Natural History

Posted in Chesapeake bay retriever, conservationist | Tagged Chesapeake bay retriever | 11 Comments

11 Responses

1. on April 27, 2013 at 1:03 pm Suhail

   The only retriever I wanted and would have is a Chessie.

   
   
   • on April 27, 2013 at 1:05 pm retrieverman

     They are AMERICAN.

     
     
     • on April 28, 2013 at 12:20 am Suhail

       Yes, and ideal for colder climates, freezing waters, retrieving with protective (watch dog) instincts still intact.

       Chesapeake Bay Retriever is a state dog of Maryland. But I haven’t seen one in Ontario yet.

       
       
   • on April 29, 2013 at 10:39 am massugu

     They’re great dogs–never met one I didn’t like. Good under the gun, good on water and in snow, good companions, good w/ kids and cats–all around great dogs. Unfortunately, “the Fancy” is playing around w/ them as well.

     
     
     • on April 29, 2013 at 8:57 pm Suhail

       What is “the Fancy” hoping to turn these fine working dogs into?

       
       
       • on May 1, 2013 at 2:07 pm M.R.S.

         The majority of Chessie folks who show, are also firm advocates of the breed’s working abilities. In fact, the only retrievers that have arned official AKC Dual Champion status for some years are– Chesapeakes.

         Not to deny that there are numbers in other retriever breeds that have earned both show champions and Master Hunter titles. Just a few weeks ago I had the pleasure of seeing a Golden with CDX and MH titles AND a placement in a licensed field trial finish his show champion title as well.

         
         
2. on April 27, 2013 at 4:18 pm Adam

   They seem to be getting more popular in the UK. I like them but some people have issues with them because they are a bit more driven and assertive than your typical retriever!

   Adam

   
   
   • on April 28, 2013 at 7:54 am bearcoatpei

     I bump into quite a few always male and usually black labradors that are a bit too driven and assertive for my liking. But I put that down to pathetic owners who think because it’s a labrador, it needs no training or discipline and they create a monster.

     
     
3. on April 28, 2013 at 4:56 pm Adam

   I like driven and assertive dogs!

   There is a theory that all black dogs are not read as well in the facial expression by other dogs which leads to more conflict and thus a tendency to act aggressive themselves. If you look at lots of mostly black dogs you find they have brown ”eye brows” (rotti dobe ect) which presumably help communication.

   I’m not sure if I believe the theory or not!

   Adam

   
   
   • on May 1, 2013 at 8:00 am bearcoatpei

     When I say driven and assertive, I mean no canine etiquette to the point of barreling in and flattening other dogs as way to say hello then not backing off and an owner with no control over their dog, usually trailing behind them a few hundred yards. I’ve also met a couple that have been genuinely aggressive rather than just daft as a brush and rude. I don’t know what it is with some black labs, but I think popularity of the colour is part of it – I rarely see yellow or chocolate labs, but there are 4 blacks living within a few hundred yards of me. Maybe some have atypical temperaments due to overbreeding? The breed reputation for them being good natured/obedient/gentle possibly leads some owners to think they don’t need to do much in the way of discipline and training themselves. Any breed of dog will take advantage of a weak owner.

     I do agree with the black dog theory to some degree as I’ve seen it in practice. If you look at many black dogs they have light eyes as well as no well defined features. The eyes make them look like they are staring out any dog they meet, which of course is seen as a challenge or threat. It also spooks humans and accounts for large black dogs in rescue being incredibly hard to rehome.

     However, the dog’s temperament has a large bearing on how it responds to it’s life experiences. I’ve had a black chow and two black shar-pei. They are even harder for other dogs to cope with as they have a naturally “dominant” stance due to their over the back tails and straight angulation that makes them look up on their tiptoes. The poor chow had a hard time with other males. He used to tuck his head down in his fur and wait the onslaught out rather than fight back. The two shar-pei were mother and daughter. Conversely, they commanded the respect of most dogs with just a look and rarely had a problem. They were fine with polite dogs and even had doggy friends they would play with, but they took no prisoners if any dog pushed it’s luck. Other dogs seem to find my previous fawn horsecoat and even the dilute bearcoat with her yellow eyes more approachable than the all black ones.

     My Tibetan Mastiff is black and tan. You can see his tan eye spots from a quite a distance away. Black and tan breeds usually have a tan muzzle and black lips. This makes them easy dogs to read for other dogs and people as all their main expression points are accentuated. If anything, they’re even easier to read the mood of than a paler dog of a solid colour. It still tickles me after all this time when he raises one eyebrow at me and I get an ORLY? off a dog – he-he!

     
     
4. on May 2, 2013 at 5:35 am megrim43

   The hatred of Papillons for black dogs is a breed feature. They can become quite hysterical about them, and I have to assume it is a problem of perception.. Yet I had Cresteds for years, and they never reacted in this way to black dogs.

   Meanwhile I have to make embarrassed apologies to owners of placid non-aggressive black dogs to which mine are reacting as if they were horned devils with loaded pitchforks
   .
   Elizabeth .

   
   

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