It’s been awhile since I’ve been out in the field working the dogs. Sadly, now, we’re coming up on the summer months and it’ll really be too hot to do a lot of training. Anyways, took Morgan and Jessie out for the day. They did great and didn’t skip a beat.
I’m happy to report that we have a new AKC Champion, CH CoolWaters RipTide aka “Rip.” Rip is a beautiful Chesapeake who picked up the last point needed at the DeLand, FL dog show under judge Mrs. Billings. He earned his championship in basically 5 1/2 weekends of showing. During that time he took Best of Breed twice over Specials for two 4-point majors. Rip is the third AKC Champion out of his litter – the other two being “Oak” (GCh Jala Misty Hill CoolWater Oak) and “Jesse” (Bronze GCh CoolWaters The Tide Is High). His littermate, Nova, is only needing 5 single points and we hope she will pick them up sometime this year.
Jala’s Misty Hill Coolwater Cali – “Cali”
(Morgan x Nash)
I love getting photos of the dogs. Today, I touched base with one of the pup owners (which I often do) and I received this great note and photo.
“Had a big day….. Opener for ducks and dove. She strolled through two limit of ducks this am and an afternoon limit of dove.”
Funny, some people think a show dog can’t hunt or that a hunting dog can’t show. We strive for good lookin’ dogs that can, hopefully, do both. Cali is from a litter that currently has 3 AKC Champions (and one more to be titled in 2013).
Chesapeake puppies tummies can be sensitive to food changes so we suggest you keep your pup on the same food. If you decide to change his/her food it needs to be done very gradually.
We highly suggest setting a feeding schedule for your puppy — and keeping to it — which will aide in housebreaking.Your Chessie puppy has been eating three times a day at approximately 6:30 a.m. (breakfast), 12:00 p.m. (lunch), and 6:00 p.m. (dinner). This schedule is not cast in stone and can fluctuate slightly. However, we recommend the final feeding be no later that 7:00 p.m. This will allow enough time for the puppy to go outside a few times before bedtime.
Your puppy’s breakfast should be given after he/she has gone potty outside and had a little play session. Lunch should be given approximately halfway between the breakfast and dinner feedings. At first, give your puppy about 3/4 cup of food. Let the pup have access to the food for about 15 minutes. If there is any food left in the bowl after 15 minutes, then pick up what hasn’t been eaten. Do not give him/her more food until the next feeding time. At that time, give the puppy its normal allotted food amount. Continue this through his/her scheduled feedings
As Chessie puppies grow, so do their appetites. If your puppy consistently finishes all of the food offered, and he/she isn’t overweight, then you can increase the amount foodd, 1/4 cup at a time. Many Chessie puppies eat a lot, and will act famished even if they aren’t. Be careful not to overfeed. It is important that your puppy not become overweight. You should be able to feel the ribs quite readily when your pup is standing.
We do NOT recommend free feeding your Chessie.
By six months of age, we recommend a twice a day feeding schedule. At this time take the same amount of food you have been feeding in a day and divide it into two feedings. At one year you may switch to feeding once a day.
Typically, adult female Chessies eat between 1 and 3 cups per day, while males eat between 3 and 5 cups per day. Food consumption varies from dog to dog based on individual metabolism and activity level. It is not recommended to feed the amount on the packaging – instead, feed according to your dogs needs. If your dog looks a little plump, then cut him/her back 1/4 cup. If your pup looks thin, then increase his/her food.
If you feel you need to switch foods. Please do so gradually to help avoid stomach upset. Below is a general guideline on how to switch foods:
Day 1 & 2: feed 3/4 old food and 1/4 new food (mixed together)
Day 3 & 4: feed 1/2 old food and 1/2 new food (mixed together)
Day 5 & 6: feed 3/4 new food and 1/4 old food (mixed together)
Day 7: feed 100% new food
Equally proficient on land and in the water, the Chesapeake Bay Retriever was developed along the Chesapeake Bay to hunt waterfowl under the most adverse weather and water conditions, often having to break ice during the course of many strenuous multiple retrieves. Frequently the Chesapeake must face wind, tide and long cold swims in its work. The breed’s characteristics are specifically suited to enable the Chesapeake to function with ease, efficiency and endurance. In head, the Chesapeake’s skull is broad and round with a medium stop. The jaws should be of sufficient length and strength to carry large game birds with an easy, tender hold. The double coat consists of a short, harsh, wavy outer coat and a dense, fine, wooly undercoat containing an abundance of natural oil and is ideally suited for the icy rugged conditions of weather the Chesapeake often works in. In body, the Chesapeake is a strong, well-balanced, powerfully built animal of moderate size and medium length in body and leg, deep and wide in chest, the shoulders built with full liberty of movement, and with no tendency to weakness in any feature, particularly the rear. The power though, should not be at the expense of agility or stamina. Size and substance should not be excessive as this is a working retriever of an active nature.
Distinctive features include eyes that are very clear, of yellowish or amber hue, hindquarters as high or a trifle higher than the shoulders, and a double coat which tends to wave on shoulders, neck, back and loins only.
The Chesapeake is valued for its bright and happy disposition, intelligence, quiet good sense, and affectionate protective nature. Extreme shyness or extreme aggressive tendencies are not desirable in the breed either as a gun dog or companion.
Disqualifications: Specimens that are lacking in breed characteristics should be disqualified.
Height–Males should measure 23 to 26 inches; females should measure 21 to 24 inches. Oversized or undersized animals are to be severely penalized. Proportion–Height from the top of the shoulder blades to the ground should be slightly less than the body length from the breastbone to the point of buttocks. Depth of body should extend at least to the elbow. Shoulder to elbow and elbow to ground should be equal. Weight–Males should weigh 65 to 80 pounds; females should weigh 55 to 70 pounds.
The Chesapeake Bay Retriever should have an intelligent expression. Eyes are to be medium large, very clear, of yellowish or amber color and wide apart. Ears are to be small, set well up on the head, hanging loosely, and of medium leather. Skull is broad and round with a medium stop. Nose is medium short. Muzzle is approximately the same length as the skull, tapered, pointed but not sharp. Lips are thin, not pendulous. Bite–Scissors is preferred, but a level bite is acceptable.
Disqualifications: Either undershot or overshot bites are to be disqualified.
Neck should be of medium length with a strong muscular appearance, tapering to the shoulders. Topline should show the hindquarters to be as high as or a trifle higher than the shoulders. Back should be short, well coupled and powerful. Chest should be strong, deep and wide. Rib cage barrel round and deep. Body is of medium length, neither cobby nor roached, but rather approaching hollowness from underneath as the flanks should be well tucked up. Tail of medium length; medium heavy at the base. The tail should be straight or slightly curved and should not curl over back or side kink.
There should be no tendency to weakness in the forequarters. Shoulders should be sloping with full liberty of action, plenty of power and without any restrictions of movement. Legs should be medium in length and straight, showing good bone and muscle. Pasterns slightly bent and of medium length. The front legs should appear straight when viewed from front or rear. Dewclaws on the forelegs may be removed. Well webbed hare feet should be of good size with toes well-rounded and close.
Good hindquarters are essential. They should show fully as much power as the forequarters. There should be no tendency to weakness in the hindquarters. Hindquarters should be especially powerful to supply the driving power for swimming. Legs should be medium length and straight, showing good bone and muscle. Stifles should be well angulated. The distance from hock to ground should be of medium length. The hind legs should look straight when viewed from the front or rear. Dewclaws, if any, must be removed from the hind legs.
Disqualifications: Dewclaws on the hind legs are a disqualification.
Coat should be thick and short, nowhere over 1½ inches long, with a dense fine wooly undercoat. Hair on the face and legs should be very short and straight with a tendency to wave on the shoulders, neck, back and loins only. Moderate feathering on rear of hindquarters and tail is permissible.
The texture of the Chesapeake’s coat is very important, as the Chesapeake is used for hunting under all sorts of adverse weather conditions, often working in ice and snow. The oil in the harsh outer coat and wooly undercoat is of extreme value in preventing the cold water from reaching the Chesapeake’s skin and aids in quick drying. A Chesapeake’s coat should resist the water in the same way that a duck’s feathers do. When the Chesapeake leaves the water and shakes, the coat should not hold water at all, being merely moist.
Disqualifications: A coat that is curly or has a tendency to curl all over the body must be disqualified. Feathering on the tail or legs over 1¾ inches long must be disqualified.
The color of the Chesapeake Bay Retriever must be as nearly that of its working surroundings as possible. Any color of brown, sedge or deadgrass is acceptable, self-colored Chesapeakes being preferred. One color is not to be preferred over another. A white spot on the breast, belly, toes, or back of the feet (immediately above the large pad) is permissible, but the smaller the spot the better, solid colored preferred. The color of the coat and its texture must be given every consideration when judging on the bench or in the ring. Honorable scars are not to be penalized.
Disqualifications: Black colored; white on any part of the body except breast, belly, toes, or back of feet must be disqualified
The gait should be smooth, free and effortless, giving the impression of great power and strength. When viewed from the side, there should be good reach with no restrictions of movement in the front and plenty of drive in the rear, with good flexion of the stifle and hock joints. Coming at you, there should be no sign of elbows being out. When the Chesapeake is moving away from you, there should be no sign of cowhockness from the rear. As speed increases, the feet tend to converge toward a center line of gravity.
The Chesapeake Bay Retriever should show a bright and happy disposition with an intelligent expression. Courage, willingness to work, alertness, nose, intelligence, love of water, general quality and, most of all, disposition should be given primary consideration in the selection and breeding of the Chesapeake Bay Retriever.
Disqualifications:
1. Specimens lacking in breed characteristics.
2. Teeth overshot or undershot.
3. Dewclaws on the hind legs.
4. Coat curly or with a tendency to curl all over the body.
5. Feathering on the tail or legs over 1¾ inches long.
6. Black colored.
7. White on any part of the body except breast, belly, toes, or back of feet.
The question of coat and general type of balance takes precedence over any scoring table which could be drawn up. The Chesapeake should be well proportioned, an animal with a good coat and well balanced in other points being preferable to one excelling in some but weak in others.
| Head, including lips, ears and eyes | 16 |
| Neck | 4 |
| Shoulders and body | 12 |
| Hindquarters and stifles | 12 |
| Elbows, legs and feet | 12 |
| Color | 4 |
| Stern and tail | 10 |
| Coat and texture | 18 |
| General conformation | 12 |
| Total | 100 |
| Approximate Measurements | Inches |
| Length head, nose to occiput |
9½ to 10
|
| Girth at ears |
20 to 21
|
| Muzzle below eyes |
10 to 10½
|
| Length of ears |
4½ to 5
|
| Width between eyes |
2½ to 2¾
|
| Girth neck close to shoulder |
20 to 22
|
| Girth at flank |
24 to 25
|
| Length from occiput to tail base |
34 to 35
|
| Girth forearms at shoulders |
10 to 10½
|
| Girth upper thigh |
19 to 20
|
| From root to root of ear, over skull |
5 to 6
|
| Occiput to top shoulder blades |
9 to 9½
|
| From elbow to elbow over the shoulders |
25 to 26
|
Approved November 9, 1993
Effective December 31, 1993
