CHESAPEAKE BAY RETRIEVERS…
“
You Had Me From Hello”
By Renee Wolfe
I
felt love start to grow the
moment I looked into your eyes.
You won me, it was over from
the start.
You completely stole my heart,
and now you won’t let go.
I never even had a chance you know?
You had me from ‘Hello.’”
-
Kenny Chesney, “You Had Me At Hello”
My husband and I are avid fishing
enthusiasts and were on the banks of
the river Kenai in Alaska when we had
an encounter with the Chesapeake Bay
Retriever. This handsome, wooly, copper
penny-colored boy captured our interest
and later, our hearts, toward this breed,
and started us on a journey that has been
exciting, adventurous and amazing. Our
search was for an active, larger dog and
since we had had Labs before, had agreed
on a retriever of some sort but didn’t want
one like everyone else had. As we learned
more about this breed, we were convinced
that this was the breed for us and pur-
chased our first Chesapeake Bay Retriever.
We have since owned several and do agree
that our desire is to own no other breed.
Why? Because there is no other dog like a
Chessie, they are simply amazing.
The Chesapeake Bay Retriever was
originally developed by breeders/sporting
enthusiasts in the Chesapeake Bay area in
the early 1800s and soon gained popular-
ity with hunters far and wide. They were
and are known for their intelligence, phys-
ical power and tenacity of spirit. Many
a story has been told of the courage and
endurance shown by this breed in the field,
retrieving, without direction, upwards of a
hundred waterfowl each day.
Chessies, as they are commonly known,
are independent thinkers, powerful retriev-
ers, intimidating guard dogs and loving
family members. Because of their friend-
ly disposition and intelligence, they are
sought after by many for a variety of uses–
hunting and retrieving being just one.
The Chesapeake Bay Retriever is an
extremely versatile animal, proven to be
successful in Search and Rescue, K-9,
drug and explosive detection programs,
as Therapy and Service dogs, Guide dogs
for the blind, as well as premier athletes
in competitive Sled Dog races, Dock Dog
competitions, Lure Coursing, Tracking,
competition Obedience and Rally, just to
name a few. And, when cleaned up from
the morning hunt, make for strong com-
petition in the Conformation rings. Their
character and personality, combined with
their strength and intelligence, earn the
Chesapeake Bay Retriever success in any
endeavor that you choose to take them.
At the end of the day, these amazing
brown dogs love to retire to the comfort
and companionship of their family. They
are affectionate, protective, fun compan-
ions that love their families and desire to
be with them. One evening, soon after the
birth of our grandson Darian, the baby
was bundled up lying on the couch and
screaming at the top of his lungs, as babies
do. Our Chessie girl, Katie, went to him to
see what the noise was about, finding this
crying baby, she quickly went to her stash
of toys and brought out her prized stuffed
duck. She laid the duck on the couch and
gently pushed it over with her nose and
nudged it up against the baby then laid
her head next to him in an effort to sooth.
Over the years, she has taken her job as
“
second mom” to our grandchildren very
seriously, and the bond built between her
and the children is an amazing one.
“
268 •
S
how
S
ight
M
agazine
,
N
ovember
2012