Chesapeake Bay Retriever vs Labrador Retriever

A Chesapeake Bay Retriever
Photo: Original uploader was Keith Rousseau at en.wikipedia
A Labrador Retriever
Photo: SixtyWeb

Side by side

Chesapeake Bay Retriever
Labrador Retriever
Adult weight
Males 29.5–36.5 kg (65–80 lb); females 25–32 kg (55–71 lb)1
Males 29–36 kg (65–80 lb); females 25–32 kg (55–70 lb) (breed club figure)2
Lifespan
Median 11.6 years3
Median 13.1 years3
Fully grown
12 months, both sexes4
Group
Retrievers & water dogs1
Retrievers & water dogs5
Coat
Short coat1
Short coat5
Shedding
Moults most as the seasons change
Grooming
A brush once a week
Exercise
Plenty
Health
No sourced figure
Elbow joint disease (much more likely); Outward-drooping eyelid (much more likely)6,7
Class
Field
Family

Which suits you

Lifespan
In UK vet records the Labrador Retriever lives longer: a median of 13.1 years, against 11.6 for the Chesapeake Bay Retriever.
Temperament
They differ most on loyalty (Chesapeake Bay Retriever: sticks close to its people; Labrador Retriever: friendly with everyone) and on handler demand (Chesapeake Bay Retriever: needs an experienced owner; Labrador Retriever: suits a first-time owner).
Alike
The Chesapeake Bay Retriever and the Labrador Retriever are much the same size as adults, both about 31 kg (68 lb).
Alike
Both are rated the same on sensitivity: hardy, takes a busy home in its stride.
Neither is the better dog in general. Which suits you depends on your home, your days and the care you can give.
Take the breed matcher

What they're like

Chesapeake Bay Retriever
Retrievers & water dogs · Large

Chesapeakes are affectionate and bright with their own people but are often reserved with strangers, and many are more protective than is typical of retrievers.

Labrador Retriever
Retrievers & water dogs · Large

The breed is friendly, outgoing and keen to work alongside people. Its steady nature has made it a common choice as a guide dog for blind people.

The Chesapeake Bay Retriever page →The Labrador Retriever page →

Breed traits

Day to day
Chesapeake Bay Retriever
Labrador Retriever
Activity
Needs lots of exercise
Needs lots of exercise
Intelligence
Differs
Needs daily brain work
Learns readily, likes games
Handler demand
Differs
Needs an experienced owner
Suits a first-time owner
With people
Chesapeake Bay Retriever
Labrador Retriever
Affection
Differs
Affectionate on its own terms
A lap or leaning dog
Loyalty
Differs
Sticks close to its people
Friendly with everyone
Independence
Differs
Cooperative, with its own ideas
Keen to work with you
Around the home
Chesapeake Bay Retriever
Labrador Retriever
Sensitivity
Hardy, takes a busy home in its stride
Hardy, takes a busy home in its stride
Voice
Barks to alert, then settles
Barks to alert, then settles
Prey drive
Differs
Chases; needs managing
Usually fine with small pets
Breed explains only about 9% of how individual dogs differ in behaviour8. Meet the dog. A good breeder breeds for temperament as well as health, and matches each puppy's personality to the right home9,10.

Puppy growth

Reference curves · both sexes
Both grow to much the same adult weight, about 31 kg.
Chesapeake Bay Retriever
Labrador Retriever
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More comparisons

Compare the Chesapeake Bay Retriever with
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Sources

Parts of this page were written by AI ·