A Detailed Comparison of the Chesapeake Bay Retriever and the Chinook.

Chesapeake Bay Retriever versus Chinook

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Chesapeake Bay Retriever Versus Chinook: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Chesapeake Bay Retriever and the Chinook? Well, you have come to the right place. In this article, we will provide you a detailed comparison of these two dog breeds to help you decide which of the Chesapeake Bay Retriever and the Chinook better suits you.

We will provide you a detailed discussion and comparison of dog attributes such as intelligence, price, general health, friendliness, etc, for both the Chesapeake Bay Retriever and the Chinook.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Chesapeake Bay Retriever and the Chinook is better suited for new dog owners, for owners with kids, for owners that live in apartments, for owners with dog allergies, etc.

Importantly, we did some analysis and calculation and we obtained a number that we call the Better-Pet Score™ for both the Chesapeake Bay Retriever and for the Chinook. The dog breed with the higher Better-Pet score is the `better` pet. We hope that these Better-Pet Scores will provide you more insight into deciding which pet to get between the Chesapeake Bay Retriever and the Chinook.

Our only goal here is to help you make a well-thought-out decision on your next long-term companion, be it the Chesapeake Bay Retriever or the Chinook

Chesapeake Bay Retriever versus Chinook: Overview

A very important difference between the Chesapeake Bay Retriever and the Chinook is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Chesapeake Bay Retriever is a medium-sized dog while the Chinook is a large-sized dog.

Furthermore, the Chesapeake Bay Retriever belongs to the Sporting Dogs group. Sporting Dogs were bred to help hunters catch and retrieve feathered game. Some sporting dog breeds such as Retrievers, which were built for swimming, were bred to hunt waterfowl in water. Whereas sporting dog breeds like setters, spaniels, and pointing breeds were bred to hunt quail, pheasant, and other game birds nest on grasslands. Many Sporting Group breeds have thick, water-repellent coats that protect them from harsh hunting conditions.

On the other hand, the Chinook belongs to the Working Dogs group. Working Dogs were developed to assist humans in some capacity – including pulling sleds and carts, guarding flocks, guarding homes, and protecting their families. Breeds in the Working Group are known for their imposing stature, strength, intelligence, and fearless. Because of their size and strength, working dogs require a structured home life and firm, fair, consistent training by someone who can provide leadership without resorting to anger or physical force.

Chesapeake Bay Retriever versus Chinook: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Chesapeake Bay Retriever to the Chinook based on different important factors such as Price, Health, Kid-friendliness, etc.

When a dog breed scores higher for a factor than the other dog breed, the box of the breed that scores higher is shaded green and the box of the breed that scores lower is shaded red. When there is no difference between the breeds for a particular factor then the box is shaded gray for both pets. Also, when the factor is not important in picking a pet, or when the factor cannot be compared between two pets, the box for the factor is shaded gray for both pets

Most of the factors in the table for each dog breed are ranked on a scale of 1 to 5. “1” means “worst”, and “5” means “best”.

However, some factors such as “Price”, “Average Lifespan”, etc. cannot be on a scale of 1 to 5, so they are not on a scale of 1 to 5 in the comparison table.

Factor Chesapeake Bay Retriever Chinook
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 1/5 4/5
Good For Novice Owners 1/5 1/5
Dog Friendly 1/5 5/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 1/5 4/5
Height 1 foot, 9 inches to 2 feet, 2 inches tall at the s 21 to 27 inches tall at the shoulder
Life Span 10 to 12 years 12 to 15 years
Tolerates Being Alone 2/5 1/5
Easygoing 3/5 1/5
Kid-Friendly 3/5 5/5
Does NOT Drool 3/5 5/5
Easy To Train 3/5 4/5
Does NOT chew on things 3/5 3/5
Low Prey Drive 3/5 4/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 3/5 4/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 4/5 5/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 4/5 4/5
General Health 4/5 4/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 2/5 3/5
Intelligence 4/5 5/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 2/5 4/5
Potential For Playfulness 4/5 4/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 5/5
Does NOT Shed 1/5 1/5
Easy To Groom 5/5 2/5
NOT Rambunctious 1/5 3/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 1/5 3/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 1/5 3/5
Weight 55 to 80 pounds 55 to 70 pounds
Average Lifespan 11.0 years 13.5 years
Average Price $1060 No Data
Price Range $850 – $1200 No Data
Temperament Score 87.8 percent 77.8 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Degenerative Myelopathy
  • EIC (Exercise Induced Collapse)
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination- after the age of 12 months
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) DNA Test
  • Clear By Parentage
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 44 177

    *Data from dogtime.com, OFA.org (The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals), petcalculator.com, wikipedia.org, ATTS.org (the American Temperament Test Society)

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Chesapeake Bay Retriever in the table (that is, `Ease of Grooming` score + `General Health` score + `Calmness` score + …etc) and we compared it to the corresponding total score for the Chinook. We call these total scores the Better-Pet Scores, as we mentioned earlier. We called this score the Better-Pet score because the better dog breed will have a higher score. This is because the pet will the higher score will have minimal needs and be easier to have as a pet.

    The Better-Pet score for a Chesapeake Bay Retriever is 65 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for a Chinook is 87 out of 125.

    Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Chinook is a better pet than the Chesapeake Bay Retriever. So, you should get the Chinook!

    Although we have done our best to analyze these two dog breeds in a very unbiased way, however, we will like to let you know that there are some dog attributes that cannot be assigned a number for comparison. We cannot put a number on how cute a dog breed is, for example. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

    Also, the dog breed that best suits you will depend on your peculiar lifestyle, your taste, and your priorities, which we do not know. So, for you to decide on which breed is right for you, read through the rest of the article to further understand both the Chesapeake Bay Retriever and the Chinook so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Chesapeake Bay Retriever and the Chinook

    Below is a list of where the Chesapeake Bay Retriever and the Chinook are most different:

  • Chesapeake Bay Retrievers do not adapt well to apartment living. However, Chinooks adapt well to apartment living.
  • Chesapeake Bay Retrievers do not get along well with other dogs. However, Chinooks get along well with other dogs.
  • Chesapeake Bay Retrievers are not very friendly towards strangers. However, Chinooks are very friendly towards strangers.
  • Chesapeake Bay Retrievers are very easy to groom. However, Chinooks require a lot of grooming and are not very easy to groom.
  • The Similarities Between the Chesapeake Bay Retriever and the Chinook

    The Chesapeake Bay Retriever and the Chinook are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Chesapeake Bay Retriever and the Chinook are most similar:

  • Both the Chesapeake Bay Retriever and the Chinook are not the best dogs for new dog owners.
  • Both the Chesapeake Bay Retriever and the Chinook do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the Chesapeake Bay Retriever and the Chinook can tolerate cold weather.
  • Both the Chesapeake Bay Retriever and the Chinook can tolerate hot weather.
  • Both the Chesapeake Bay Retriever and the Chinook are very healthy. They do not suffer from a lot of health problems compared to other dog breeds
  • Both the Chesapeake Bay Retriever and the Chinook gain weight easily. You need to pay careful attention to what you feed them.
  • Both the Chesapeake Bay Retriever and the Chinook are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Chesapeake Bay Retriever and the Chinook are very playful.
  • Both the Chesapeake Bay Retriever and the Chinook are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Chesapeake Bay Retriever and the Chinook shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.
  • Size (Weight and Height) of Chesapeake Bay Retriever versus Chinook

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Chesapeake Bay Retriever and the Chinook.

    Chesapeake Bay Retrievers weigh 55 to 80 pounds when fully grown. Chesapeake Bay Retrievers are 1 foot, 9 inches to 2 feet, 2 inches tall at the s when fully grown.

    On the other hand, Chinooks weigh 55 to 70 pounds when fully grown. Chinooks are 21 to 27 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    Temperament of the Chesapeake Bay Retriever Versus the Chinook

    The Chesapeake Bay Retriever has a better temperament than the Chinook.

    This is because the temperament score for the Chesapeake Bay Retriever is 87.8 percent while the temperament score for the Chinook is 77.8 percent, according to the American Temperament Test Society (ATTS).

    The American Temperament Test Society (ATTS) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide fair and objective evaluations of the temperaments of dog breeds.

    Dog breeds with low temperament scores tend to show unprovoked aggression, they easily panic without quickly recovering from the panic, and they tend to avoid people. However, dog breeds with high temperament scores are not aggressive and are not shy. Also, these dogs are generally friendly and they are protective of their owners.

    The average temperament score across all dog breeds (over 250 breeds) is 83.7 percent.

    With its temperament score of 87.8 percent, the Chesapeake Bay Retriever has an above-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    With its temperament score of 77.8 percent, the Chinook has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the Chesapeake Bay Retriever and the Chinook by measuring the temperaments of 123 Chesapeake Bay Retrievers and 9 Chinooks.

    The Popularity of Chesapeake Bay Retriever versus Popularity of Chinook

    Every year, the American Kennel Club (AKC) publishes information on how popular a dog breed is in that particular year. The AKC gets the popularity information of a breed from how many dogs of that breed the owners register with the AKC every year. The AKC collects this data for about 200 dog breeds. The AKC collects this data for purebred dogs only(no mixed or hybrid dogs).

    The graphs and the table below show the popularity of the Chesapeake Bay Retriever and the Chinook over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Chesapeake Bay Retriever is more popular with dog owners than the Chinook. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Chesapeake Bay Retriever is 44 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Chinook is 177 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of Chesapeake Bay Retriever

    Popularity of Chesapeake Bay Retriever

    Popularity of Chinook

    Popularity of Chinook

    Year Chesapeake Bay Retriever Popularity Rank Chinook Popularity Rank
    2013 43 156
    2014 41 171
    2015 42 177
    2016 43 175
    2017 43 179
    2018 45 190
    2019 46 184
    2020 50 186

    Health Problems of Chesapeake Bay Retriever versus Health Problems of Chinook

    Every dog breed has its own set of health problems that it has a tendency to develop. Therefore, there is nothing like a perfect puppy.

    Both the Chesapeake Bay Retriever and the Chinook are prone to certain genetic health conditions. The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) is the organization that keeps track of health problems in dogs. Based on the extensive records that the OFA keeps, the OFA knows what health problems each dog breed is naturally prone to develop. Hence, the OFA recommends which health screening that breeders should perform on a dog breed to make sure that the breeders won`t breed `defective` dog parents that can pass down defective genes to their puppy offspring.

    The more health problems a dog breed is prone to develop, the more health tests the OFA will recommend for that dog breed.

    Based on our review of OFA records, we found that the Chesapeake Bay Retriever is prone to more genetic health problems than the Chinook.

    This is because the OFA recommends more screening health tests for the Chesapeake Bay Retriever than for the Chinook.

    8 health tests are recommended for Chesapeake Bay Retriever while 3 tests are recommended for the Chinook.

    Below is a detailed discussion of health problems in Chesapeake Bay Retrievers and in Chinooks.

    Chesapeake Bay Retriever Health Problems

    Chesapeake Bay Retrievers are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Chesapeake Bay Retriever puppies with genetic defects by making sure that a puppy`s parents are free from genetic health problems before allowing the parent to make puppies.

    The OFA provides breeders recommendations on which genetic diseases that breeders should screen their dog parents and puppies for.

    If you want a Chesapeake Bay Retriever puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Chesapeake Bay Retriever breeder screens your puppy or your puppy`s parents for the health problems that the OFA recommends for your puppy`s breed. This will increase the chances that your puppy is free from genetic defects.

    The following are the health tests that Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) recommends that breeders should screen Chesapeake Bay Retrievers for:

  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Degenerative Myelopathy
  • EIC (Exercise Induced Collapse)
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination- after the age of 12 months
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) DNA Test
  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Chesapeake Bay Retrievers here.

    Chinook Health Problems

    Chinooks are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Chinook puppies with genetic defects by making sure that a puppy`s parents are free from genetic health problems before allowing the parent to make puppies.

    The OFA provides breeders recommendations on which genetic diseases that breeders should screen their dog parents and puppies for.

    If you want a Chinook puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Chinook breeder screens your puppy or your puppy`s parents for the health problems that the OFA recommends for your puppy`s breed. This will increase the chances that your puppy is free from genetic defects.

    The following are the health tests that Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) recommends that breeders should screen Chinooks for:

  • Clear By Parentage
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Chinooks here.

    More Discussions on Health Problems in Chesapeake Bay Retrievers and Chinooks

    Based on our analysis of data from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, of all known genetic health problems in dogs, the health problem that is most commonly seen in the Chesapeake Bay Retriever Breed is Shoulder problems.

    This is because the Chesapeake Bay Retriever ranks 6 out of 22 dog breeds for Shoulder problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 51 Chesapeake Bay Retrievers, 1 of them had Shoulder problems.

    The genetic diseases that were found to commonly occur in Chesapeake Bay Retrievers, and how common these diseases are in Chesapeake Bay Retrievers relative to other dog breeds, are given below:

  • Shoulder problems: Rank 6 out of 22 Dog Breeds
  • Degenerative Myelopathy problems: Rank 20 out of 70 Dog Breeds
  • Congenital Cardiac problems: Rank 42 out of 159 Dog Breeds
  • Thyroid problems: Rank 46 out of 115 Dog Breeds
  • Hips problems: Rank 47 out of 198 Dog Breeds
  • Elbow problems: Rank 57 out of 144 Dog Breeds
  • Eyes problems: Rank 94 out of 182 Dog Breeds
  • Based on our analysis of data from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, of all known genetic health problems in dogs, the health problem that is most commonly seen in the Chinook Breed is Patella problems.

    This is because the Chinook ranks 5 out of 145 dog breeds for Patella problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 52 Chinooks, 5 of them had Patella problems.

    The genetic diseases that were found to commonly occur in Chinooks, and how common these diseases are in Chinooks relative to other dog breeds, are given below:

  • Patella problems: Rank 5 out of 145 Dog Breeds
  • Hips problems: Rank 63 out of 198 Dog Breeds
  • Eyes problems: Rank 82 out of 182 Dog Breeds
  • The table below lists the common health problems in Chesapeake Bay Retriever and in Chinook and the rank (prevalence), compared to other dogs, of these health problems in the Chesapeake Bay Retriever and the Chinook:

    Disease Chesapeake Bay Retriever Rank Chinook Rank
    Shoulder problems 6 out of 22 dog breeds Not Common
    Degenerative Myelopathy problems 20 out of 70 dog breeds Not Common
    Congenital Cardiac problems 42 out of 159 dog breeds Not Common
    Thyroid problems 46 out of 115 dog breeds Not Common
    Hips problems 47 out of 198 dog breeds 63 out of 198 dog breeds
    Elbow problems 57 out of 144 dog breeds Not Common
    Eyes problems 94 out of 182 dog breeds 82 out of 182 dog breeds
    Patella problems Not Common 5 out of 145 dog breeds

    *To learn more about each of these diseases, go to OFA.org and search for the disease.

    Again, most of these health problems can be prevented through health screening. Responsible breeders screen male and female dog parents for genetic problems. These breeders will only breed dogs that are free of genetic defects. That way, there is little or no chance that their puppies will grow up to have genetic health problems. Always ask a breeder for the list of health tests the breeder screens their dogs for before buying a puppy from such a breeder.

    Is the Chesapeake Bay Retriever Better for Apartment Owners than the Chinook?

    Chesapeake Bay Retrievers do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Chinooks adapt very well to apartment living.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Chesapeake Bay Retriever or the Chinook?

    Chesapeake Bay Retrievers are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

    Chinooks are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Chesapeake Bay Retriever or the Chinook?

    Chesapeake Bay Retrievers do not get along well with other dogs.

    Chinooks get along very well with other dogs.

    Tolerates Being Alone: Chesapeake Bay Retriever versus Chinook

    Chesapeake Bay Retrievers do not like to be left alone.

    Chinooks do not like to be left alone.

    How Kid-friendly are Chesapeake Bay Retrievers and Chinooks?

    Chesapeake Bay Retrievers get along fairly well with kids. They are quite kid-friendly.

    Chinooks get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Which one drools more, the Chesapeake Bay Retriever or the Chinook

    Chesapeake Bay Retrievers drool moderately.

    Chinooks do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Is the Chesapeake Bay Retriever Easier to Train than the Chinook?

    Chesapeake Bay Retrievers are fairly easy to train.

    Chinooks are very easy to train.

    Does the Chesapeake Bay Retriever Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Chinook?

    Chesapeake Bay Retrievers have a moderate prey drive. They can sometimes chase after smaller animals and pets.

    Chinooks have a very low prey drive. This means they get won`t chase after smaller pets. They tend to get along well with other pets.

    Do Chesapeake Bay Retrievers Bark and Howl? What about Chinooks?

    Chesapeake Bay Retrievers bark and howl, but not very much.

    Chinooks are not very vocal. They do not tend to bark and howl.

    Can Chesapeake Bay Retrievers Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Chinooks Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Chesapeake Bay Retrievers can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Chinooks can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Can Chesapeake Bay Retrievers Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Chinooks Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Chesapeake Bay Retrievers can tolerate hot weather.

    Chinooks can tolerate hot weather.

    Wanderlust Potential: Chesapeake Bay Retriever vs. Chinook

    Chesapeake Bay Retrievers have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.

    Chinooks do not have the potential to wander after things that capture their attention. They tend to stay around where you leave them.

    Are Chesapeake Bay Retrievers good family dogs? What about Chinooks?

    Chesapeake Bay Retrievers are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    Chinooks are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    Do Chesapeake Bay Retrievers shed more than Chinooks?

    Chesapeake Bay Retrievers shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.

    Chinooks shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Chesapeake Bay Retriever or the Chinook?

    Chesapeake Bay Retrievers are very easy to groom.

    Chinooks require a lot of grooming and they are not very easy to groom.

    Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Chesapeake Bay Retriever

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Chesapeake Bay Retriever that you can consider on your quest to get the best pet.

    We crunched the numbers and found that the following dog breeds have similar personality and temperament as the Chesapeake Bay Retriever:

  • Hovawart (74 percent match with Chesapeake Bay Retriever). Here is our comparison of the Chinook vs Hovawart.
  • Karelian Bear Dog (73 percent match with Chesapeake Bay Retriever). Here is our comparison of the Chinook vs Karelian Bear Dog.
  • Boerboel (76 percent match with Chesapeake Bay Retriever). Here is our comparison of the Chinook vs Boerboel.
  • Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Chinook

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Chinook that you can consider on your quest to get the best pet.

    We crunched the numbers and found that the following dog breeds have similar personality and temperament as the Chinook:

  • Keeshond (76 percent match with Chinook). Here is our comparison of the Chesapeake Bay Retriever vs Keeshond.
  • King Shepherd (75 percent match with Chinook). Here is our comparison of the Chesapeake Bay Retriever vs King Shepherd.
  • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

    You may also be interested in how the Chesapeake Bay Retriever and how the Chinook compares to other breeds. So, see below the comparison of the Chesapeake Bay Retriever and of the Chinook to other breeds:

    Chesapeake Bay Retriever Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Chesapeake Bay Retriever versus Greater Swiss Mountain Dog     Chesapeake Bay Retriever versus Wirehaired Pointing Griffon     Chesapeake Bay Retriever versus Norwegian Lundehund     Chesapeake Bay Retriever versus Papipoo     Chesapeake Bay Retriever versus Catahoula Bulldog     Chesapeake Bay Retriever versus Leonberger     Chesapeake Bay Retriever versus Hovawart     Chesapeake Bay Retriever versus Redbone Coonhound     Chesapeake Bay Retriever versus Spinone Italiano     

    Chinook Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Chinook versus Tibetan Terrier     Chinook versus Chi-Poo     Chinook versus Xoloitzcuintli     Chinook versus American Staffordshire Terrier     Chinook versus Lhasapoo     Chinook versus Swedish Vallhund     Chinook versus Pomchi     Chinook versus Golden Cocker Retriever     Chinook versus Sheepadoodle     Chinook versus English Cocker Spaniel     

    Conclusion: Chesapeake Bay Retriever versus Chinook. Which One is a Better Pet?

    In summary, there is nothing like a better dog breed or a worse dog breed. The important question to ask is which dog breed better matches your interests and lifestyle. We hope our discussion above will help you in deciding which dog breed between the Chesapeake Bay Retriever and the Chinook better suits you and your family.