RE: chessie or lab?
If I had to choose I would choose a Ches. I like the way they look at you. You earn their respect, the dog will run through hell and back for you. Labs are much easier to train. If you have limited training experience then the Lab is the choice. Most training books and tapes are based on Lab temperment. You have to adaptto the Ches temperment. The retriever dog games are Lab based also. The reason: 150,000 Labs registered a year, 3500 Chesapeke Bay Retrievers. You now have the final reason I would have a Ches, not everyone has one.
Doc George