feelings.

MG

That bad hey ? Is it with training or temperament ?

[Stacia]

I met a chap with two while either shooting or training, so far back I cannot remember now. They looked well behaved, however, he said the coats were oily and left dirty oil marks on the walls inside the house.

[munstyman]

I think Chessies need to be motivated correctly, they won't just do something over and over again because they can. Picking up would not be my first thought for a Cheasapeake, but for lone wild fowling it would be a dog I wouldn't discount.