Are Chesapeake Bay Retrievers Good Dogs? What Science Says

Last Updated: Nov 22, 2022

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Introduction to the Temperament of the Chesapeake Bay Retriever

The are many descriptions of the temperament of the Chesapeake Bay Retriever out there. However, most of these descriptions are difficult to verify or prove. They are based on mere speculations.

In this article, we will provide a factual description of the temperament of the Chesapeake Bay Retriever based on solid scientific research. This will give you a better understanding of what you can expect from the Chesapeake Bay Retriever breed.

We obtained our description of the temperament of Chesapeake Bay Retriever by analyzing raw scientific data from The Canine Behavioral Assessment & Research Questionnaire (C-BARQ) database.

The C-BARQ dog temperament standard was developed by researchers from the University of Pennsylvania. It is considered the gold standard for measuring the behavior of dogs.

Over the years, the C-BARQ study has collected data on the temperament of thousands of dogs of different breeds including the Chesapeake Bay Retriever.

The C-BARQ study obtains its data by asking dog owners to score the behavior of their dogs on different behavior patterns.

The idea behind the C-BARQ study is that if it collects thousands of scores from thousands of dog owners on different aspects of dog behavior, a clear pattern will emerge on the temperament of different dog breeds.

The C-BARQ questionnaire measures 14 behavior aspects of dogs:

  1. Aggression towards stranger
  2. Aggression towards its owner
  3. Aggression towards other dogs
  4. How well they get along with other dogs
  5. Fear of strangers
  6. Fear of new things (new objects, unfamiliar loud sounds, etc)
  7. Fear of other dogs
  8. Separation anxiety
  9. Clinginess
  10. Trainability/ Stubbornness
  11. Prey drive
  12. Excitability
  13. Touch sensitivity
  14. Energy level

In this article, we will discuss the score of the Chesapeake Bay Retriever for each of these 14 characteristics. This will let you know the real temperament of the Chesapeake Bay Retriever.

The summary table below shows the score of the Chesapeake Bay Retriever for the different behavioral characteristics.

High percentage scores close to 100 are bad. Low percentage scores close to 0 are good.

Behavior Score
Attachment Attention Seeking 71.8 percent
Energy Level 70.1 percent
Dog Directed Aggression 69.3 percent
Prey Drive 63.3 percent
Stranger Directed Aggression 62.9 percent
Dog Rivalry 61.3 percent
Excitability 54.0 percent
Touch Sensitivity 34.5 percent
Dog Directed Fear 30.4 percent
Owner Directed Aggression 28.2 percent
Separation Related Behavior 26.0 percent
Stranger Directed Fear 21.8 percent
Stubbornness 21.1 percent
Nonsocial Fear 18.3 percent

Note that with proper training, you can better your Chesapeake Bay Retriever`s temperament. To learn how to properly train your Chesapeake Bay Retriever, I highly recommend that you go through Dr. Ian Dunbar`s online dog training classes, which you can find here.

I learned most of the things that I know about training dogs by reading Dr. Dunbar`s books and watching his training videos. Dr. Dunbar`s dog training methods are for people expecting to own a puppy soon, new dog owners, and experienced dog owners.

Another helpful online dog training class that I recommend is this one. The class will teach you how to properly train your Chesapeake Bay Retriever.

See also our complete ranking of dog breeds from the `best` to the `worst` based on temperament.

Are Chesapeake Bay Retrievers Aggressive Towards Strangers?

Dog breeds that are aggressive to strangers show hostile responses to strangers approaching or invading the dog`s or the dog owner`s personal space, territory, or home range.

Stranger-aggressive dog breeds are quick to show aggression to unfamiliar people.

Typical signs of moderate aggression in dogs include barking, growling, and baring of teeth. More serious display of aggression generally includes snapping, lunging, biting, or attempting to bite.

Chesapeake Bay Retrievers are very much aggressive towards strangers.

This is because the Chesapeake Bay Retriever ranks very high for aggression towards strangers.

The Chesapeake Bay Retriever ranks number 14 out of 124 dog breeds for aggression towards strangers.

This information is based on what 27 Chesapeake Bay Retriever owners reported on the temperament of their Chesapeake Bay Retriever in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Chesapeake Bay Retriever has a stranger-directed-aggression score of 62.9 %.

Other dog breeds that are very much aggressive towards strangers just like the Chesapeake Bay Retriever are listed in the table below

Stranger-Directed-Aggression Rank Breed Stranger-Directed-Aggression Score
11 Parson Russell Terrier 64.3 %
12 Anatolian Shepherd 63.4 %
13 Standard Schnauzer 63.3 %
14 Chesapeake Bay Retriever 62.9 %
15 Maltese 58.7 %
16 Australian Cattle Dog 58.6 %
17 Rat Terrier 56.3 %

The dog breeds that are most aggressive towards strangers are the:

  1. American Eskimo Dog
  2. Dachshund
  3. Miniature Pinscher
  4. Dachshund (Miniature)
  5. Miniature Schnauzer

The dog breeds that are least aggressive towards strangers are the:

  1. Siberian Husky
  2. Greyhound
  3. Irish Wolfhound
  4. Samoyed
  5. Black and Tan Coonhound

Usually, small dog breeds display aggression not because they are mean but because they are afraid and feel insecure due to their small size.

See our complete ranking of dog breeds from the most stranger-aggressive breed to the least stranger-aggressive breed.

Temperament of the Chesapeake Bay Retriever

Are Chesapeake Bay Retrievers Aggressive Towards their Owners?

Due to human effort over the course of many centuries, the dog has become a very domestic animal. Dogs have learned to live well with humans. As a result, dogs respect and love their owners. Nevertheless, some dog breeds are less respectful to their owners than some other dog breeds.

Owner-aggressive dog breeds show threatening or hostile responses to their owner or other members of the household when challenged, manhandled, stared at, stepped over, or when approached while in possession of food, objects, or toys.

A dog that is owner-aggressive shows its aggression by barking, growling, and baring of teeth. In extreme cases, these dogs can snap, lunge, bite, or attempt to bite their owners.

Chesapeake Bay Retrievers are quite a bit aggressive towards their owners.

This is because the Chesapeake Bay Retriever ranks high for aggression towards its owner.

The Chesapeake Bay Retriever ranks number 31 out of 124 dog breeds for aggression towards their owners.

This information is based on what 27 Chesapeake Bay Retriever owners reported on the temperament of their Chesapeake Bay Retriever in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Chesapeake Bay Retriever has an owner-directed-aggression score of 28.2 %.

Other dog breeds that are quite a bit owner-aggressive just like the Chesapeake Bay Retriever are listed in the table below

Owner-Directed-Aggression Rank Breed Owner-Directed-Aggression Score
28 Old English Sheepdog 30.2 %
29 Shiba Inu 28.8 %
30 Cocker Spaniel (American) 28.2 %
31 Chesapeake Bay Retriever 28.2 %
32 Dachshund (Miniature) 27.5 %
33 Miniature Pinscher 27.4 %
34 Poodle (Miniature) 26.5 %

The dog breeds that show the most aggression towards their owners are the:

  1. Pekingese
  2. Basenji
  3. Australian Silky Terrier
  4. Lhasa Apso
  5. Alaskan Husky

The dog breeds that are least aggressive towards their owners are the:

  1. Chinook
  2. Pointer
  3. Irish Water Spaniel
  4. Rhodesian Ridgeback
  5. Italian Greyhound

Usually, small dog breeds display aggression not because they are mean but because they are afraid and feel insecure due to their small size.

See our complete ranking of dog breeds from the ones that are most aggressive to their owners to the ones that are least aggressive to their owners.

Are Chesapeake Bay Retrievers Aggressive Towards other Dogs?

Dogs that are aggressive towards other dogs will direct aggressive threats or actions toward unknown or unfamiliar dogs.

A dog-aggressive dog will threaten or show hostile responses when approached by unfamiliar dogs

A dog that is dog-aggressive shows its aggression by barking, growling, and baring of teeth. In extreme cases, these dogs can snap, lunge, bite, or attempt to bite other dogs.

Chesapeake Bay Retrievers are very much aggressive towards other dogs.

This is because the Chesapeake Bay Retriever ranks very high for aggression towards other dogs.

The Chesapeake Bay Retriever ranks number 17 out of 124 dog breeds for aggression towards other dogs.

This information is based on what 27 Chesapeake Bay Retriever owners reported on the temperament of their Chesapeake Bay Retriever in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Chesapeake Bay Retriever has a dog-directed aggression score of 69.3 %.

Other dog breeds that are very much dog-aggressive just like the Chesapeake Bay Retriever are listed in the table below

Dog-Directed-Aggression Rank Breed Dog-Directed-Aggression Score
14 Fox Terrier (Smooth) 70.3 %
15 Pit Bull 69.7 %
16 Miniature Pinscher 69.3 %
17 Chesapeake Bay Retriever 69.3 %
18 Australian Kelpie 69.2 %
19 Old English Sheepdog 68.9 %
20 Bullmastiff 68.7 %

The dog breeds that show the most aggression towards other dogs are the:

  1. American Eskimo Dog
  2. Parson Russell Terrier
  3. Chinese Crested
  4. Pit Bull mix
  5. Dachshund

The dog breeds that are least aggressive towards other dogs are the:

  1. Pointer
  2. Black and Tan Coonhound
  3. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
  4. Irish Wolfhound
  5. Keeshond

Usually, small dog breeds display aggression not because they are mean but because they are afraid and feel insecure due to their small size.

See our complete ranking of dog breeds from the ones that are most aggressive to other dogs to the ones that are least aggressive to other dogs.

Personality of the Chesapeake Bay Retriever

Are Chesapeake Bay Retrievers Afraid of Strangers?

Some dogs breeds tend to be fearful of strangers.

Dogs that are fearful of strangers will avoid strangers. These dogs will crouch, cringe, or tremble when approached by strangers.

Extreme fear in dogs is characterized by serious attempts to escape or hide from the feared stranger.

Chesapeake Bay Retrievers are a little bit fearful of strangers.

This is because the Chesapeake Bay Retriever ranks low for fear of strangers.

The Chesapeake Bay Retriever ranks number 76 out of 124 dog breeds for fear of strangers.

This information is based on what 27 Chesapeake Bay Retriever owners reported on the temperament of their Chesapeake Bay Retriever in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Chesapeake Bay Retriever has a stranger-directed-fear score of 21.8 %.

Other dog breeds that are a little bit stranger-fearful just like the Chesapeake Bay Retriever are listed in the table below

Stranger-Directed-Fear Rank Breed Stranger-Directed-Fear Score
73 American Pit Bull Terrier 22.9 %
74 West Highland White Terrier 22.7 %
75 Poodle (Standard) 22.2 %
76 Chesapeake Bay Retriever 21.8 %
77 Pug 21.2 %
78 Pit Bull 21.2 %
79 English Bulldog 21.1 %

The dog breeds that show the most fear of strangers are the:

  1. Dachshund (Miniature)
  2. Chinese Crested
  3. American Eskimo Dog
  4. Italian Greyhound
  5. Chihuahua

The dog breeds that are least fearful of strangers are the:

  1. Old English Sheepdog
  2. Irish Wolfhound
  3. Norwegian Elkhound
  4. Siberian Husky
  5. Giant Schnauzer

See our complete ranking of dog breeds from the ones that are most fearful of strangers to the ones that are least fearful to strangers.

Are Chesapeake Bay Retrievers Afraid of Other Dogs?

Some dogs breeds tend to show fear when an unfamiliar dog approaches them.

A dog that is fearful of other dogs will try to avoid meeting other dogs.

Chesapeake Bay Retrievers are a little bit fearful of other dogs.

This is because the Chesapeake Bay Retriever ranks low for fear of other dogs.

The Chesapeake Bay Retriever ranks number 76 out of 124 dog breeds for fear of other dogs.

This information is based on what 27 Chesapeake Bay Retriever owners reported on the temperament of their Chesapeake Bay Retriever in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Chesapeake Bay Retriever has a dog-directed-fear score of 30.4 %.

Other dog breeds that are a little bit other-dog-fearful just like the Chesapeake Bay Retriever are listed in the table below

Dog-Directed-Fear Rank Breed Dog-Directed-Fear Score
73 Norwegian Elkhound 31.8 %
74 Chinese Shar-Pei 31.6 %
75 Keeshond 31.4 %
76 Chesapeake Bay Retriever 30.4 %
77 Brittany 29.9 %
78 Golden Retriever 29.4 %
79 Labrador Retriever 27.9 %

The dog breeds that are most fearful of other dogs are the:

  1. Dachshund (Miniature)
  2. Fox Terrier (Toy)
  3. Chinese Crested
  4. Chihuahua
  5. Lhasa Apso

The dog breeds that are least fearful of other dogs are the:

  1. Giant Schnauzer
  2. Ibizan Hound
  3. Eurasier
  4. Kuvasz
  5. Borzoi

See our complete ranking of dog breeds from the ones that are most fearful of other dogs to the ones that are least fearful of other dogs.

Is the Chesapeake Bay Retriever a good pet

Do Chesapeake Bay Retrievers Have Non-Social Fears?

Dogs that are fearful of sudden or loud noises, traffic, and unfamiliar objects and situations are said to exhibit nonsocial fear.

Chesapeake Bay Retrievers are a little bit fearful of unfamiliar sounds, situations, and objects.

This is because the Chesapeake Bay Retriever ranks low for non-social fear.

The Chesapeake Bay Retriever ranks number 96 out of 124 dog breeds for being fearful of unfamiliar things and situations.

This information is based on what 27 Chesapeake Bay Retriever owners reported on the temperament of their Chesapeake Bay Retriever in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Chesapeake Bay Retriever has a nonsocial-fear score of 18.3 %.

Other dog breeds that are a little bit nonsocial-fearful just like the Chesapeake Bay Retriever are listed in the table below

Nonsocial-Fear Rank Breed Nonsocial-Fear Score
93 Vizsla 19.4 %
94 Irish Wolfhound 18.7 %
95 Weimaraner 18.4 %
96 Chesapeake Bay Retriever 18.3 %
97 Pointer 17.9 %
98 Collie 17.7 %
99 Irish Water Spaniel 17.6 %

The dog breeds that are most fearful of unfamiliar situations and objects are the:

  1. Australian Silky Terrier
  2. Dingo
  3. Fox Terrier (Smooth)
  4. English Bulldog
  5. Italian Greyhound

The dog breeds that are least fearful of unfamiliar situations and objects are the:

  1. Giant Schnauzer
  2. Siberian Husky
  3. Irish Setter
  4. Kuvasz
  5. Borzoi

See our complete ranking of dog breeds from the ones that are most fearful of unfamiliar situations to the ones least fearful of unfamiliar situations.

Do Chesapeake Bay Retrievers Get Along Well With Other Dogs?

Some dog breeds display high dog rivalry. These dog breeds will threaten or act hostile to other familiar dogs in the same household.

These dog breeds will compete with other dogs. Also, these dog breeds do not get along well with other dogs.

Chesapeake Bay Retrievers are very much competitive when dealing with other dogs.

This is because the Chesapeake Bay Retriever ranks very high on dog rivalry.

The Chesapeake Bay Retriever ranks number 19 out of 124 dog breeds for displaying dog rivalry when dealing with familiar dogs.

This information is based on what 27 Chesapeake Bay Retriever owners reported on the temperament of their Chesapeake Bay Retriever in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Chesapeake Bay Retriever has a dog-rivalry score of 61.3 %.

Other dog breeds that are very much competition-driven just like the Chesapeake Bay Retriever are listed in the table below

Dog-Rivalry Rank Breed Dog-Rivalry Score
16 American Eskimo Dog 68.0 %
17 Chihuahua 62.7 %
18 Jack Russell Terrier 61.7 %
19 Chesapeake Bay Retriever 61.3 %
20 Shiba Inu 60.5 %
21 Chinese Shar-Pei 59.9 %
22 Pit Bull mix 59.7 %

The dog breeds that do not get along well with other dogs are the:

  1. Miniature Pinscher
  2. Parson Russell Terrier
  3. Fox Terrier (Smooth)
  4. French Bulldog
  5. Treeing Walker Coonhound

The dog breeds that get along well with other dogs are the:

  1. Chinook
  2. Saint Bernard
  3. Norwegian Elkhound
  4. Italian Greyhound
  5. Scottish Terrier

See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on how well they get along with other dog breeds.

The Chesapeake Bay Retriever. Is it aggressive?

Are Chesapeake Bay Retrievers Easy to Train?

Dogs have high trainability have the willingness to listen to their owner. These dogs are not stubborn. These dogs obey simple commands, and they learn very quickly.

Highly trainable dogs excel at fetching objects. They also respond positively to correction and ignore distraction.

Chesapeake Bay Retrievers are quite a bit easy to train.

This is because the Chesapeake Bay Retriever ranks high for trainability.

The Chesapeake Bay Retriever ranks number 31 out of 124 dog breeds for easiness to train.

This information is based on what 27 Chesapeake Bay Retriever owners reported on the trainability of their Chesapeake Bay Retriever in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Chesapeake Bay Retriever has a trainability score of 78.9 %.

Other dog breeds that are quite a bit easy to train just like the Chesapeake Bay Retriever are listed in the table below

Trainability Rank Breed Trainability Score
28 Giant Schnauzer 80.1 %
29 Standard Schnauzer 79.9 %
30 Eurasier 79.2 %
31 Chesapeake Bay Retriever 78.9 %
32 Papillon 78.8 %
33 Labrador Retriever 78.8 %
34 Weimaraner 78.8 %

The dog breeds that are most easy to train are the:

  1. Belgian Tervuren
  2. Belgian Malinois
  3. Border Collie
  4. Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever
  5. Irish Water Spaniel

The dog breeds that are difficult to train are the:

  1. Dingo
  2. Treeing Walker Coonhound
  3. Basenji
  4. Afghan Hound
  5. Pekingese

See our complete ranking of dog breeds from the ones that are easiest to train to the ones that are most difficult to train.

Learn more about how intelligent the Chesapeake Bay Retriever is and how the intelligence of the Chesapeake Bay Retriever affects its trainability in this article on how smart the Chesapeake Bay Retriever is.

Do Chesapeake Bay Retrievers Get Along Well with Cats? Do They Get Along Well with Other Pets?

Dog breeds that have high chase-drive will run after (chase) cats, birds, and/or other small animals, given the opportunity.

Chesapeake Bay Retrievers are quite a bit into chasing after other smaller pets like cats, squirrels, chickens, and birds.

This is because the Chesapeake Bay Retriever ranks high for small-pet-chasing.

The Chesapeake Bay Retriever ranks number 33 out of 124 dog breeds for chasing after smaller pets.

This information is based on what 27 Chesapeake Bay Retriever owners reported on the temperament of their Chesapeake Bay Retriever in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Chesapeake Bay Retriever has a chasing score of 63.3 %.

Other dog breeds that are quite a bit into chasing after smaller pets just like the Chesapeake Bay Retriever are listed in the table below

Chasing Rank Breed Chasing Score
30 Doberman Pinscher 64.5 %
31 Irish Setter 64.1 %
32 Standard Schnauzer 63.7 %
33 Chesapeake Bay Retriever 63.3 %
34 Alaskan Husky 63.0 %
35 English Setter 62.8 %
36 Giant Schnauzer 62.4 %

The dog breeds that like chasing after cats and other smaller pets are the:

  1. Basenji
  2. Dingo
  3. Ibizan Hound
  4. Parson Russell Terrier
  5. Borzoi

The dog breeds that will not chase after cats and other smaller pets are the:

  1. Pug
  2. Bulldog
  3. Shih Tzu
  4. Bernese Mountain Dog
  5. Great Pyrenees

See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their prey drive.

Things to know before getting the Chesapeake Bay Retriever

Do Chesapeake Bay Retrievers Like Attention? Are they Clingy or Aloof?

Some dog breeds like to stay close to their owners all the time. These dogs like attention, and they like to receive the affection of their owners.

These dogs get jealous when their owners give attention to other dogs or other people instead of them.

Dogs with these traits are described as attachment/attention-seeking.

Chesapeake Bay Retrievers are very much attachment/attention-seeking.

This is because the Chesapeake Bay Retriever ranks very high for attachment/attention-seeking behavior.

The Chesapeake Bay Retriever ranks number 23 out of 124 dog breeds for attachment/attention-seeking behavior.

This information is based on what 27 Chesapeake Bay Retriever owners reported on the temperament of their Chesapeake Bay Retriever in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Chesapeake Bay Retriever has an attachment/attention-seeking score of 71.8 %.

Other dog breeds that are very much attachment/attention-seeking just like the Chesapeake Bay Retriever are listed in the table below

Attachment-Attention-Seeking Rank Breed Attachment-Attention-Seeking Score
20 Maltese 72.5 %
21 Doberman Pinscher 72.3 %
22 Australian Shepherd 72.2 %
23 Chesapeake Bay Retriever 71.8 %
24 Pug 70.5 %
25 Giant Schnauzer 69.6 %
26 Staffordshire Bull Terrier 69.2 %

The dog breeds that are always seeking the attention of their owners are the:

  1. Poodle (Toy)
  2. Fox Terrier (Toy)
  3. Australian Silky Terrier
  4. Australian Cattle Dog
  5. American Eskimo Dog

The dog breeds that are aloof are the:

  1. Norwegian Elkhound
  2. Borzoi
  3. Kuvasz
  4. English Setter
  5. Chow Chow

See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their clinginess.

Do Chesapeake Bay Retrievers have Separation Anxiety? Do They Like to be Left Alone?

Dog breeds that have separation anxiety do not like to be left alone.

These dog breeds tend to bark and destroy things when separated from their owners.

They become restless or lose their appetite when left alone.

Chesapeake Bay Retrievers are a little bit prone to developing separation anxiety.

This is because the Chesapeake Bay Retriever ranks low for separation anxiety relative to other dog breeds.

The Chesapeake Bay Retriever ranks number 94 out of 124 dog breeds for separation anxiety.

This information is based on what 27 Chesapeake Bay Retriever owners reported on the temperament of their Chesapeake Bay Retriever in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Chesapeake Bay Retriever has a separation anxiety score of 26.0 %.

Other dog breeds that are a little bit prone to develop separation anxiety just like the Chesapeake Bay Retriever are listed in the table below

Separation-Related-Behavior Rank Breed Separation-Related-Behavior Score
91 Akita 26.1 %
92 Saint Bernard 26.1 %
93 Labrador Retriever 26.0 %
94 Chesapeake Bay Retriever 26.0 %
95 Lagotto Romagnolo 25.9 %
96 Border Collie 25.4 %
97 Australian Shepherd 25.2 %

The dog breeds that are most prone to develop separation anxiety are listed below. These dog breeds do not like to be left alone. These dog breeds are the:

  1. Treeing Walker Coonhound
  2. Fox Terrier (Smooth)
  3. Chinese Crested
  4. Miniature Pinscher
  5. Australian Silky Terrier

The dog breeds that are least prone to develop separation anxiety are the:

  1. Kuvasz
  2. Borzoi
  3. Giant Schnauzer
  4. Eurasier
  5. Bernese Mountain Dog

See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their tendency to develop separation anxiety.

Temperament Profile of the Chesapeake Bay Retriever

Are Chesapeake Bay Retrievers Touch Sensitive? Do They Like to be Groomed?

Dogs that are touch-sensitive are fearful of `painful` procedures such as bathing, grooming, nail clipping, and veterinary examinations.

These dogs do not like going through these `painful` procedures, and they will react to show they do not like the procedure.

Chesapeake Bay Retrievers are quite a bit touch-sensitive.

This is because the Chesapeake Bay Retriever ranks high for touch sensitivity.

The Chesapeake Bay Retriever ranks number 46 out of 124 dog breeds for touch sensitivity.

This information is based on what 27 Chesapeake Bay Retriever owners reported on the temperament of their Chesapeake Bay Retriever in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Chesapeake Bay Retriever has a touch-sensitivity score of 34.5 %.

Other dog breeds that are quite a bit touch-sensitive just like the Chesapeake Bay Retriever are listed in the table below

Touch-Sensitivity Rank Breed Touch-Sensitivity Score
43 Greyhound 34.8 %
44 Papillon 34.7 %
45 West Highland White Terrier 34.5 %
46 Chesapeake Bay Retriever 34.5 %
47 Border Collie 34.5 %
48 Redbone Coonhound 33.1 %
49 French Bulldog 32.8 %

The dog breeds that are most touch-sensitive are the:

  1. Fox Terrier (Toy)
  2. Miniature Pinscher
  3. Pekingese
  4. Australian Silky Terrier
  5. Chihuahua

The dog breeds that are least touch-sensitive are the:

  1. Kuvasz
  2. Borzoi
  3. Pointer
  4. Gordon Setter
  5. Portuguese Water Dog

See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their sensitivity to touch.

Are Chesapeake Bay Retrievers Hyper? Are they Highly Excitable?

Excitable dog or hyper dog breeds display strong reactions to potentially exciting or arousing events, such as:

  • going for walks
  • car trips
  • sound of the doorbell
  • arrival of visitors, and
  • the owner arriving home

Highly excitable dog breeds have difficulty settling down after arousal.

Chesapeake Bay Retrievers are quite a bit hyper (excitable).

This is because the Chesapeake Bay Retriever ranks high for excitability.

The Chesapeake Bay Retriever ranks number 31 out of 124 dog breeds for excitability.

This information is based on what 27 Chesapeake Bay Retriever owners reported on the temperament of their Chesapeake Bay Retriever in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Chesapeake Bay Retriever has an excitability score of 54.0 %.

Other dog breeds that are quite a bit excitable just like the Chesapeake Bay Retriever are listed in the table below

Excitability Rank Breed Excitability Score
28 Pug 55.2 %
29 Fox Terrier (Wire/Wire-haired) 54.9 %
30 French Bulldog 54.7 %
31 Chesapeake Bay Retriever 54.0 %
32 German Wirehaired Pointer 53.9 %
33 American Staffordshire Terrier 53.7 %
34 German Shorthaired Pointer 53.5 %

The dog breeds that are most hyper (excitable) are the:

  1. Australian Silky Terrier
  2. Fox Terrier (Smooth)
  3. American Eskimo Dog
  4. Parson Russell Terrier
  5. Miniature Schnauzer

The dog breeds that are least hyper (excitable) are the:

  1. Borzoi
  2. Samoyed
  3. Great Pyrenees
  4. Italian Greyhound
  5. Anatolian Shepherd

See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on how hyper they are.

The Chesapeake Bay Retriever

Are Chesapeake Bay Retrievers Playful? What is the Energy Level of Chesapeake Bay Retrievers

Energetic dog breeds are very playful dog breeds. These are the dog breeds that do not get tired easily.

Chesapeake Bay Retrievers are quite a bit energetic.

This is because the Chesapeake Bay Retriever ranks high for energy level.

The Chesapeake Bay Retriever ranks number 31 out of 124 dog breeds for energy level.

This information is based on what 27 Chesapeake Bay Retriever owners reported on the temperament of their Chesapeake Bay Retriever in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Chesapeake Bay Retriever has an energy-level score of 70.1 %.

Other dog breeds that are quite a bit energetic just like the Chesapeake Bay Retriever are listed in the table below

Energy-Level Rank Breed Energy-Level Score
28 Doberman Pinscher 70.7 %
29 Irish Water Spaniel 70.6 %
30 Dalmatian 70.2 %
31 Chesapeake Bay Retriever 70.1 %
32 Fox Terrier (Wire/Wire-haired) 68.9 %
33 Australian Shepherd 68.5 %
34 Bull Terrier 68.2 %

The dog breeds that are most playful and most energetic are the:

  1. Belgian Malinois
  2. Belgian Tervuren
  3. Fox Terrier (Toy)
  4. German Shorthaired Pointer
  5. Ibizan Hound

The dog breeds that are laziest are the:

  1. Kuvasz
  2. Anatolian Shepherd
  3. Greyhound
  4. Great Pyrenees
  5. Pekingese

See our complete ranking of dog breeds from the most energetic to the least energetic.

Conclusion on Chesapeake Bay Retriever Temperament

The temperament of your Chesapeake Bay Retriever comes from a combination of its genetics and what environment your Chesapeake Bay Retriever is exposed to.

You cannot change your Chesapeake Bay Retriever`s gene but you can change the things you expose your Chesapeake Bay Retriever to.

Exposing your Chesapeake Bay Retriever to dog training sessions early in its life can help you mold the temperament of your Chesapeake Bay Retriever to what you desire.

Again, with proper training, you can better your Chesapeake Bay Retriever`s temperament. To learn how to properly train a dog, I highly recommend Dr. Ian Dunbar`s online dog training classes, which you can find here.

I learned most of the things I know about training dogs by reading Dr. Dunbar`s books and watching his training videos. Dr. Dunbar`s dog training methods are for people expecting to own a puppy soon, new dog owners, and experienced dog owners.

Another helpful online dog training class that I recommend is this one. The class will teach you how to properly train your Chesapeake Bay Retriever.

If you think the Chesapeake Bay Retriever is the right dog breed for you, see our article on how much Chesapeake Bay Retrievers cost and Chesapeake Bay Retriever puppy buying guide.

Also, see our list of reputable Chesapeake Bay Retriever breeders in the United States and the prices of their Chesapeake Bay Retriever puppies.