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

Last Updated: Mar 21, 2022

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Chihuahua Versus Chesapeake Bay Retriever: Introduction

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

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Chihuahua and the Chesapeake Bay Retriever 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 Chihuahua and for the Chesapeake Bay Retriever. The dog breed with the higher Better-Pet score is the `better` pet. We hope that these Better-Pet Scores will provide you with more insight into deciding which pet to get between the Chihuahua and the Chesapeake Bay Retriever.

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

Read on.

Chihuahua versus Chesapeake Bay Retriever

Chihuahua versus Chesapeake Bay Retriever: Overview

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

Furthermore, the Chihuahua belongs to the Companion Dogs group. Companion Dogs were bred to be companions for humans. Their main goal in life is to be with people, and they will be very sad if left to themselves for long hours day after day.

On the other hand, 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.

Chihuahua versus Chesapeake Bay Retriever: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Chihuahua to the Chesapeake Bay Retriever 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.

Later in this article, we will further explain each factor as it applies to the Chihuahua and the Chesapeake Bay Retriever

FactorChihuahuaChesapeake Bay Retriever
Tolerates Being Alone1/52/5
Tolerates Cold Weather1/54/5
Does NOT Drool5/53/5
Minimal Exercise Needs5/51/5
Life Span10 to 18 years10 to 12 years
Tolerates Hot Weather2/54/5
Dog Friendly2/51/5
Friendly Toward Strangers2/51/5
Does NOT Shed4/51/5
General Health2/54/5
Tendency NOT to Wander4/52/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor4/51/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight3/52/5
Does NOT chew on things3/53/5
Low Prey Drive3/53/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl3/53/5
NOT Rambunctious3/51/5
Weight3 to 6 pounds55 to 80 pounds
Good For Novice Owners4/51/5
Easy To Train4/53/5
Intelligence4/54/5
Potential For Playfulness4/54/5
Adapts Well To Apartment Living5/51/5
Easygoing1/53/5
Affectionate With Family5/55/5
Kid-Friendly5/53/5
Easy To Groom5/55/5
Height6 inches to 9 inches tall at the shoulder1 foot, 9 inches to 2 feet, 2 inches tall at the s
Average Lifespan14.0 years11.0 years
Average Price$1820$1080
Price Range$850 – $2500$850 – $1200
Temperament Score69.6 percent87.8 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Eye Examination
  • Patellar Luxation
  • 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
  • Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds3044
    Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds)6727

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Chihuahua 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 Chesapeake Bay Retriever. 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 the Chihuahua is 84 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for the Chesapeake Bay Retriever is 65 out of 125.

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

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

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

  • Chihuahuas cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold. However, Chesapeake Bay Retrievers can tolerate cold weather.
  • Chihuahuas have low exercise needs. However, Chesapeake Bay Retrievers require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
  • Chihuahuas do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies. However, Chesapeake Bay Retrievers shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.
  • Chihuahuas do the things they do with very low vigor. They are not forceful. However, Chesapeake Bay Retrievers do things with high intensity. They can be very forceful.
  • Chihuahuas are good for new dog owners. However, Chesapeake Bay Retrievers are not the best dogs for new dog owners.
  • Chihuahuas adapt well to apartment living. However, Chesapeake Bay Retrievers do not adapt well to apartment living.
  • The Similarities Between the Chihuahua and the Chesapeake Bay Retriever

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

  • Both the Chihuahua and the Chesapeake Bay Retriever do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the Chihuahua and the Chesapeake Bay Retriever do not get along well with other dogs.
  • Both the Chihuahua and the Chesapeake Bay Retriever are not very friendly towards strangers.
  • Both the Chihuahua and the Chesapeake Bay Retriever are very easy to train.
  • Both the Chihuahua and the Chesapeake Bay Retriever are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Chihuahua and the Chesapeake Bay Retriever are very playful.
  • Both the Chihuahua and the Chesapeake Bay Retriever are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Chihuahua and the Chesapeake Bay Retriever are very easy to groom.
  • Size (Weight and Height) of Chihuahua versus Chesapeake Bay Retriever

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

    Chihuahuas weigh 3 to 6 pounds when fully grown. Chihuahuas are 6 inches to 9 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    On the other hand, 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.

    Lifespan of Chihuahua versus Chesapeake Bay Retriever

    The lifespan of Chihuahuas is between 10 to 18 years. The average lifespan of Chihuahuas is 14.0 years.

    The lifespan of Chesapeake Bay Retrievers is between 10 to 12 years. The average lifespan of Chesapeake Bay Retrievers is 11.0 years.

    Chihuahuas live longer than Chesapeake Bay Retrievers.

    Go to this article to learn more about Chihuahua lifespan and how long Chihuahua live.

    Temperament of the Chihuahua Versus the Chesapeake Bay Retriever

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

    This is because the temperament score for the Chesapeake Bay Retriever is 87.8 percent while the temperament score for the Chihuahua is 69.6 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 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 69.6 percent, the Chihuahua has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

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

    The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the Chihuahua and the Chesapeake Bay Retriever by measuring the temperaments of 46 Chihuahuas and 123 Chesapeake Bay Retrievers.

    Price of Chihuahua versus Price of Chesapeake Bay Retriever

    The average price of the Chihuahua puppy is $1820. The price of the Chihuahua typically ranges from $850 – $2500. However, the price of a Chihuahua can be as low as $100 and as high as $15500. We obtained this price information by reviewing the prices of 1980 Chihuahua puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The average price of the Chesapeake Bay Retriever puppy is $1080. The price of the Chesapeake Bay Retriever typically ranges from $850 – $1200. However, the price of the Chesapeake Bay Retriever can be as low as $400 and as high as $2300. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 181 Chesapeake Bay Retriever puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The Chihuahua is more expensive than the Chesapeake Bay Retriever.

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    Chihuahua Chesapeake Bay Retriever
    Average Price $1820 $1080
    Price Range $850 to $2500 $850 to $1200

    The charts below show the price distribution for the Chihuahua and Chesapeake Bay Retriever. For different price points, the charts show how many Chihuahua puppies or how many Chesapeake Bay Retriever puppies are listed for sale at those price points.

    A breakdown of the prices of Chihuahuas. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of Chihuahuas. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of Chesapeake Bay Retrievers

    A breakdown of the prices of Chesapeake Bay Retrievers

    Note that a lot of factors determine how much you can expect to pay for the Chihuahua puppy or the Chesapeake Bay Retriever puppy. This includes if health screening tests have been performed on the puppy, if the puppy is from a famous pedigree, the US State where the puppy is bred, etc.

    Nevertheless, when looking to buy a puppy, look at buying a puppy only from well-established breeders that breed puppies primarily for the love of dogs, and secondarily for profit. Do not buy a puppy from a puppy mill. Puppy mills mass-produce puppies in bad living conditions for maximum profit.

    You may also consider adopting a dog instead of buying a dog.

    Go to this article to learn more about Chihuahua cost and price.

    Check out our list of best Chihuahua breeders here

    The Intelligence of the Chihuahua versus the Intelligence of the Chesapeake Bay Retriever

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    Chihuahua Chesapeake Bay Retriever
    Intelligence Rank 67 out of 130 dog breeds 27 out of 130 dog breeds
    Trainability Tend To Learn New Commands After 40 To 80 Repetitions! Tend To Learn New Commands After 15 To 25 Repetitions

    Professor Stanley Coren, the famous psychology/neuropsychological professor and, dog lover/trainer measured and ranked the intelligence of about 130 different dog breeds.

    According to Prof. Stanley Coren, the total intelligence that a dog demonstrates is the addition of three types of intelligence. These intelligence types are:
  • Instinctive Intelligence: This is the natural intelligence a dog has because of what the dog was bred for. This type of intelligence comes from instinct. For example, dog breeds that were bred for guarding will have high `guarding` instinctive intelligence, while dog breeds that were bred for hunting will what high `hunting` instinctive intelligence. However, you cannot compare the intelligence of dog breeds based on instinctive intelligence because such a comparison will not make sense.
  • Adaptive Intelligence (learning and problem-solving ability): This indicates what a dog can learn to do for himself or herself. It includes learning and benefiting from experience with his environment, solving new problems, and so forth. Adaptive intelligence is specific to each dog, and not breed specific. Thus, two dogs can have remarkably different levels of adaptive intelligence even if they are of the same breed.
  • Working/Obedience Intelligence: This intelligence is the closest to what we might call school-learning ability and it is based upon what the dog can learn to do when instructed by humans. Importantly, different dog breeds have different learning abilities. Also, science has shown that some dog breeds can learn faster than some other breeds. This means certain dog breeds tend to have higher working/obedience intelligence than some other breeds. Dogs with high Working/Obedience Intelligence are smart and easy to train.

  • Prof. Coren showed that the Working/Obedience Intelligence of different dog breeds can be measured reliably. Thus, he was able to rank different dog breeds based on their Working/Obedience Intelligence.

    This is important because according to Prof. Coren, 51 percent of a dog`s intelligence comes from its genes while 49 percent of a dog`s intelligence comes from the dog`s environmental circumstances.

    To rank the intelligence of dog breeds, Prof. Coren employed the help of 208 dog obedience judges in North America to fill out a detailed survey on dog obedience. This number represented more than half of all of these judges in North America at the time. He also employed 63 veterinarians and 14 guard dog experts to collect data on the personality of different dog breeds.

    Prof. Coren found that the Chihuahua has an obedience intelligence rank of 67 out of 130 dog breeds. The Chihuahua belongs to the `Fair Working/Obedience Intelligence Dogs` category. This means that Chihuahuas tend to learn new commands after 40 to 80 repetitions!.

    The Chesapeake Bay Retriever has an obedience intelligence rank of 27 out of 130 dog breeds. The Chesapeake Bay Retriever belongs to the `Above Average Working Dogs` category. This means that Chesapeake Bay Retrievers tend to learn new commands after 15 to 25 repetitions.

    The Chesapeake Bay Retriever is more intelligent than the Chihuahua.

    However, Prof. Coren noted that a dog should not be judged based on its intelligence alone, that other factors such as sociability, adorability, and compatibility with the owner are other very important factors that new dog owners need to consider when deciding on a new dog.

    The Popularity of Chihuahua versus Popularity of Chesapeake Bay Retriever

    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 Chihuahua and the Chesapeake Bay Retriever over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Chihuahua is more popular with dog owners than the Chesapeake Bay Retriever. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Chihuahua is 30 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Chesapeake Bay Retriever is 44 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of Chihuahua

    Popularity of Chihuahua

    Popularity of Chesapeake Bay Retriever

    Popularity of Chesapeake Bay Retriever

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    Year Chihuahua Popularity Rank Chesapeake Bay Retriever Popularity Rank
    2013 22 43
    2014 24 41
    2015 28 42
    2016 30 43
    2017 32 43
    2018 33 45
    2019 35 46
    2020 34 50
    2021 37 48

    Tolerates Being Alone: Chihuahua versus Chesapeake Bay Retriever

    Chihuahuas do not like to be left alone.

    Chesapeake Bay Retrievers do not like to be left alone.

    Do Chihuahuas shed more than Chesapeake Bay Retrievers?

    Chihuahuas do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.

    Check out our articles to learn more on how to minimize shedding in Chihuahuas, and on how to groom a Chihuahua

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

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

    Chihuahuas are very easy to groom.

    To learn more about how to properly groom a Chihuahua, check out our article on how to groom a Chihuahua.

    Learn more on how to take care of a Chihuahua here.

    Chesapeake Bay Retrievers are very easy to groom.

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

    Chihuahuas do not get along well with other dogs.

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

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

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

    Chihuahua make a good addition to a family. They love kids and kids love them.

    Learn about Chihuahua temperament here.

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

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

    Chihuahuas are very easy to train.

    Chesapeake Bay Retrievers are fairly easy to train.

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

    Chihuahuas do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Chesapeake Bay Retrievers drool moderately.

    How Kid-friendly are Chihuahuas and Chesapeake Bay Retrievers?

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

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

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

    Chihuahuas have a moderate prey drive. They can sometimes chase after smaller animals and pets.

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

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

    Chihuahuas bark and howl, but not very much.

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

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

    Chihuahuas cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.

    Chesapeake Bay Retrievers can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Wanderlust Potential: Chihuahua vs. Chesapeake Bay Retriever

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

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

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

    Chihuahuas cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.

    Chesapeake Bay Retrievers can tolerate hot weather.

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

    Chihuahuas adapt very well to apartment living.

    Chesapeake Bay Retrievers do not adapt well to apartment living.

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

    Chihuahuas are very good for new dog owners.

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

    Conclusion: Chihuahua versus Chesapeake Bay Retriever. 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 Chihuahua and the Chesapeake Bay Retriever better suits you and your family.