Chesapeake Bay Retriever

If anyone out there is thinking about getting a Chessie please do EXTENSIVE research or send me a message before you do it......Thanks Frank

[Airslot]

What'd he eat Frank? ;)

Airslot

He Broke bad on a little girl..Had to put him down ..It was his third unprovoked incident with bites and lucky I was on the scene or it would of been much worse..almost killed me but I had no choice, I loved that dog....We picked up a lab pup yesterday and while I will never have another chessie I will never forget Cody....Frank

[Pipe_Dream]

I'm so sorry that happened. How old was he?

I hope you have good luck with your Lab. We have two, and they're my best buds.

[EngstromNK]

Can't go wrong with a lab. I have a yellow named Cody that is with me at home and work. Never a problem.

2F

He was 5 and a magnificent specimen....115 pounds and all muscle and totally fearless but he had a very protective mean streak that just got worse..Vet agressive at 2, attacked dogs at random, jumped off the dock to shoo away pesky dolphins , caught and killed numerous raccoons, cats, skunks, possums, beavers , water moccasins and other critters , nipped a game warden last year that picked up one of HIS ducks from HIS boat, obidence school dropout as too agressive for the other dogs and neutering did nothing . Sometimes he would listen to me but no one else in the family could handle him..IF I ever end up by myself and move to montana on a ranch I would get another one as I love the breed but for now we are going back to Labs which we have never had an issue with...I did what I had to do but its still eating away at me ...If I had given him away I would of always worried about him mauling a child and chessies do not do well with new families because they bond for life and become more agressive when seperated from their original family...I'll get over it but it wont be easy...Frank

[Airslot]

Frank, I'm sooo sorry to hear this. :( I was expecting something along the lines of he ate the sofa. ;) Getting rid of any pet is never easy. I think you did the right thing, on two counts, cause you can't go wrong with a lab. Sorry for your loss bud.

Airslot

[msbhammer]

I had a female Rotti for 12 great years. Dont know how many years that is in dog years, but I loved her, she was a great family pet. Loved everyone. I had to put her down two years ago. She was just getting to old. Had to pick her up and carry her outside. Her walking was gone and eye sight was gone. I'm still messed up over the whole thing. She was part of teh family.

[Pipe_Dream]

Frank, go easy on yourself. You did what had to be done, as sad as it was. From your angle there was no other way. Doesn't make the hurt any easier, however.

Hammer, I know what your saying. Our dogs become an integral part of the family. There is a tremendous void when they're gone.

:'(

[willy]

Frank I had the same exact experience with the greatest all around hunting dog anyone in two bird hunting clubs ever saw, his name was Teddy and he was a English Springer Spaniel. If I suggested by eye contact he jump thru fire he would and be happy doing it but he developed a possessive aggressiveness that at first caused him to growl at anyone else that came near something he wanted to chew etc. and that developed into biting my wife on the hand for trying to take a leash away he grabbed and wanted to chew.
I was lucky in that he got a reprieve from the chamber in the last moment by a good friend who had lost his springer two weeks before from old age and he was very familiar with Teddy from training etc. He was a retired fellow that hunted birds every day of the year in three states. He was also a master trainer and there would be no problem with the master/handler situation and he had no one else who would handle the dog, plus the dog would now live in a kennel.
It is traumatic, I have lost dogs for a variety of reason for many years and I remember every retrieve, every look they would give me when I missed the shot and a thousand other memories.
It is part of life and a bond that cannot be quantified, especially for a hunter or other person that works with his dog.
I too have some experience with friends Chessy's and it seemed most of them are a little sharp. I have also seen the same thing in Labs, just not to the same degree and it is much more rare thing.
With each breed generally speaking you have trade offs, and they are all great in my book. Bred to a purpose.
But in the end, taking all of the emotion out of it, they are an animal, a working partner and if they cannot be a responsible member of that relationship then they have to go.
You did the right thing, it's hard, I had to do it three times in my life and I remember every detail. Won't forget and after a time you will remember the great times you had and the big picture will again unfold as that new pup runs across the grass chasing a wind blown leaf.
One bit of advise, somewhere where I have seen the same situation not go so well, give the new guy a fair shot and put more effort into him than you did with your chessy. Don't let the hurt of the last cause any lack of bonding with the new.