American Water spaniel/chessie?

K

Kris Schaumburg

Well-known member
I keep seeing parallels drawn in the disposition of these two breeds. When I think of a chessie, I just think mean and stubborn. Maybe I'm drawing the wrong conclusions. Could someone post claryifying these comparisons. Also, on how you think a AWS would do around 1 yr old twins that will constantly pull on her. My boykin was fine with all of that. I wouldn't have hesitated to lock her in confined quarters with them.
 
I can't make a fair comparison since I've never had a chessie. I have had an AWS and she had a questionable disposition around children and lacked prey drive terribly. One dog does not a breed make but I would not own one again. I know guys who have had top notch American Water Spaniels as well so like anything else, it depends on the particular dog. The one I had was great in the house and never destroyed anything and made a little old lady very happy after she had just lost her dog. Hope this helps.
 
I've had Chessies for 30 years and only had 1 "squirelly" dog. That was because the same time I got him my first son was born and we never had time to really bond. I gave him to another Chessie owner who raised him in his barber shop with him and the dog came around in about 6 months.
That's BS about them being mean. They do need alot of time with you though, and that never ends.
Get the Chessie, but do your homework on breeders
 
As Bill replied, chessies are great dogs. I have not owned one myself, but have hunted with alot of hunters that have chessies. Training is the main subject. Chessies will hunt when the it really drops and the tough get tough.
I can attest to Bill's dog, very well trained and very socialable. I have heard the stories and seen the other side also. That happens with labs and other breeds that are not trained.
 
I've hunted both labs and chessies.

Chessies tend to be a little more independent and a "one man" dog.

Labs are labs. Probably the best all around dog for most waterfowlers.

That said...after much research....my next dog will be an AWS.

Search this forum for posts by Gary March and his dog River or the Refuge for posts by "Professor" and his dog Gumbo
 
As Bill replied, chessies are great dogs. I have not owned one myself, but have hunted with alot of hunters that have chessies. Training is the main subject. Chessies will hunt when the it really drops and the tough get tough.
I can attest to Bill's dog, very well trained and very socialable. I have heard the stories and seen the other side also. That happens with labs and other breeds that are not trained.
Click to expand...

Thanks Rich. Jack is a special dog ......
 
My dog is a chessie, and plan on the next to be a chessie. I loved my lab but he didn't like little kids. That's how I got him. He bit a little girl pretty bad. I never had to destroy him, but he could never be. With little kids. My chessie has never displayed any aggressive behavior towards anyone. He is quite and steady,serious about hunting. I am sold on chessies. You need a little more room in you boat for a chessie. John
 
I have never owned a Chessie, but do own an AWS. As to her disposition.....she is great around kids and the family, just a total love muffin, great on upland birds and likes to retrieve, and has an awesome nose. She does get somewhat possessive over her birds especially around other dogs. She has great drive but I feel her 36lbs and short legs do make it tough on her when she retrieves ducks in thickly weeded water or deep mud whereas my lab would have plowed straight through both. Perhaps a bigger male AWS would fit the bill...hmmmmm. All in all I love her and could not be happier.
 
I love my lab, but my next dog will be a smaller breed; an AWS or Boykin.
 
As an "impartial observer" I see a lot of parrellels between Chessies and AWS.

*Stereotypes happen for a reason
*All dogs are individuals and most dogs can beat the negative stereotypes with a proactive owner
*Both breeds have very small gene pools so buying from reputable lines dramatically improves odds of getting a quality individual
*Small gene pool = less opportunity for breed development in performance, trainability, personality. See previous statements.
*All dogs need lots of socialization with other dogs, adults, and childeren. Some (very few) dogs simply can't be socialized. Some dogs need a little socialization, some need a lot. You can never do too much.

I really like both breeds but have never owned either. I did not socialize my lab as well as I should have with other dogs and she can be a pain in the arse.
 
I would agree socializing any dog is the key. When i was breeding labs My girls were very young and spend a great deal of time in the whelping box with the pups. We never had a problem even with Tude's pups.
 
Chessies are definitely not Labs, American water spaniels From what I see and hear are a bit like Chessies. Some people like myself love a Chessie's independence, problem solving ability, and family/owner loyalty. I have been around chessies for over 50 years have owned 15 or so myself, they are "my breed" My wife and my self are closer to 70 than 60, she says our future dogs will be either Boykins or AW'S, because of their size. There is so much information on the internet on the various breeds. Owning a dog is a major commitment, do your research! dont judge a breed by what someone, who had a friend who, etc. etc. says. you need to have a broader source of information. I was following a retriever thread on another duck site once. The thread had a bunch of the usual Lab vs chessie vs golden rhetoric. One fellow who I know and who is a veterinarian said a lot of the popular opinions going around are just that, opinions. He has seen good and bad in all the retriever breeds.He has seen Chessies who would lick your kids face, and goldens that would tear it off. Thats not to say that they are all that way. Again they are dogs, and a lot like childred,they are largely a product of their upbringing, training and enviroment. Rich
 
Well I will say that the 1 AWS that I have been around was a hyper and more yappy.. like a lap dog.... I will never live with anything other than a CBR. As mentioned by others.. they are not a Lab... They are very smart, independent and loyal. My experience says, they are soft... if you push to hard, they will shut down. I think that is where the saying that you need to train them with a 2x4 comes from. While it couldn't be further from the truth... They do come across as stubborn... but that is because they think their way is the right way... and the trainer needs to figure out how to convince them that it isn't. Socialization is very important with a Chessie... but I would say the same for children.




http://s295.photobucket.com/user/Chesapeakeboy/library/#/user/Chesapeakeboy/library/hunting?sort=3&page=1&_suid=138816238623304069455864371602

And if you can see the FB post... you will see how mean they are...

https://www.facebook.com/phil.nowack.3/posts/10152186234724369?notif_t=like#!/photo.php?fbid=10152174760409369&set=a.10150327435104369.388957.611909368&type=1&theater
 
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Well said Rich. I also wouldn't buy a pup without being able to see both parents regardless of the breed. My two cents. Jim
 
You've gotten some good advice so far. I have a friend who breeds Chessies and you want to see both parents. Socialization is critical but so is a line without aggressive or dog aggressive dogs in it. I have Tollers and training is simular to these two breeds. Don't be in a hurry and keep it fun for your dog. A small gene pool can create health problems so use a reputable breeder and know what to expect from your pup.
Good luck, John
 
Well I can give you my 1/2 cents worth. I have owned 3 chessies, and been around springers, AWS, labs, English setters owned by close friends and family members plus way to many hounds to mention with my hounder friends and I believe that the socialization that the pup gets at a young age is more important!
Of my three chessies, from the litter I have had and Alpha Male, an Alpha Female and now the smallest female. My most challenging pup is the runt, just because she is not as confident in her surroundings this has been a whole new situation for me. Every dog is different...
Check out your breeders, look at their dogs and interact with them. My two alphas would lick people to death who would visit our home, but if you tried to walk in the house with out knowing the dogs name - different story, the whole family knew someone was at the door. For me that is not an issue, but any dog needs to know its place in the family unit.
I have been nipped at and bit by a few different dogs over my 40 years (most are my fault) but a major role was how the dogs had been raised. Two had been abused and the others were never socialized at all.
I do not recall who has it on the signature block, but I would edit it: You get out of a dog what you put in it the first six months... I never rush field training, the dog has to interact with people first and foremost.
Phil, you have a special chessie for sure...
 
No experience with AWS. I have some experience with chessies. They are great dogs. They are not labs. Most chessies want you to either lead, follow or get out of the way. By nature they can/will be protective to some degree. This tendancy can sometimes get them in trouble, especially if you let them be the leader!

I haven't had a chessie for 10+ years. My next dog will probably be a chessie.

Tom
 
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