The Chesapeake Bay Retriever is a large-sized breed of dog belonging to the Retriever, Gundog, and Sporting breed groups. Members of the breed may also be referred to as a Chessie, CBR, or Chesapeake. Historically used by area market hunters to retrieve waterfowl, pull fishing nets, and rescue fishermen, it is primarily a family pet and hunting companion. They are often known for their love of water and their ability to hunt. This breed is also known for its large and powerful chest, used to break apart ice when diving into cold water while duck hunting. The Chesapeake Bay Retriever is an intelligent breed and learns at a high speed. Historically considered stubborn and difficult to train, many trainers thought this breed required more physical discipline than other retriever breeds. Some trainers now recommend that the Chesapeake Bay Retriever owner use consistent, daily obedience training with play time before and after to keep the dog wanting to work with little or no physical discipline required.