The Chesapeake Bay Retriever is known to be a very intelligent dog, but they are also known to have a mind of their own and can be quite wilful when it pleases them which is another reason they are not the best choice for novice dog owners. However, in the right hands and with the right guidance, direction and training, a Chessie is easy to train and will grow up to be a well-behaved, obedient dog. However, their training has to start early and it needs to be consistent. If they are not handled correctly from the word go, they can start to show a more dominant side to their nature.