Chesapeake Bay Retriever Breed Magazine - Showsight

CHESAPEAKE BAY RETRIEVER Q&A

corn stubble. Certainly, some hunters have a preference for color because they want a dog that fits their hunting environment. Any words about this Retriever’s temperament? Ours has been a protective breed from the beginning. They require a great deal of exposure to different environments with all manner of distraction and stimulation. One gets the very best out of a Chesapeake when they have provided that critical socialization and have taken the time to train, teach the values of teamwork, and form an affection- ate, trusting bond. With that foundation laid, a Chesapeake will be your most devoted friend, protector, partner, and comic relief. The AKC standard has seven disqualifications. Care to elabo- rate? The disqualifications in the Chesapeake Bay Retriever breed standard focus on function and type. Incorrect bites and rear dew claws can interfere with the ability of the dog to perform its func- tion. Coats that are too curly and too long stray from breed type (and can interfere with function). A Chesapeake that has those traits can start to look like another breed. The same is true for our disqualifications for color. A dog that is black or has too much white can easily be mistaken for another breed. Are there any well-kept secrets about the Chesapeake Bay Retriever? Some may find a Chesapeake to be a challenging dog to live with, but those of us in the know have learned that their intel- ligence, work ethic, and devotion to their people are the perfect ingredients for a deep partnership that is unparalleled. Are there any current “trends” in breeding that should be con- tinued or should be stopped? On a positive note, I see more of our breeders engaging in various dog sports in addition to conforma- tion. This shows a commitment to our breed standard and to the working abilities of our dogs. We are very proud of the fact that Chesapeakes can compete at high levels in so many disciplines and we have a small army of breeders that is working hard to prove this to the world. LINDA HARGER I’ve owned, bred, trained and competed with the Chesapeake in conformation, field trials and hunt tests, dabbled in obedience competition (hard to do with the full-time schedule), dock diving, etc. I hunt my dogs on the off-season and they live as house dogs. I’ve bred and/or made five dual champions, five more field trial titled dogs, many bench champions with QAA status and several hunt test titles, many more with just CHs and lots of happy family companion hunting dogs. I’m very active in the field trial sport as a competitor, judge and officer of several clubs, including a tenure as president of the NARC and of the national breed club, the Ameri- can Chesapeake Club. Dogs, and specifically the Chesapeake, are my way of life. I live in Payette, Idaho. I’m retired from a pet boarding business. I’ve had Chesapeakes since 1972; my first puppy was my “engage- ment ring” as I didn’t want a diamond. Do I have any hobbies or interests apart from breeding and show- ing dogs? I actually do more training and competing in Retriever field trials than I show in conformation, but I do show all the dogs I own. I’m a voracious reader, art collector and love traveling. What’s it like living/working with a Chesapeake Bay? Not sure how to answer that as it’s a choice I made a long time ago and have never looked back. My life centers around the dogs, so I can’t imag- ine not having them. In general, they are a “hoot.” They are intelli- gent, happy clown-like characters who work hard for me, but never give up their own personalities. Can I speak to the breed’s size and substance? The breed stan- dard uses the word “moderate” and I think that is very impor- tant. A moderately sized animal of great athleticism is an asset in all we ask them to do. They are healthy and, in my opinion, >

sailing, and gardening. Throughout my life, there has always been a dog by my side for all of my sweetest memories. What’s it like living/working with a Chesapeake Bay Retriever? You can’t make any swift turns or changes in direction when you live with a Chesapeake. Where you go, they go. After a momentary stop at the kitchen sink or in the garden, you’ll find a Chesapeake head resting upon your foot or leaning on your leg. They don’t stick with you like glue out of any insecurity, but more because of a sense of partnership that is integral to who they are, and that sense of partnership is what makes them such an incredible working dog. Chesapeakes need a job and if you don’t give them one, they will become self-employed. It’s best to know this about them from the outset so that you can put their work ethic to good use. Thankfully, Chesapeakes are quite open-minded about what they are willing to do for work. Their specialty, of course, is retrieving waterfowl in brutally cold, icy conditions. However, give them other opportuni- ties for physical exercise, mental stimulation, and teamwork and they will embrace anything you endeavor to try together. I think that one thing that most would find surprising about this breed is that although they approach all activity with such enthusiasm, they have an “off” switch that allows them to be easily integrated into family life in the home. Can I speak to the breed’s size and substance? Our breed stan- dard allows for a range of sizes for good reason. Chesapeakes are used as working gundogs in a variety of conditions ranging from working out of a small skiff to retrieving from choppy waters with strong currents or tides. We allow enough room in the standard for breeders to produce dogs that are best suited for different demands. Though we do not have a size disqualification in our breed stan- dard, we do say, “Oversized or undersized animals are to be severely penalized.” We want to avoid any tendency to breed to the extremes of size while still allowing for some variation. How does the breed’s silhouette differ from that of its Retriever cousins? When you view a Chesapeake from the side, you’ll see flanks well-tucked up and the chest will be both deep and round. Our standard describes a topline that can be level or can show a slight rise from the shoulder to the hindquarters. Either topline is correct, but in either case the back should be strong. Can I describe the Chessie’s ideal expression? Ideal coat? Our breed is known for an intense gaze that can sometimes convey both a seriousness of focus and a deep affection. We have a number of different styles of coat that are accept- able. Variations in length (to a degree), coarseness, and amount of wave are all considered acceptable. The ideal coat is dictated by the qualities of the coat that will protect a working gundog in cold, icy water. Most important is the interplay between the undercoat and harsh outer coat that will minimize the water absorbed and carried by the coat while also providing insulation. More coat is not always better. Our standard says, “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.” Do judges ever betray a preference for color? Our standard is very clear. “One color is not to be preferred over another.” A few breeders may appear to have preferences for color because their lines produce them, but I think we are all in agreement that color is not nearly as important as other aspects of the dog. For example, the texture and quality of the coat is so much more important than the color. Judges tend to see a lot more brown dogs in the show ring and I do think that sometimes they struggle a bit with deadgrass and sedge dogs. In our Judges Education programs, I know we do a lot to open judges’ eyes to the variety of colors that are accept- able in our breed. Our standard says, “The color of the Chesapeake Bay Retriever must be nearly that of its working surroundings as possible.” People hunt over Chesapeakes in many different envi- ronments from snowy fields, to icy waters, marshes, and fields of

SHOWSIGHT MAGAZINE, JULY 2020 | 201

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