Topic of discussion:

Is a Chesapeake the dog for you and your family? Bad Temperament or the Inexperienced Owner?

Temperament is very important, but it is rare that I have met a chessie with a "bad" temperament. Personally, I think these dogs are few and far between, what I most often meet is a chessie with a "bad" handler. The impression that a dog has a bad temperament is often simply the result of a mismatch between handler skills/styles and breed temperament. I think we frequently make the dog the scapegoat, when in actuality, "bad" temperaments in dogs are caused by incompatible handler/breed pairing resulting in canine behavioral problems. I too have had many people tell me that they dislike chessies because they are stubborn, aggressive and mean dogs. Then they meet Roo....then they backstep and say that she is exceptional for the breed. No disrespect to my breeder, Janet Birk, who did an excellent job properly socializing my puppy, but my response is always the same...

"Roo is not exceptional for the breed, she is typical for the breed. What you have most likely met in the past is a handler who did not have the skills and experience necessary to train this breed. The chessie you met most likely developed behavior problems as a result."

Chessies are not a breed for general consumption and personally, I would not want them to be. Good working dogs rarely are. They are assertive, have quick intelligence and they problem solve, therefore they benefit immensely from an experienced, fair and consistent handler to bring out their potential as a working partner. Being also bred for protection they will stand up for themselves and therefore require proper socialization and an aware and steady trainer.

Mismatchs between handler and dog is not exclusive to our breed, everyday I meet people who should not have the dog or breed that they have chosen for themselves. Too often they pick breeds for superficial reasons without proper knowledge of breed characteristics; and they pick individual dogs with little regard to temperament or status within the pack. We have all met these owners and they give certain breeds a bad reputation. Ours included. I'm not disagreeing that breeders should put as strong an emphasis on temperament and drive as they put on structure and function. Coming from a working dog background I whole heartly believe this. However, my expereince is that bad temperaments are rarely just the results of genetics and bad breeding. They are more often the result of a handler mismatch....of putting a particular type of dog in the home of an unsuitable handler.

While breeding for good temperament, trainability, work ethic and drive is important, it is just as important for a breeder to be very selective about what type of home they place a chessie into. With their intelligence and strong personalities they can easily overrun a household and a handler who lacks the skill to properly work and focus a strong dog. What we do in SAR (Search & Rescue) is not a sport, its not a game...lives are at stake and I would not utilize a breed that did not have the heart and the ability to give all for the job. But that's the essence of a Chesapeake isn't it. In the right home and working environment, they excel and are one of the best breed I have ever worked. With the wrong handler they end up tied in the back yard without a job or in a shelter because the dog is too much for its owner. That's a heart breaker and a waste. The Chesapeakes I have met are extremely loyal, capable, and versatile dogs. Unfortunately without the proper foundation in socialization, training and home environment, a chessie (as with many breeds) can end up with an undesirable personality. With the proper upbringing they are a fun loving, affectionate and hard working breed.

So kudos to the Chesapeake breeders. I for one, can't thank them enough for bringing me this great working breed. Keep it up.

regards,

TC Crippen and Roo - Search and Rescue Canine: wilderness tracking/trailing (aka. CH Mtn View's Rubicon Ridge TD)