New chessie

kenai · 11-15-2003, 05:33 PM

I'm stoked, went a put a deposit on a chesapeake tonight! I think I'm gonna be like a kid waiting for christmas again as the litter will be ready around new years.
Any suggestions out there on training books for retrievers? There used to be a bible of bird dog training but I cant remember who it was by. Thanks to Tilla and another Ifisher for recommendations on breeders.

skein · 11-15-2003, 05:43 PM

Too cool! I didn't know you were a "lay down in the mud and squawk at the sky" kind of guy. That pup will have you out chasing birds in the awfullest slop imaginable. That's the problem with a chessie - they're unstoppable, and they eat up cold weather like a lap dog loves biscuits!

Congratulations! Let's see, how many more days 'til Christmas? [img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img]

Skein

SR1 5 · 11-15-2003, 05:51 PM

I'm on my third chesapeake now. First one was the best dog I'll ever have in my lifetime, the second one wasn't worth two cents, and the one I have now is very good although I think she is going to have hip problems as she gets older. I have both "Water Dog" and "Gun Dog" by Wolters which gives a basic understanding of dog training without getting too complicated and have worked out well for me. Good luck!

gottafish · 11-15-2003, 05:54 PM

go to www.gundogsupply.com and get the ABC of retrever training part 1 and 2 worked great for my dog.

Boedy · 11-15-2003, 06:46 PM

I have a VCR tape of Water Dog if you would like to take a look at it shoot me a PM.

Boe

suckerfish · 11-15-2003, 09:15 PM

Chessies are way cool. I currently have two. Both are great dogs. Socialization is the most important thing you can do for a Chessie. A great training book is written by John and Amy Dahl, "Ten Minute Retriever". This book will cover everything you will need. Congrates on the new pup.

suckerfish

Tyee II · 11-15-2003, 10:19 PM

Congratulations on the new pup. I have had a Chesapeake around for about 23 yrs. until August when we lost our 12 yr old female. I am going to be getting another one from the same line in Idaho out of a litter that is planned for this winter. A book that was recommended to me back when I started is Charles Morgan on Retreivers, by Ann Fowler this book is out of print but I beleive that you can find one on the internet. The person I loaned mine out is going to need to find out before long as I will need a refresher when I get started with a new pup. Charles Morgan was a very accomplished Field Trailer in the 1950s-60s who also was very fond of Chesapeakes and seemingly had a very good understanding of the breed. I have read nearly every retreiver training publication out there at one time or another and I think you will find that most of them do not give the Chesapeake an awful lot of credit with the exception as to say they thrive in the water and cold weather. Personally I do not take that as much of a credit when you look at the big picture and all of the diverse tasks we ask of our dogs. Recently I went out to a licensed trail at Sauvie Island just to observe, I asked a lady who was obviously involved in running the particular stake I was watching if there were any Chesapeakes entered in this trial. Her response was somewhat long and drawn out, but in a short sentence she may as well have said that Chesapeakes were not smart enough to do the licensed trial thing. I guess my point is that the large majority of "retreiver experts" do not give the Chesapeake the credit it deserves. I am sure as with all breeds some are better than others but a dog is a lot like anything else in that usually "you get out of it, what you put into it". In Charles Morgans book he was very innovative in a time where it was said you train a Golden with a soft voice, a Lab with a stearn hand, and a Chesapeake with a big stick. The three dogs that I had over the span of 23 yrs. were all excellent hunting dogs, family dogs, babysitters, etc. each with a different personality, each quicker to learn some things than the other,and definitely not everything learned from one book using one persons methods. I learned over the years that training a retreiver is as much evaluating the progress and knowing when to move forward with the different phases all the while keeping it fun for you and the dog. A dogs developement is like the human in that some of us develope slower than others and our learning abilities seem to follow the same course.There are lots of good books and some of them have very structured programs with the outcome based on following the regimen very closely, you may be lucky enough to get a dog that fits this regimen and its schedule nicely but if you should decide to go with one of these programs try to prepare yourself, in the case that it is not working as you had hoped that frustation does not take over and spoil the whole experience.The one thing that I always tried to stay focused on is the fact that I entered into this adventure for fun. The times when I realized that the fun was going away I tried to step back and approach things from a different angle and most of the time I was amazed at the results. If for no other reason the Charles Morgan on Retreivers book is a good bit of history of the people and dogs of that era. Good Luck with the new pup.
Mike

[ 11-15-2003, 11:36 PM: Message edited by: Tyee II ]

James in Idaho · 11-20-2003, 07:21 AM

Way to go! What are the bloodlines? When you have questions, feel free to ask. I know a little bit about chessies! On my second one now. I also run them in AKC Hunt tests, and have done alright. Old Brutus was a senior hunter, I went and earned my master's instead of his, and my current Bob is a master hunter. (he even passed running under Tilla, and his last senior leg was earned under Tilla's lovely wife) Be glad to help ya from afar! Join Tilla's retriever club, get involved, you'll have the dog of a lifetime!

Tilla · 11-20-2003, 01:22 PM

This topic always wakes up James in Idaho. Lotsa Chessies out there.
Just a note abot Tyee II comments. It is important these days to understand that the AKC has two different performance event venues. One is Field Trials, a competition, the other is Hunt Tests, a pass/fail event.
In field trials you are out to pick a winner, things get way out there and complicated.
Hunt tests are set up to closely mimic hunting situations as best as possible and allowable by the AKC. There are a fair number of Chessies in the hunt test game.
As far as Field Trials are concerned, if you want to win, a black lab male is going to give you the best shot at it, just the facts.
If you want to get a good start at training a pup a local hunt test club has others doing the same thing you are trying to do. They have equipment, birds, gunners and people who have experience. Many clubs have fun/picnic events to get you started. The good ones are prepared to address anything from the young pup to the master hunter. They even allow Chessies.

AKC.com is a place to find contacts for performance event clubs for retrievers. There are a bunch locally.

kenai · 11-20-2003, 02:53 PM

Glad I could wake him up and thanks to all for the sage advice. Looks like there are some folks out there with a lot of knowledge. I'll be counting on ya'll for some help down the road.

basinbj · 11-22-2003, 07:21 AM

I have a 14 month male chessie that is already 95lbs and fit. He comes from fireweed dad freezer grampa clipper frozen assets. Could not be happier with the choice. Butch Goodwin owner of Northern Flight out of Idaho is a great breeder of chessie. Also writes for retriver journal very well respected. He has a cd rom available you can purchase through his website. Northernflightretrievers.com . Good luck with the new purchase.