I was wondering how protective a chesapeake bay retriever. My parents want a dog that is a good watchdog, but wont bite a stranger. Thanks for your advice.

Every individual varies, but with my experience, they are a very loyal dog and will be willing to protect their family in time of need. They're not bred to guard, so they're not overly agressive and tend to be friendly to strangers...unless they sense danger. Also keep in mind that they're an active breed that requires a lot of exercise or they'll become obese very easily.