How Active are Chesapeake Bay Retrievers?

Before getting a dog, every owner wants to know how much exercise their dog needs.

If you have an active lifestyle, you might benefit more from getting a dog that likes to run and play throughout the day. 

If you work full time or can’t exercise with the dog every day, you might want to go with a breed that has lower exercise requirements. 

How active are Chessies?

Chesapeake Bay Retrievers are always ready to play, work, or exercise. They love to walk, swim and hunt. They also enjoy agility courses. If you do not get your Chessie enough exercise every day, they are likely to become destructive or be more hyper while indoors. 

If you have a Chessie or you’re thinking about getting one, you should be aware that they have high exercise requirements and they need to stay active throughout the day. 

In this article, we will discuss how to make sure your dog has enough exercise to stay healthy and busy. 

Are Chesapeake Bay Retrievers Active?

Chesapeake Bay Retrievers are bred to hunt and swim. This means they are an active breed.

If you have owned a Labrador Retriever or a Golden Retriever, you can compare them to the Chessie’s activity levels since they are all retrievers. 

However, Chessies tend to be a little more active than Labradors. 

Unlike Labradors though, Chessies are not the best breed to go running with them.

To get their exercise in during the day, you will need to go for long walks or you will need to take them swimming. 

If Chessies get enough exercise during the day though, they will be calm and loving when they are indoors.

You will find your Chessie napping or wanting to cuddle with you by the end of the day. 

Are Chesapeake Bay Retrievers Hyper? 

Compared to other retriever brands like Labradors and Golden Retrievers, the Chesapeake Bay Retriever is less hyper. 

While they do enjoy physical activity and they love to be outside, they don’t tend to be as gregarious as other retriever breeds. 

Unlike Labradors, they do not typically jump on people and lick them when they come to your house. 

They will be more reserved and will often ignore visitors to the home.

They also do not bark too much unless they have been provoked or want to alert you of something. 

Chessies are not considered to be a very excitable breed. 

Although they do have high energy and activity levels, they are not hyper and do not show as much excitement as other retriever breeds. 

Chessies are very even-tempered and down to earth, especially when you train them well.

If you want a mellow dog that will also exercise with you and want to be outdoors when you are, you should definitely check into getting a Chessie. 

How Much Exercise Does a Chesapeake Bay Retriever Need?

Since Chessies are an active breed, they need daily exercise so that they are calm for the rest of the day. 

Most vets and trainers will recommend that you give your dog at least 20 minutes of intensive work every day. 

Intense exercise or work includes swimming, training, or water retrieving.

Chessies are very good swimmers and they might want to stay in the water longer, but 20 minutes is usually all they need to burn out much of their energy. 

You can also play fetch with them in the water.

Playing a game of water retrieving will allow them to play one of their favorite games and let them get their exercise in. 

Along with 20 minutes of exercise, they also need an hour or more of low-intensity exercise. 

You can take them for long walks in the morning or evening, or break them into two thirty-minute sessions. 

If you don’t have time to give them this much exercise, you might want to hire a professional dog walker or have a neighbor come and check on them during the day and take them on walks. 

If you are working during the day, make sure you are taking them for long walks before you head off to work or in the evening before you go to bed. 

No matter how busy you are, you need to make sure you are finding the time for your dog’s exercise needs. 

If Chessies do not get enough exercise, they will begin to show destructive behaviors or other annoying habits around the house. 

Is It Bad If My Chessie Is Not Active Enough?

If your Chessie does not have the opportunity to stay active and exercise, it can make your life much harder.

If you leave an energetic and bored Chessie home alone, you might come home to find them chewing on furniture. 

You might also find destroyed shoes or other items around the house. 

Bored Chessies will also bark more often.

If your neighbors are complaining that your dog is barking during the day, you can be sure they are not getting enough exercise. 

Your dog might also start to show stubborn behaviors and revert back to how they were as a puppy such as peeing inside the house or getting into things they know they should leave alone. 

Another sign your dog is not getting enough exercise is over-grooming. 

You might see them licking themselves excessively or wanting to chew on their legs and arms. 

Along with causing problems for you and the family, an inactive Chessie can also develop health problems. 

Exercise is crucial for any dog, but especially for Chessies since they are bred to be active through hunting and swimming. 

If you notice your dog gaining weight or being restless, this can be a sign that they are not getting enough activity. 

Your Chessie might also start to play rough in the house either with you or with their toys. 

It can also cause them to excessively chew on their toys and to destroy even their favorite thing they like to play with. 

Why Has My Chessie Started Being Less Active?

Every Chessie is different, so you might find that other people you know with a Chessie have a more or less active dog.

Your Chessie’s activity levels will stay relatively the same throughout their life until they are older adults when they might get tired easier. 

Chessies are even known to have the same activity levels as adults as they do when they are puppies.

Always take notice of your Chessie and how active they are from day to day.

If you suddenly notice them being less active than normal, they might have a health problem. 

Keep in mind that Chessies will not act lazy as humans do sometimes. 

If they are being less active for several days in a row, take note of their health and check for any other potential issues. 

Not all reasons for your dog being less active are serious though. 

They might just be feeling sick as they can catch bugs just like humans do.

If your dog was vomiting or having diarrhea the same time they started acting lethargic, give them a few days to recover. 

Once the bug passes, they should be back to their normal active selves. 

There are some more serious conditions though that will cause your dog to act lazy and not look forward to their daily walks. 

Some of the problems include:

• Heart problems 
• Liver problems 
• Diabetes 
• Hypoglycemia 
• Hypothyroidism
• Parasites
• Poisoning 
• Infection or illness 

Being less active can also be a side effect of the medication that they are taking. 

If your dog has been put on medication for another issue and then suddenly has no energy, ask the vet if there is another medicine they can take instead. 

If your dog is not wanting to exercise or be as active as normal for more than a few days in a row, make an appointment with their vet. 

You will want to make sure there is nothing serious going on. 

Problems or diseases are also easier to treat if they are caught early, so it’s better to take them to the vet as soon as you can. 

If you notice your dog being less active and they have a health problem, there will usually be other physical symptoms as well. 

They may have trouble breathing, vomit regularly, faint, or have different colored stools than normal. 

Make sure you are always paying attention to your Chessie so that you know their habits and you can alert the vet anytime something changes. 

If your Chessie has started being less active around the same time that you are home less often or there has been a change in environment, it could be an emotional problem more than a physical issue. 

Final Thoughts 

Chessies are an active dog breed that needs 20 minutes of intense exercise a day. 

They also need at least an hour of walking or other light exercises. 

Chessies love to swim and hunt, but you can also take them walking or play fetch for exercise.

Make sure they are getting their required exercise or they might start displaying destructive behaviors.