The Chesapeake is an interesting critter. The Chessie is a rugged individual with lots of [negative] stories behind him. Most are very untrue. In truth, Chesapeakes are "soft " dogs, but with unbelievable courage. They are a true American breed that developed in eastern part of this country during the market hunting days. The Chessie has a love of birds, water, and retrieving (almost to a fault.) The Chessie is very trainable and highly intelligent, and despite what you might have been told, you don't need a 2x4 to train him.

In the duck blind or goose pit he is the best, but training him is a different story. A trainer must come to mind that there is a right way, wrong way, and Chesapeake Bay way of doing things. They are not big field trial competitors anymore, but the loyal Chessie people do quite well with them. In the past decade, the coming of the hunting tests has given the Chessie a renewed interest in duck blinds across the country.  

Unique to the breed, their coats are made for tough, icy conditions. Bred to retrieve hundreds of ducks and geese a day for market hunters, the heavy oily coat is grown to shed water and provide warmth under harsh conditions. The colors can range from Dark Brown to Light Deadgrass (straw colored). Males typically weigh in the 100+ pound range and females in the 80-90 pound range.

Male or Female?
Males seem to be a bit more brave and less timid than females. On the other hand, males have a tendency to mature slower, but don't seem to reach a saturation point in their training like the female.

Females seem to be a bit more trainable overall than males, but seem to hit a wall in advanced training for field trials. Apparently, the heat cycle is also a problem. Twice a year the dog has to come out of training due to the heat cycle. Females still make excellent hunting and competition dogs. I really like training the females better than the males, so really this is just a personal opinion. I guess that is why they make Ford's and Chevy's.

Just make sure that you find a puppy that has come from a reputable breeder. Ask a professional trainer or advanced amateur for litter information in your area. Retriever Field Trial News (on the net) is another great source when looking for a puppy. Look for OFA numbers and CERF on the parents. Get all of the information in writing. Well-bred dogs can be a pleasure and joy to train. Be prepared to pay top dollar for your puppy. The old saying usually applies here when buying a puppy, "You get what you pay for," when looking at the overall picture the price of the puppy is a minor one when you put the cost of vet bills and training (professional or do-it-yourself) time and boarding of your retriever.