Are Chesapeake Bay Retrievers Good Guard Dogs?

Whether you live alone or with your family, you might be searching for breeds that are good guard dogs. 

Having a guard dog in your home can make your property more secure as well as help the members of your family feel safe. 

Since Chesapeake Bay Retrievers are a large dog with a dominant personality, you might also be wondering if they make good guard dogs. 

Are Chessies good guard dogs?

Chesapeake Bay Retrievers make great watchdogs because of their high protective nature. They also tend to bark when people knock on the door or come into the house. Exactly how good of a watchdog they will depend on how you train them though and whether you encourage their barking and protective behavior. 

If you want a fun-loving dog that is also an excellent watchdog, you should look into getting a Chessie.

They always bark when there are noises or when someone strange is on your property. 

Make sure to train them correctly though so that they tap into their protective and guard dog tendencies. 

Are Chessies Good Guard Dogs?

Chesapeake Bay Retrievers have a natural protective instinct. 

They are protective over their family and their home. 

If you have children or a significant other in your home, your Chessie will also become protective over them as they tend to watch out for everyone that lives in the household. 

Chessies also are protective over their home and property.

If they detect anyone around the home, they will bark to alert you.

They also bark when someone knocks on the door or when they hear a commotion near the house. 

Chessies are not aggressive though. 

They usually do not attack people on the property or chase after them.

If you are looking for a dog breed that will harm unwelcome people on the property, the Chessie might not be the best breed for you. 

What Makes Good Guard Dog?

Some dog breeds will always be better guard dogs than others.

Chessies make good guard dogs because they are protective and loyal. 

While they are good around other people and dogs, they are not overly friendly. 

Dogs that tend to be over-friendly and want to greet everyone are not very good guard dogs. 

This is one of the reasons why Chessies tend to be better guard dogs than Labrador retrievers or golden retrievers. 

Chessies are also brave and they have no problem going to investigate suspicious activity or noises.

If you see them standing in an alert pose, they might be trying to hear better what’s going around you. 

If you want your Chessie to display protective qualities and be a good guard dog, you need to make sure you don’t discourage their protective instincts. 

Some owners don’t like when their dog barks or when they act suspicious of strangers.

If your dog detects that you’re annoyed or don’t like their behavior, they might stop barking altogether when someone comes to the door. 

If you punish them for barking too much, they will also be less inclined to bark next time someone comes to the door. 

You can let your Chessie know you appreciate their protective behavior by always going to the door or whatever they are barking at. 

This shows them that you’re interested in why they are barking. It also shows you trust their instincts. 

What is the Difference Between a Watch Dog and a Guard Dog?

When looking for the best dog breed for your house and family, you might be wondering if you need a watchdog or a guard dog. 

There’s a big difference between the two and it’s important to know the key differences so you can choose which one is best for you. 

Keep in mind that some breeds can be both guard dogs and watchdogs, while some might be one or the other.

Both have strong protective qualities and loyalty to their family and household. 

What is a Watch Dog?

Watchdogs are vigilant and they can usually tell the difference between usual and unusual activity. 

This means they might not bark at every sound and person because they can tell who is supposed to be around and who is a threat. 

This is great for families who want a dog that barks when needed but is not too vocal and barks every hour at something. Watchdogs also bark very loud. 

They tend to have a high pitch deep bark that sounds threatening and scary to people. 

To be a good watchdog, your dog can’t be too friendly or too happy to meet new people. 

Watchdogs can be big or small, they just need to have the characteristics listed above. 

Strangers might feel more threatened if your dog is large though. 

Small breeds still make good watchdogs though because they can alert you to suspicious activity. 

What is a Guard Dog?

Guard dogs also bark loudly. The main difference is that guard dogs will attack people to chase away people to other animals that are on your property. 

A good guard dog that is properly trained will always bark before attacking though. 

They will bark to warn people and then attack only if necessary. 

They have the capability to be aggressive, but this doesn’t mean they are aggressive all the time. 

Most guard dogs also weigh at least 100 pounds since they need to be large enough to attack or restrain people.

Most people often tend to think that large dogs are scarier even if they seem friendly since large dogs have the ability to seriously injure or even kill someone. 

Some guard dogs will jump on a burglar or unwanted person as soon as they enter the property, while other dog breeds might wait and see what’s happening before they decide to bark or pounce. 

Guard dogs also need extra training because they need to know the difference between who is a friend and who is a foe. 

If they are not trained properly, they might attack a visitor or friend. 

Guard dogs are usually not good breeds for new dog owners because they can become aggressive if not trained well. 

You might be interested to have a guard dog though if you live alone or if you live in a high crime area. 

If you’re a new dog owner and you want a guard dog, make sure you get professional training so that the dog knows when to attack and does not become aggressive towards neighbors and friends. 

Are Chessies Guard Dogs or Watchdogs?

Now that you know the difference between guard dogs and watchdogs, you might be wondering which category the Chessie falls into.

Chessies tend to be in between guard dogs and watchdogs as they have qualities from both categories. 

Chessies are not overly vicious, but they can become aggressive if you don’t train them well or if you encourage aggressive behavior. 

Even with aggression though, they are not likely to attack someone unless the person is directly hurting or coming towards you. 

If there is someone in the house or the yard, they will not attack the person.

They do have a loud and strong bark though that will alert you to new people that have come around. 

Since they are a larger breed though, people will be more afraid of a Chessie than a smaller dog. 

Even if a Chessie not attacking, their size and bark alone are usually enough to make someone scared and run the other way. 

Chessies also usually know when to bark and when to stay quiet. 

If they know the person who has knocked on the door, they will not bark for long because they know the person is welcome to your home. 

However, they can usually tell when the person is new or when they are unwelcome. They will bark until you come to the door and check out the situation.

Chessies will always bark before chasing someone or potentially attacking someone if they feel they really need to. 

Are Chessies Protective?

Yes, Chessies are always protective and loyal to their family. 

This instinct comes naturally to their breed, so they don’t need additional training to be protective.

You will notice even the youngest of Chessie puppies being protective over their owners and property. 

They will also naturally be suspicious and reserved around strangers, even if you are friendly towards the other person. 

Chessies make people earn their loyalty, so even your best friend might not see very much affection from your Chessie unless they are at your home every day. 

Are Chessies Aggressive?

Chessies tend to be more suspicious than aggressive. 

This means they will alert you or people, but they will not show shows of aggression to attack newcomers. 

Some Chessies can become aggressive though if they are not trained correctly. 

If your dog starts to show signs of aggression or excessive barking around people, you might want to consider hiring a professional trainer. 

Final Thoughts 

Chessies are protective and loyal. They are also large and have a loud intimidating bark. 

All these qualities make them excellent guard dogs to provide protection to you and your family.